Mange tusen takk for Nordic Fest support

Creative Commons photo credit: https://www.flickr.com/photos/zooboing/

The following letter to the editor appeared in the Decorah Newspapers following the 1994 Nordic Fest. Used with permission. 

Dear Editor:

On behalf of myself and the Nordic Fest Board of Directors, I would like to give a warm and hearty thanks to everyone who helped make Decorah's 28th annual Nordic Fest a success. 

It truly would not be possible without the full and complete cooperation we have from countless businesses, organizations and individuals. Together we, the citizens of Decorah, make things happen. And it's very much appreciated.

Many of us hear visitors express comments on how much they enjoyed the 1994 Nordic Fest and its varied activities. From young to old, lots of fun was had. I have strong suspicions that many of these folks will come back to Decorah in the future. Let's hope so.

If you have not had the opportunity to get involved in the Nordic Fest, please consider it. When you volunteer, you will meet interesting and friendly folks as well as be the good Samaritan an organization or individual needs - and hundreds of hands are needed.

Also, if you care to have visitors stay in your home, you may just find a new and valued friend. When our motels and dorms are full, the modest prices charged for a comfortable bed and bath in a private home may be just the little boost a family's income needs to help cover the cost of something special. This income is well-deserved for the efforts of giving your home the "spit and polish" treatment that makes a visitor feel they're in good hands.

I'm very grateful for the spirit of Decorah and its citizens - urban and rural. It's a great thing to share and that's just what we do - at Nordic Fest. Mange tusen takk.

Cindy Johnson, Decorah

President 1994 Nordic Fest

Nordic Fest routine remains the same: guest post

The following copyright editorial appeared in a post-Nordic Fest 2001 edition of the Decorah Newspapers and was authored by the late Margaret Gulsvig.  Used with permission. 
To learn more about Margaret's life, click here. See August 31 for another of Margaret's Nordic Fest columns.

It is now five years since yours truly's opinion first emerged on the opinion page of this paper.

I'd been at Nordic Fest for about the 100th time, and as I drove back to Wisconsin, I found myself mentally writing my opinion about the weekend and somehow it got in the mail.

Actually, I'd spent the week at Lutherlag at the college (love Lutherlag) just as I'd often done, and one of my classmates said, "Hey, I saw your opinion in the paper."

I've hardly ever missed a Nordic Fest. Once, I'd even taken tickets at the Museum when a group came through from Roland, Iowa. I naively asked if anyone knew a lady named Cora.

"Of course," they said. "Why do you ask?" Well, Cora had been my baptismal sponsor way, way back and I'd always wanted to meet her. It was just one of the typically odd things that you could plan on developing at Nordic Fest. Last year, a long lost cousin from Minnesota was here asking people how to get in touch with me. 

My Nordic Fest routine has always been pretty much the same. First, there's always been a dinner at Washington Prairie where a cousin stood ready to dish up coleslaw and trimmings. 

Parade day is always sitting on the courthouse lawn watching the parade with Bob and Bard - all of it great. But when traffic problems rerouted the parade straight down Water Street, it made curb-sitters out of all ages. Sitting on the curb is okay and there's always good memories of the grandeur of that courthouse lawn. However, sitting curbside once even resulted in us exchanging Christmas cards with those beside us.

And then it was walking up and down Water Street, sampling the wares, some being made inside the store windows, then perching again on the sidewalk curb to take in the entertainment: great music often by beautifully dressed dancers from Norway, great juggling guys and an outfit that made incredible Danish muffins. But don't forget varme polse - a great name for hot dogs.

It was a long, hot walk down what some still call North Alley to see the rosemaling, the wood caring, the Norwegian stitchery of all kinds, as well as sampling sumptuous salivary sustenance along the way, savoring the steak sandwiches created by nearby rural gentlemen farmers, and later trying to decide which church offered the best menu, ending up trying them all.

Meanwhile, the college helped move the traffic with vans offering trips from there, where many visitors found lodging. Local citizens are also in the routine of renting sleep accommodations for the weekend. 

Finally, let's not forget the opera - to show Scandinavian culture is a vital part of the celebration. Yours truly still chokes up remembering the fiddler who played so beautifully from the roof of the stage setting one year at - what else? "Fiddler on the Roof."

Sift it all together and you have Nordic Fest, with cooperation of one and all spelling SUCCESS. Grandma and grandpa must be very proud as they peek down on this great weekend celebration in honor of their coming to this world.

It's five years since someone bumbled into me and announced, "I saw your article." Thanks to one Mr. Fromm, who condescends to publish my sentiments periodically, as well as to all who have made comments, including 100-year-old Lettie Wright, who agreed with my diatribe about email, honoring my mailbox with lovely pink stationery containing a beautifully handwritten letter.

Mange take, one and all - and while you are here - Ta det med ro! 

Past presidents were 2000 Nordic Fest Grand Marshals

Past Nordic Fest Presidents during the 2000 event

As Helen Grant Schmidt reminded us in last week's post, past Nordic Fest presidents served as grand marshals of the 2000 Nordic Fest. Those who served in this special leadership role up until that time, most of whom are pictured above, include:

• Harry Olson, Jr., 1967-1968
• Gary Svenson, 1969-1971
• Paul Hexom, 1972
• Dennis Roseland, 1973
• Phyllis Leseth, 1974
• Hub Christian, 1975-1977, 1979
• Marilyn Roverud, 1978, 1980
• Sue Miller, 1981
• Joellyn Howell, 1982
• Barbara Amundson, 1983
• Chris Haugen, 1984
• Julie Wurtzel, 1985, 1990
• Cam Forde, 1986
• Maureen Yahr, 1987, 1992
• Cindy Wolmedorf, 1988
• Nancy Ruen, 1989
• Jane Bullard, 1991
• Gary Rustad, 1993
• Cindy Johnson, 1994
• Chuck Lore, 1995
• Clark Goltz, 1996
• Jill Amdahl, 1997
• Julie Ahrens, 1998
• Karen Worden, 1999

It is important to note that this list does not include those who served in this important volunteer role since that time, and also overlooks the board team each of these leaders worked with. This list is an important sampling of the kind of community dedication and year-round work that has made Nordic Fest a five decades strong success. 

Reflections on Fests past and present: guest post

Creative Commons photo credit: https://www.flickr.com/photos/104815519@N08/

The following copyright editorial authored  by the late Helen Grant Schmidt of Decorah appeared in a 2000 issue of the Decorah Newspapers. Used with permission.  To learn more about Helen, click here. 

Nordic Fest is not for sissies - or for old folks whose feet have already walked at least a million miles. Most Decorah women devote at least one day of the Fest to preparing and serving food for their church or organization which not only takes some of the time they could have spent on exhibits and entertainment, but also takes a bit of starch out of the sails. (An old saying, for those who are asking, "What?")

I am one of those women so I must decide how much of the Fest I can take in with the time that remains. I begin with good intentions, but barely get started when those old, faithful feet and legs are screaming, "Stop, stop, I can't do this anymore." 

Therefore, when Rick, Sarah, Lisa, Karen and Brian take me to the events I missed, I am most grateful. As I study their great pictorial review, I must about the "good old days" of Nordic Fest when I was able to do it all. 

This year, I missed the weaving exhibit, the rosemaling display, which is always so lovely, the antiques (could I have added another hat pin to my collection?) and all the other demonstrations of arts and craft. I used to love wandering around and taking in all the beauty that was offered. 

I never missed a rock throw when the top contenders were Junior Rovang and a husky blond fellow whose real name eludes me because I always called him Champ.

And what fun it was to feel the residual spray as the Decorah Fire Department battled those of neighboring towns in the water fights. 

I don't remember if they had the run in the first Fests, but when I saw the picture of Trevor Satrom in the 15K Evelopet, I thought of a sleepy little boy I had to wake up from a nap now and then. How time flies.

The Vesterheim pictures take me back to the many Fests I spent playing "school marm" in the old schoolhouse as an outdoor division guide.

The Porter House was another place where I loved my guide duties. This year, their "Christmas in July" brought record-breaking crowds. The decorations by Judy Nye, Pam Mann, Kris Croatt and Midge Kjome were nothing less than spectacular. Lucky for me, I love across the street, not a long walk. 

The torchlight parade and bonfire and/or fireworks were always fun, but this year I "listened" to the fireworks from the comfort of my bed.

I love both groups of Nordic Dancers, and, through the yes, who among us has not watched their favorite dance his or her way to maturity? My particular favorite was Liz Hart.

Of course, I couldn't miss the parade. I carried my trusty lawn chair two and a half blocks to Water Street and sat back to enjoy. 

Nordic Fest began the same year I moved back to Decorah. The marching children always make me think of the early years and how cute Sandy, Candyce and Brandon were, marching in the Norwegian costumes I made for them. Randy marched with the Boy Scouts along with Grandpa Fred Grant, a Silver Beaver Scout. 

The puppets are a fun addition to the parade. I wouldn't want to be on the inside, looking out; it must take strength and balance to man one of them.

The New Minowa Players always seem to come up with something clever for their float, and this year was no exception. Through the 25 years of their existence, I have helped decorate and ridden on several. Always a fun time. My favorite float was a giant typewriter we rigged for "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying."

The comic entries add a lot of spice to the parade. This year's Swat Team rivaled The Vipers of a few years ago.

It was great to have the Decorah High School band participating, and I must confess I didn't recognize the Kilties without the kilts that have made them so unique. 

I never see a parade or marching band without thinking of Professor Russell Platz, the music instructor when I was in high school. He was a perfectionist and had us doing all manner of formations and maneuvers and even doing oblique marching and waltz steps. I can still hear him call, "Guide right" if even one band member was out of perfect line.

I was happy to see the past Nordic Fest presidents being honored this year. What a tremendous job it must be to oversee all the various events and venues, and every year it goes off without a hitch. At least none that are visible to those of us who only watch and enjoy.

Thanks to all of you, and this year's Nordic Fest Board.