Decorah - Vesterheim Activities at Decorah's Nordic Fest
Vesterheim Activities at Decorah's Nordic Fest
Details:
Vesterheim Activities at Decorah's Nordic Fest July 23-26, 2026 This city-wide celebration starts with evening ceremonies on Thursday, July 23, and continues all day Friday and Saturday, July 24 and 25. Nordic Fest is fun for the whole family with lively music and dancing, challenging sporting events, delicious food, and lots of entertainment. It’s a great time to visit Vesterheim and museum admission is free Thursday, July 23, through Sunday, July 26. There will be folk art demonstrations, entertainment, and exhibits throughout the campus! Check below for a full schedule of activities at Vesterheim! Vesterheim Schedule- Vesterheim Demonstrations, Displays, and Sales: Heritage Park is open during daylight hours for visiting. Select historic buildings with museum guides will be open on Friday and Saturday, 12-4 PM, tour on your own, no admission fee. Guided tour of Heritage Park buildings on Thursday at 1:30 PM. Folk Art and Living Heritage Demonstrations: Friday and Saturday, various times, 9 AM-5 PM around Vesterheim campus. Vesterheim Museum Store Pop Up Shop: Stock up on gently used folk art woodenware, instructional and art books, painting supplies, and wood working items, all recycled from other folk artists and ready for you to take home to use—at bargain prices! 9 AM-5 PM in the Museum Store. Country Gallery Antiques: Specializing in selling Scandinavian vintage and antique textiles, bunad accessories, jewelry, decorative wooden ware, sewing tools, books, knives, prints, and postcards. Friday and Saturday, 9 AM-5 PM at 418 W. Water St. Oneota Weavers and Spinners Guild Sales Shop: Hand-felted Santa and Christmas ornaments and figures, hand-woven rugs, scarves and shawls, table runners, and more. Friday and Saturday, 9 AM-5 PM, Third floor, Westby-Torgerson Education Center. Norwegian-American Genealogical Center and Naeseth Library: Representatives from the center, located in Madison, Wisconsin, will be on hand to offer genealogical research advice. Friday and Saturday, 9 AM-5 PM, Hanson Vesterheim Commons. District 1 Sons of Norway: Meet representatives and find out more about the international Sons of Norway organization. Friday and Saturday, 9 AM-5 PM, Hanson Vesterheim Commons. Vesterheim Activities for Youth: Nils the Giant Nisse and Friends: Take advantage of great photo ops with various nisse around campus. Available from 10:30 AM-3 PM on Friday and 1:30-4 PM on Saturday. Patio behind Hanson Vesterheim Commons
activities for youth,decorah, iowa,entertainment for families,nordic fest,seasonal,vesterheim activities at decorah's nordic fest,folk art demonstrations,norwegian-american culture
Hands-On Butter Making Demonstration: 10:30 AM and 1:30 PM on Friday, and at 12:30 PM and 2:30 PM on Saturday. Patio behind Hanson Vesterheim Commons.
Children’s Songs and Singing Games: The Camp Sisters Living songs and music games for kids from 12-12:30 PM on Friday and 1-1:30 PM on Saturday. Hanson Vesterheim Commons.
Scandinavian Instruments Hands-On Display: Musician Janette Dragvold will share how to play unique instruments, and visitors can try them out. Friday 10 AM-12:30 PM. Bethania Church.
Hands-On Folk Art Demonstrations and Activities: Folk artists Kitty Latané and Scott Johnson will help children and youth try their hand at tin smithing and kolrosing (incising decoration on wood). Friday 10 AM-12 PM and 1-3 PM and Saturday 1-3 PM. Heritage Park.
Check out the exhibit, “Emigrating to America,” and play the interactive game that leads visitors through a series of decisions as they pretend to immigrate to the U.S. from Norway. The second-floor gallery of Hanson Vesterheim Commons.
Norwegian Handcraft and Culture Kits for Kids: Vesterheim Folk Art School will offer a limited number of free kits and books for kids ages 8+ to explore Norwegian handcrafts and culture. Following the parade in Heritage Park.
Entertainment:
Friday
Bandweaving Presentation by Kathleen Almelien
10:30-11:30 AM
Hanson Vesterheim Commons
This live demonstration and conversation will be magnified on a large screen for all to see!
Activities with Skjaldborg Vikings
Battle Technique Demonstrations
11 AM, 2 PM, and 4 PM
Encampment in Heritage Park
This group from Elk Horn, IA, presents their Viking encampment and entertains throughout the day with full Viking combat demonstrations. Skjaldborg means “fortress of shields.”
Hardanger Fiddle Demonstration by Eden Ehm
11:30 AM-12:30 PM
Heritage Park
Hardanger fiddler from Decorah will speak with guests while playing traditional Norwegian tunes.
Kulokk: Norwegian Cow Calling by Peggy Larson
1-1:20 PM and 3-3:20 PM
Heritage Park
Hear the beautiful musical tradition of kulokk, Norwegian cow calling, which began with young farm girls in the mountains of Norway.
“Harding What? Everything You’ve Wanted to Know About the Hardanger Fiddle but Were Too Afraid to Ask” Presentation by Eden Ehm
1-2 PM
Bethania Church
Hardanger fiddler from Decorah will give a full presentation about the Hardanger fiddle including playing demonstrations and Q&A.
“Hand of the Huldra–Silver Filigree Jewelry” Presentation by Liz Bucheit
1:30-2:30 PM
Hanson Vesterheim Commons
This live demonstration and conversation will be magnified on a large screen for all to see!
Kolrosing Presentation by Scott Johnson
2-3 PM
Hanson Vesterheim Commons
This live demonstration and conversation will be magnified on a large screen for all to see!
Scandinavian Hymn Sing
2:30-3:30 PM
Bethania Church
Led by Rev. Rolf Svanoe and Kimberly Svanoe, everyone is invited to gather in Bethania Church to sing their favorite Scandinavian hymns.
“Nordic Folklore of Butter–Not for the Faint of Heart” Presentation by Darlene Fossum-Martin
3:30-4:30 PM
Hanson Vesterheim Commons
Find out everything about butter!
Saturday
“A Short History of Kroting” Presentation by Rebecca Hanna
1-2 PM
Hanson Vesterheim Commons
This live demonstration and conversation will be magnified on a large screen for all to see!
Kulokk: Norwegian Cow Calling by Peggy Larson
1:30-1:50 PM and 3-3:20 PM
Heritage Park
“Stories on Strings: The Hardanger Fiddle’s Folklore” Presentation by Eden Ehm
1:30-2:30 PM
Bethania Church
Hardanger fiddler from Decorah will give a full presentation about the Hardanger fiddle including playing demonstrations and Q&A.
Activities with Skjaldborg Vikings
Battle Technique Demonstrations
2 PM and 4 PM
Encampment in Heritage Park
See description above.
Butter Mold Carving Demonstration by Josh Torkelson
2-3 PM
Hanson Vesterheim Commons
This live demonstration and conversation will be magnified on a large screen for all to see!
Hardanger Fiddle Demonstration by Eden Ehm
3-4 PM
Heritage Park
Hardanger fiddler from Decorah will speak with guests while playing traditional Norwegian tunes.
Rosemaling Painting on Large Panels with Music by Tara Austin
3:15-5 PM
Hanson Vesterheim Commons
Stop by for two informal 45-minute sessions of rosemaling on large panels to music, almost like a dance!
Supporters
Nordic Fest activities at Vesterheim are supported by Decorah Bank & Trust.
Free Admission at Vesterheim during Nordic Fest is supported by Marvin Bruha.
Programming in Hanson Vesterheim Commons is supported by Jon and Mary Hart.
Folk art demonstrators for Vesterheim’s Nordic Fest activities are made possible in part by a grant from the Madison Torske Klubben Foundation.
Skaldborg Vikings are made possible in part by Viking State Bank.
Nordic Fest Youth Activities are supported by Pete and Kari Espinosa.
Vesterheim Nordic Fest music is supported by Dawn Svenson Holland and Josh Holland, dedicated in memory of Gary and DiAnn Svenson.
