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’ Theater—Ragnärok: 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.
