Loading Events

« All Events

  • This event has passed.

Vesterheim Activities at Decorah’s Nordic Fest

July 28 @ 9:00 AM - July 29 @ 5:00 PM

Vesterheim Activities at Decorah's Nordic Fest

July 28-29, 2023

We’re excited to have you visit during Decorah’s Nordic Fest celebration. It’s a wonderful weekend of family fun on Vesterheim’s campus with folk-art demonstrations, entertainment, and exhibits!

The Museum Store is open Thursday-Saturday from 9:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m.

Demonstrations, Displays, and Sales 

Friday and Saturday, various times between 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. around Vesterheim campus. Free.

Folk-art and Living Heritage Demonstrations
Blacksmithing, forging, leatherwork, stave and bentwood container construction, rosemaling, painting, weaving and spinning, mica embroidery, shoebands, nålbinding, Hedebo needlework, paper cutting, knifemaking, rope making, lucet work, silver fillegree jewelry, pottery, chip carving, shrinkboxes and kolrosing, acanthus and dragonstyle carving, and beam carving. (See list to the right.)

Country Gallery Antiques
Specializing in selling Scandinavian vintage & antique textiles, bunad accessories,  jewelry, decorative wooden ware, sewing tools, books, knives, tools, prints, and postcards.

Oneota Weavers and Spinners Guild Sales Shop
Hand-felted Santas and Christmas ornaments/figures, hand-woven rugs, scarves/shawls, table runners, and more.

Norwegian American Genealogical Center and Naeseth Library
Representatives from the center, located in Madison, Wis., will be on hand to offer genealogical research advice. Supported by Dean Gipp and family in remembrance of Cyndi Gipp.

Nils the Giant Nisse and Friends
Take advantage of great photo ops with various nisse around campus!

Entertainment

Heritage Park Tours (12 historic buildings):
Outside park open for visiting any time. Some buildings open Friday and Saturday, 12-4 p.m., tour on your own, no admission fee. Guided tours of the Heritage Park on Thursday (free) at 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.

Friday

All Day 9:00-5:00 p.m.
Activities with Skjaldborg Vikings
Battle Technique Demonstrations at 11:00, 2:00, and 4:00
Encampment in Heritage Park

10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
Book Signing by Sven Lindauer
Museum Store

11:00 a.m.-noon
Nordic Music Concert with Vidar Skrede
Bethania Church

Noon-12:15 p.m.
Kulokk Norwegian Cow Calling with Peggy Larson
Heritage Park Amphitheater

1:00-2:00 p.m.
Presentation by Sven Lindauer
Bethania Church

2:30-3:00 p.m.
Hardanger Fiddler Eden Ehm Mini-Concert
Bethania Church

3:00-3:15 p.m.
Kulokk Norwegian Cow Calling with Peggy Larson
Heritage Park Amphitheater

3:00-4:00 p.m.
Ragnärok: Doom of the Gods Readers’ Theater Production
Bethania Church

Saturday

All Day 9:00-5:00 p.m.
Activities with Skjaldborg Vikings
Battle Technique Demonstrations at 2:00 and 4:00
Encampment in Heritage Park

11:00-11:15 a.m.
Kulokk Norwegian Cow Calling with Peggy Larson
Heritage Park Amphitheater

12:00-2:00 p.m.
Music Jam
Heritage Park Amphitheater

1:00-2:00 p.m.
Rochester Flute Choir
Bethania Church 

2:15-3:15 p.m.
Nordic Music Concert with Vidar Skrede
Bethania Church

3:00-3:15 p.m.
Kulokk Norwegian Cow Calling with Peggy Larson
Heritage Park Amphitheater

3:00-3:30 p.m.
Hardanger Fiddler Eden Ehm Mini-Concert
Vesterheim Commons 

4:00-5:00 p.m.
Hymn Sing
Bethania Church

Entertainers

Eden Ehm—Professional Hardanger fiddler from Decorah presents a mini concert and wanders the Vesterheim campus. Supported by Dawn Svenson Holland and Josh Holland in memory of Gary and DiAnn Svenson.

Hymn Sing—Everyone is invited to gather around the church organ and sing favorite historical hymns.

Peggy Larson—Hear the beautiful musical tradition of kulokk, Norwegian cow calling, which began with young farm girls in the mountains of Norway. Peggy has traveled through Norway interviewing singers and farmers to collected melodies and stories. She currently leads the Earthtones women’s world music chorus and Portland Avenue Sanctuary Choir and is also the cantor for the Meditative services at Pilgrim Lutheran Church in Saint Paul.

Sven Lindauer—Author and illustrator of The Art and Crafts of Ancient Scandinavia and former historical artist for National Geographic TV, Sven will give a presentation about artisans and craftspeople from 700 and 1000 CE Norway.

Music Jam—Musicians of all levels are welcome to join in for this two-hour informal jam. Visitors invited to listen.

Readers’ TheaterRagnärok: Doom of the Gods Featuring various Norse Gods—Odin, Thor, etc. adapted by Robert Wolf of Free River Press from the Poetry and Prose Eddas of Norse Mythology.

Rochester Flute Choir—A 12-member ensemble performs a 45-minute concert of works by Norwegian composers Edvard Grieg and Ole Bull. Supported by Dawn Svenson Holland and Josh Holland in memory of Gary and DiAnn Svenson.

Skjaldborg—This group from Elk Horn, Iowa, presents their Viking encampment and entertain throughout the day with full Viking combat demonstrations. Skjaldborg means “fortress of shields.” Supported by Viking State Bank & Trust.

Vidar Skrede—Nordic tunes by freelance Nordic folk musician, playing fiddle, Hardanger fiddle, and guitar. Vidar is from Norway and currently lives in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He has a background in the traditional music of Rogaland, his home area in the southwest of Norway. Supported by Dawn Svenson Holland and Josh Holland in memory of Gary and DiAnn Svenson.

Decorah’s Nordic Fest

Nordic Fest is held each year on the last full weekend in July and includes fun activities for the whole family. This year, opening ceremonies will be on Thursday evening, July 27, with two full days of activities on Friday and Saturday, July 28 and 29. Traditions new and old abound throughout the weekend. There is always lively dancing, challenging sporting events, delicious food, and lots of other entertainment. Whether or not you have Norwegian heritage, there is plenty to enjoy at Decorah’s citywide celebration of Nordic traditions and heritage! Visit the Nordic Fest website here.

Thank you to all of our generous supporters!

Nordic Fest activities at Vesterheim are supported by Decorah Bank & Trust.

Additional support is made by:
• Viking State Bank & Trust for Skjaldborg Vikings.
• Dawn Svenson Holland and Josh Holland, dedicated in memory of Gary and DiAnn Svenson, for music events.
• Dean Gipp and family in remembrance of Cyndi Gipp for representatives from the Norwegian American Genealogical Center and Naeseth Library.

Volunteer!

Do you want an insider view of Nordic Fest? Volunteering at Vesterheim during the Fest is always a great way to make connections, have fun, and support the museum. We are always looking for support welcoming guests, hosting galleries, giving demonstrators a break, delivering treats to other volunteers, and more. Contact Chivonne Marlow, Visitor Services Manager, at 563-382-9681 ext. 305, or cmarlow@vesterheim.org.

Folk Art Demonstrators at Vesterheim
At various times throughout Friday and Saturday

Commons – First Floor

Else Bigton, Barronett WI – Carving
Liz Bucheit, Lanesboro MN – Silver filigree jewelry
Sallie Haugen DeReus – Rosemaling
Sven Lindauer, Cody WY – Painting
Nancy Odalen, Stoughton WI – Rosemaling
Roger Odalen, Stoughton WI – Woodcarving
Trudy Peach, Buffalo MN – Rosemaling
Renee Petersen, MN – Viking pottery replicas
Shawn Sersland, Nevada IA – Chip carving
Lynn Sove Maxson, Des Plaines IL – Rosemaling
Sally Stromseth and Lia Vsetecka  – Rosemaling

Commons – Second Floor

Darlene Fossum-Martin, Decorah IA – Kolrosing
Kim Glock, Decorah IA – Green woodcarving
Charlene Lynum, Eau Claire WI – Chip carving
Phillip Odden, Barronett WI – Carving
Anne Ristow, Hopkinton IA – Hedebo needle tatting
Bob Ristow, Hopkinton IA – Carving

Commons – Third Floor

Kathleen Almelien, Washington, IA – Banweaving
Dick Enstad Fergus, Falls MN – Ropemaking
Nancy Enstad, Falls MN – Lucet work
Melba Granlund, Minneapolis, MN – Nålbinding
Becky Lusk, Coon Valley WI – Woodcarving
Mike Lusk, Coon Valley WI – Wood Bending
Renee Thoreson, Rochester MN – Hardangersom

Heritage Park

Reggie Abrahamsom – Potter
Roger Abrahamson, Minneapolis MN – Ale bowl turner
Paul Anderson, Minneapolis MN –  Bowl carving
Hal Bitzer, Williamsburg MN – Kolrosing
John Drewes, Red Wing MN – Knifemaking and leathercraft
KJ Groven, Rapid City SD – Knifemaking
Jock Holmen, Burnsville MN –  Woodworking
Mike Hughes, Burnsville MN – Woodcarving
Scott Johnson, Atkinson NE – Kolrosing
Catherine (“Kitty”) Latané, Pepin, WI – Weaving
Thomas Latané, Pepin WI – Metalworking
Kaare Loftheim, Williamsburg VA – Woodworking
Bill Rickard, Ames IA – Carving
David Susag, Lanesboro MN – Spring pole lathe
Lynn Susag, Lanesboro MN – Paper cutting 

Details

Start:
July 28 @ 9:00 AM
End:
July 29 @ 5:00 PM
Event Category: