Kick off the holiday season with the annual Norwegian Christmas celebration at Vesterheim!

The Museum Building will be open from 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. with free admission for youth under age 18. Vesterheim Commons and the Museum Store will be open 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Enjoy Norwegian holiday traditions like a Juletrefest (Norwegian Christmas tree party of singing around a decorated tree) with a visit from the Julenisse and Julebukker, costumed folk who roam the museum complex scaring away evil spirits.

Throughout the day in the outdoor setting of Vesterheim Heritage Park, stop by to see the goats from the Lost Pine Farm in Decorah, Iowa, from 11:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m., and take a picture by the giant wooden nisse anytime.

Warm up with hot drinks and Scandinavian s’mores around a fire or bites of traditional Norwegian lefse treats – all free – located on the patio behind Vesterheim Commons.

There will be plenty of live music, hands-on crafts, folk art demonstrations, and Norwegian treats! Don’t forget about holiday shopping!

Schedule
10:00 a.m. – 2 p.m. – Face Painting – North Patio (weather permitting)
10:30 a.m. – Sharon Rossman reads Jan Brett’s Christmas Trolls – Norway House in the Museum Building
11:00 a.m. – Decorah Chorale – Bethania Church
11:30 a.m. – Jultrefest – Vesterheim Commons
11:45 a.m. – Decorah High School Madrigal Singers – Ship Gallery in the Museum Building
12:00 p.m. –  Northern Lights – Bethania Church
12:15 – 1:00 p.m. – Touch of Brass – Vesterheim Commons
1:00 p.m. – Luren Singing Society – Bethania Church
1:00 p.m. – Jultrefest – Vesterheim Commons
2:00 p.m. – Eden Ehm Hardanger Fiddle Concert – Bethania Church

Folk Art Demonstrators
10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. – Karen Rebholz, Hardanger fiddle making -Museum Building
10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. – Renee Thoreson, Hardangersøm embroidery – Museum Store
10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. – Lynette Aanonson, Hardangersøm embroidery – Museum Building
2:00 – 4:00 p.m. – Ruth Green, rosemaling – Museum Store
10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. – Beverly Schrandt, wheat weaving – Museum Building
12:00 – 2:00 p.m. – Mary Lake, Lucet work – Museum Building Lobby
1:00 – 3:00 p.m. – Sally Stromseth and Lia Vsetecka, rosemaling – 2nd Floor Commons
1:00 – 4:00 p.m. – Kim Glock, green woodworking – Museum Building

Sales
Friday, Dec. 6  12:00 p.m. – 5 p.m. and Saturday, Dec. 7  9:00 a.m. – 5 p.m. – Oneota Weavers Guild selling various items – Bruening Welcome Center, Westby-Torgerson Education Center
10:00 a.m. – 4 p.m. – Norman Borlaug Heritage Foundation selling julenek (wheat sheafs) – Heritage Park

This event is supported by a generous gift to the Vesterheim Annual Fund from Bill and Kathi Wild.
Free admission for children is supported by Dr. James Bullard.
Music at Norwegian Christmas is supported by Muriel Stone.