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BRANDED CONTENT - Nordic Fest, Decorah's city-wide celebration, starts with evening ceremonies on Thursday, July 24, and continues all day Friday and Saturday, July 25 and 26. 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. There will be folk art demonstrations, entertainment, and exhibits throughout the campus! Vesterheim demonstrations, displays, and sales Folk Art and Living Heritage Demonstrations: Blacksmithing, forging, leatherwork, stave and bentwood container construction, rosemaling painting, weaving and spinning, Hedebo needlework, knifemaking, ropemaking, lucet work, silver filigree jewelry, pottery, shrink boxes and kolrosing, acanthus and dragon-style carving, beam carving, and Scandinavian instruments. Friday and Saturday, various times between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. around Vesterheim campus. 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, 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. New location at 418 W. Water St. Sylvsmidja: Sales and exhibition exploring jewelry that honors Norwegian heritage. Sylvsmidja is Norway's largest producer of bunad (Norwegian traditional dress) silver, and company owners will share their expertise. Friday, 12 p.m.-2 p.m. Hanson Commons. 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, 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. 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. Supported by Dean Gipp and family in remembrance of Cyndi Gipp. Friday and Saturday, 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. Hanson Commons. District 1 Sons of Norway: This district covers Minnesota, Iowa, South Dakota, Kansas, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Arkansas, Missouri, and Texas. Meet representatives and find out more about the international Sons of Norway organization. Friday and Saturday, 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. Hanson Commons. Swing by Vesterheim for a bite to eat July 12, 21, and 28Vesterheim will be hosting two different food trucks in July. The food trucks will be parked at the Vesterheim Commons Patio and outside and indoor seating options will be available. Pupusas Wendy 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, July 12, during Free Second Saturday! The Hungry Ginger 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Monday, July 21 AND 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Monday, July 28 Vesterheim activities for youth Nils the Giant Nisse and Friends: Take advantage of great photo ops with various nisse around campus. Available from 12:00 p.m.- 4:00 pm on Friday and 1:00 p.m.- 4:00 p.m. on Saturday. Crafts for Kids: (Friday and Saturday, 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.) ·&emsp;&emsp;Cork Boats and other crafts with Decorah's ArtHaus. Commons Patio ·&emsp;&emsp;Tin Whistles with tinsmith Kitty Latiné. Heritage Park. ·&emsp;&emsp;Kolrosing Kits with woodworker Scott Johnson. Heritage Park. ·&emsp;&emsp;Craft with District 1 Sons of Norway. Hanson Commons. Scandinavian Instruments Hands-On Display: Musician Janette Dragvold will share how to play unique instruments, and visitors can try them out. Friday 10:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Bethania Church. What Immigrants Brought in Their Trunks Presentation: with Vesterheim Collection Manager Jennifer Kovarik. This program is great for school-aged children to adults. 1:30 p.m.-2 p.m. Hanson 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. Vesterheim entertainment Vesterheim's campus will be packed with programming on Friday and Saturday. Entertainment includes Viking battle technique demonstrations, concerts with fiddlers Erik Sessions and Joshua Vorvick and the Rochester Flute Choir, a Scandinavian Hymn Sing, and presentations about kransekake, the 200th anniversary of the voyage of the Restauration, and much more. Visit Vesterheim's Events Calendar for a full schedule and list of entertainers. Vesterheim Exhibitions Past/Present/Future of Folk Art Come see contemporary artwork inspired by Norwegian folk art traditions. Some pieces will be for sale, and there will be a People's Choice Award, selected by popular vote from exhibit visitors. 200 Years of Norwegians in America Commemorate the 200th anniversary of Norwegian immigration with stories featuring artifacts from the Vesterheim collection. Pioneering Pages: Forming the New American Woman Featuring Norwegian-Americans Ida and Mina Jensen and their magazine, Kvinden og Hjemmet, that empowered immigrant women with knowledge, advocacy, and community. Scandinavian American: Photography by National Geographic Explorer Erika Skogg (In Vesterheim Commons) A selection of photographs showing the lifestyle, celebrations, and traditions of Scandinavian American communities throughout the Midwest. 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. Extend your Nordic Fest festivities with a Folk Art Class!The following folk art classes take place at Vesterheim just after Nordic Fest wraps up. They are a great opportunity to take your celebration of Nordic culture to the next level! ·&emsp;&emsp;Varafell Weaving on a Warp Weighted Loom July 28-August 1 Discover the ancient art of Varafell weaving, a traditional Viking-age technique closely related to rya weaving. You won't want to miss this unique opportunity to learn from visiting Norwegian instructor Marta Kløve Juuhl! ·&emsp;&emsp;Viking Style Padlock July 28-30 Students with prior blacksmithing experience will forge a working padlock reminiscent of those used by Vikings. ·&emsp;&emsp;Tinwork Lantern July 28-30 All skill levels are welcome to create a tin lamp inspired by a piece from the Vesterheim collection. ·&emsp;&emsp;Intro to Knifemaking: The Bruk Kniv July 28-30 In this beginner-friendly class, students will make a Norwegian bruk kniv, or farm knife – a tool meant for everyday use. This is a simple unadorned knife with no silver mountings on it or the sheath – a knife you won't be afraid to use! Branded content produced by Versterheim.

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Vesterheim Shows Up Big for Nordic Fest