UPDATE
Decorah’s Nordic Fest board has made the following announcement about this year’s event: “After much thought and consideration, for the protection of the community, volunteers, and all who attend and participate, the decision has been made to cancel Nordic Fest 2020.” Read the full statement on their website here.

With the cancelation of Nordic Fest, Vesterheim will not hold our usual Nordic Fest events. In addition, Vesterheim Folk Art School has canceled The National Norwegian-American Folk Art Exhibition and classes through August.

We feel these decisions are best at this time, and we are hopeful that we’ll be open for visitors as soon as possible.

Of course, we’re sad and will miss seeing you all in person, but we have some online activities in the works and we’re excited to connect with you in different ways. Right now we are regularly sharing a video series Folk Art Place, as well as Norwegian Language mini-lessons from Luther instructor Maren Johnson, both on our YouTube channel here. Continue to check our website and social media and look for more to come!

Vikings, folk-artists, live tattooing, music, and more—explore Vesterheim during Decorah’s Annual Nordic Fest. Whether or not you have Norwegian heritage, there is plenty to enjoy at Decorah’s citywide celebration of Nordic traditions and heritage!

This festival is held each year on the last full weekend in July and includes fun activities for the whole family. Traditions new and old abound throughout the weekend. There is always lively dancing, challenging sporting events, delicious food, and lots of other entertainment.

Find an album of pictures from the 2019 Nordic Fest here.