Decorah Goes Nordic for a Day at Early Syttende Mai Celebration

Our newsroom runs on more than coffee and craft beer — it runs on you. Support Decorah News' local reporting today. DECORAH — Vesterheim, the National Norwegian-American Museum and Folk Art School, invites the public to celebrate Syttende Mai, Norway's Constitution Day, a few days early on Friday, May 15. Activities include a children's parade, Nordic Dancers, folk art demonstrations, a live fiddle and guitar concert with Erik Sessions and Joshua Vorvick, folk art activities, free ice cream and more. Admission is free all day. The museum and store will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Syttende Mai commemorates Norway's 1814 ratification of its constitution at Eidsvoll. Celebrations in Norway typically include large crowds, especially children, marching in the streets, waving flags and singing. Vesterheim's Syttende Mai activities are supported by a gift to the Vesterheim Annual Fund from Marvin Bruha. The concert is supported by Bob and Mary Jane Lake, and the ice cream is provided by Decorah's Sugar Bowl. The music performance will be from 12 to 12:45 p.m. in Vesterheim Commons. Sessions and Vorvick have performed throughout the region for nearly a decade and will present a set of Scandinavian music ranging from ancient melodies to Nordic roots favorites and traditional Norwegian-American dance tunes. The children's parade through Vesterheim Heritage Park begins at 1 p.m., followed by a performance by Decorah's Nordic Dancers on Mill Street next to the museum building. Norwegian flags will be distributed, and attendees are invited to march or cheer from the sidelines. The Nordic Dancers were founded in Decorah in 1966 and include senior and junior groups. Additional activities include a carving demonstration by Rebecca Hanna from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the museum store, hands-on craft activities from 11:30 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. and a guided tour of Heritage Park at 10:45 a.m. Free ice cream will be available from 1 to 1:45 p.m. Syttende Mai also offers a final opportunity to view the exhibit "Pioneering Pages: Forming the New American Woman," which closes May 18. Other exhibits on display include "Red River Girl: From Telemark to the Buffalo" and "Lars Fletre: Resistance, Resilience, Artistry." In case of inclement weather, the parade and Nordic Dancers performance will be canceled. All other activities will continue as scheduled. Be the first to know! Sign up for the free newsletter and unlock exclusive updates, breaking news, and tips from around the community.