While recapping the 2000 Nordic Fest, a Decorah Newspapers article recapped good feedback on the authenticity of the event through the following article excerpt:
As usual, the Fest drew a wide variety of people from all over the United States and Europe.
Catrin Berg, a graduate student from Oslo, Norway, was visiting the Fest to do her master's thesis on the impact of ethnic festivals.
"Nordic Fest seems quite genuine," she said. "The embroidery on the bunads and the food are authentic. I expected more t-shirts and caps"
Berg heard of Nordic Fest through a Norwegian magazine's coverage of Crown Prince Haakon's visit to Decorah in June 1999.
"This area is obviously proud of its heritage," she said.
Rune Langedal of Keokuk immigrated to the United States from Norway 15 years ago. This is his 10th Nordic Fest.
"It's cheaper coming to Decorah than flying home," he said.
Langedal was visiting with a member of Luther College's Scandinavian Institute when he learned the woman he was talking to was from the same town in Norway as his daughter.
"She asked me the name of my daughter and granddaughters," he said. "As it turns out, she is my youngest granddaughter's kindergarten teacher."
Langedal said the woman had told his granddaughter she was going to America and his granddaughter said, "You will meet my grandpa there."
"And she did," he said with a laugh.
Photo above credit: https://www.flickr.com/photos/66586176@N00/. Creative Commons license.
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