Summer in Full Bloom: Nordic Fest Begins

DECORAH, Iowa—As July stretches into its sun-drenched finale, Nordic Fest arrives in Decorah like a familiar friend; radiant, rowdy, and deeply nostalgic. For many, myself included, it marks the beginning of the end of summer. The season wraps us in one final embrace, warm and wild, as we gather in the thick of the heat for a celebration that is as much about community as it is about culture. Water Street swells with laughter and the aroma of Norwegian cuisine, as long-absent friends reappear like clockwork. Some have been off on their own winding journeys, while others simply retreated into the quiet rhythm of daily life. But Nordic Fest draws them back, even if only for a day, to remember what a hometown should feel like, familiar, joyful, and undeniably sunburnt. Every year, we remind each other to wear sunscreen and drink water, words of wisdom passed between bites of lefse and sips of iced coffee. (Personally, I don't trust anything less than SPF 100. What's the point of anything less?) Two things always strike me during the opening ceremonies at the courthouse. First: I'm consistently surprised when someone tells me they've never attended them. Second: I'm equally amazed at how many people can squeeze onto the courthouse lawn. It's a sea of lawn chairs, strollers, and shaded picnic blankets. A beautiful, eclectic showing of Decorah's collective memory. This year, the Nordic Fest Board, led by President Cole Steffen and Vice President Sarah Brandt, delivered a very welcome surprise: a streamlined ceremony, trimmed down by approximately 30 minutes. Given the truly oppressive heat, the shorter program was met with quiet gratitude and louder applause. The board has clearly listened to the community and delivered. Despite the shorter program, it still managed to encompass the same feelings it always has, with Luren Singers, Nordic Dancers, the presentation of the flags, and speeches from board members and Mayor Lorraine Borowski. Looking back at all the fests I've been to, it's hard not to notice how much the event has grown in almost every conceivable way. Nordic Fest is, at its heart, a celebration of heritage, yes, but it's also a ritual. A return. A reminder that our lovely little town has a heartbeat that echoes loudest in the thickest heat of the year. And so we sweat, we hug, we eat something pickled, we overrun the lefse booth, and we do it all again next year.