Catch the Action at Decorah's Nordic Fest

Skjaldborg reenactors

Vikings, folk-art, theater productions, storytellers, art demonstrations, and more—that's what you'll find when you visit Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum during Decorah’s 47th Annual Nordic Fest. This year's festival, themed “All Trails Lead to Nordic Fest,” runs July 25–27.

Here are just of few of the events Vesterheim will be hosting during the festival weekend:

The museum's “National Exhibition of Folk Art in the Norwegian Tradition” will be on display through July 27, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, in the museum’s Main Building. Enjoy an exhibition of knifemaking, rosemaling, weaving and woodworking by contemporary American artists.

Three artists from Norway—weaver Marta Kløve Juuhl, knifemaker Morten Håkonsen, and rosemaler Turid Helle Fatland—will be on hand to demonstrate their work.

An original children’s theater production “East o' the Sun & West o' the Moon”—a collaboration between Vesterheim, Upstart Crow Theatreworks, and Arthaus—is inspired by lives and writings of Asbjørnsen and Moe, who collected and published traditional Norwegian tales and legends during the nineteenth century.

The re-enactment group “Skjaldborg,” returns this year from Elk Horn, Iowa. Visit their Viking camp in the museum’s Open Air Division to see how the Vikings lived and to see one of their full combat demonstrations.

Craft demonstrations

Living heritage demonstrators from Minnesota, Michigan, Indiana and Wisconsin will exibit blacksmithing, figure carving, leather work, knifemaking, woodturning, chair-making and more.

Of course Vesterheim's events are just a portion of what Nordic Fest has to offer. You can learn more about activities for the whole family, including dancing, sporting events, food and plenty of entertainment, by calling 1-800-382-FEST, or visiting the Nordic Fest website. Looking for more Nordic fun this summer? Check out the Kalender each month in Viking magazine!
 
Amy Boxrud is editor of Viking magazine. She lives with her family in Northfield, Minn., where she’s a member of Nordmarka 1-585.