Kai Robert: A Recent Link in a Wonderful Chain of Norwegian Artists at Nordic Fest

Kai Robert Johansen at the 2013 Nordic Fest

Since 1967, dozens of Norwegian and Scandinavian musical and dancing entertainers have made the long journey to Decorah and Nordic Fest. These entertainers have often been sponsored by both Nordic Fest and Vesterheim. 

Dozens more artists have demonstrated authentic Norwegian folk arts and skilled craftsmanship over 50 years of Nordic Fest experiences at Vesterheim. 

One such link in this beautiful chain of authentic Nordic Fest entertainment is the popular Kai Robert Johansen. Kai Robert has been to several recent Nordic Fest, impressing crowds with his beautiful trumpet playing and fun interactions with his audience. He gives his all on stage! Kai Robert is a renowned entertainer and composer who is based in Sarpsborg, Øsfold county, Norway. 

In his CD titled, "Nordic Fest 2013," Kai Robert wrote:

To Friends in the Midwest!

My repeated visits to several places in the Midwest has been a great motivation for me. I want to collect some of my musical favorites and address them to friends in the USA!

Thank you for so many good memories!
Kai Robert

To learn more about Kai Robert, visit http://www.kairobert.no/index.html. 

Thank you, Kai Robert and all our Norwegian  over 50 years for strengthening Nordic Fest with your cultural and artistic sharing and entertainment! 

The limited edition Nordic Fest 50th anniversary book is now available for pre-sale at 23% off its rate during Nordic Fest. Online pre-sales are available through Monday, July 4, 2016.  It includes 22 chapters, great photos, a spot to record your favorite Nordic Fest memories and a DVD with movie footage from the first event in 1967. Reserve your piece of Nordic Fest history today: http://www.nordicfest.com/site/nordic-fest-50-book.html 

About Town: One day at the Nordic Fest, guest post from Roz Weis

Roz Weis and her husband Greg, taken Christmas 2015. Roz wrote the following copyright article in a July 1986 issue of the Decorah Newspapers, used with permission. Roz's wonderful perspective is especially dedicated to anyone who has had to struggle through missing a Nordic Fest, or who may be struggling with the same feeling now. 

There's nothing else like it.

The feel of a Nordic Fest.

And I'm going to miss out on it this year. Well, I won't exactly miss the whole celebration. I'll be able to cram a full weekend of fun into a few hours on Friday afternoon.

This will be the first fest I've missed in eight years, and I've found something new to add to my own special list of memorable events each year. And by looking at the ever-expanding list of things to do this year, it looks like it will be no exception.

I''ll admit that carrying a camera around with you like a six-gun strapped to your side is bound to make you more aware of the sights and sounds of the three-day event.

There are those folk of all ages in their traditional Scandinavian dress. There's the performers and the visiting artists that add more and more to the festival each year. Then there are hundreds of volunteers making the varme polse, smørbrød sandwiches, and æbelskivers. Of course we can't forget the church workers, and the fest-goers themselves who make the celebration even more special.

I can't imagine what it will be like to come back to Decorah on Sunday and find I've missed some of the charming mix of recipes, crafts and entertainment that make the celebration so unique. 

Gosh, how does one combine three days of festing into a few short hours?

Of course I'll be taking pictures at opening ceremonies on Friday morning (always a crowd pleaser in m book) and I'll run back to the office and grab Dorothy for our annual food booth rounds.

Then I have to stop by my old stomping grounds and at the varme polser booth and sneak a peak at the National Rosemaling Exhibition at the Army Reserve Center. 

I'll want to catch a glimpse at the open air section at Vesterheim and run down to Thomas Roberts High School for the antique show and demonstrations. Oh, I want to get in on the quilt show at Good Shepherd Church and maybe take a quick troll walk.

Then I have to run down Water Street for my annual fest chat with Grant Woldum in his little booth at the intersection of Water and River streets. Grant's the Decorah artist who designs the annual Fest medals.

Wait a second, do I have time to run to the Methodist Church for the craft show? What about the folk music extravaganza at the Viking Theater? Will I make it to all the bake sales and church dinners?

How can I miss the parade, the rock throw, my annual trip to the information booth for a visit with volunteer Barb Hunt? She's the red head sporting a new Scandinavian apron this year. 

Why, I even gave up my 10-year class reunion for last year's Nordic Fest. But I guess my friend Liz's wedding takes priority this year. Colorado, here I come!

See you next week...About Town! 

The limited edition Nordic Fest 50th anniversary book is now available for pre-sale at 23% off its rate during Nordic Fest. Online pre-sales are available through Monday, July 4, 2016.  It includes 22 chapters, great photos, a spot to record your favorite Nordic Fest memories and a DVD with movie footage from the first event in 1967. Reserve your piece of Nordic Fest history today: http://www.nordicfest.com/site/nordic-fest-50-book.html 

Two Weeks Left to Buy the Nordic Fest 50th Anniversary Book at 23% off!

Nordic Fest 50^th anniversary book presales: 2 more weeks to go

The Nordic Fest 50^th anniversary book entitled, “Nordic Fest: 50 Years Strong,” will be available for sale for two more weeks at its best price of $50 per book. Book sales are slated to increase to $65 during Nordic Fest, making presales a 23% savings. Presale orders may be placed two ways:

1.       In person at the Decorah Area Chamber of Commerce during regular business hours via cash or check. Last day to place a presale order at the Chamber will be Friday, July 1.
2.       Online via credit card at www.nordicfest.com. Online presales will be available through Monday, July 4.

For both online and Chamber sales, there is an additional cost if you need Nordic Fest to ship a book for you.

Each full color, 304-page book purchase includes:

•          A space at the back to record your personal favorite Nordic Fest memories
•         A DVD featuring archival footage from the first Nordic Fest in 1967 given by the LaVerne and Barbara Hanssen family, as well as a digitized version a 1991 Nordic Fest promotional video.

Book proceeds after printing costs are covered benefit the permanent placement and proper organization of the Nordic Fest archives at the Vesterheim Norwegian American Museum.

Details of book sales during Nordic Fest will be announced at a later time. Those who place a pre-order will have pickup details confirmed for them when printing is finished.

“Each investment in a Nordic Fest 50^th anniversary book helps move this history project forward. Thanks to so many Nordic Fest volunteers and fans who are making this possible. We’d be honored by your presale purchase,” said Dawn Svenson Holland project co-chair.

For more information, contact nordic fest 50 at gmail dot com. 

Thanks to Scandinavia Institute in American Studies

As the soon to be released Nordic Fest 50th anniversary book explains in detail, many organizations and aspects of life in Decorah prior to 1967 strengthened the event's chances for success. One such example of this is the Thanks to Scandinavia Institute (TTS) in American Studies hosted for many years at Luther College.

This cultural immersion program created lasting connections between Scandinavian educators and program directors at Luther and often included travel in the Midwest and time at Nordic Fest. Director Uwe Rudolf shared a few moments from the TTS

:

Larry Reis, county naturalist explains various plants on the Hayden Prairie to some of the Scandinavian Institute participants

Scandinavian Institute participants preparing to ride bikes provided courtesy of Dean Carolan, who voluntarily refurbished used bicycles abandoned by students

Scandinavian Institue participants are invited for dinner in local homes.  Pictured: Karen Lovland (Norway) Agneta Blomberg (Sweden) with hosts emeriti professors Uwe Rudolf and Ruth Caldwell and Professor Laurie Iudin-Nelson

Scandinavian participants frequently return just to attend for Nordic Fest and revisit Decorah.  Pictured:Kjellaug Bartz-Johanessen with Luther College student worker in dining services, William Liu.

Scandinavian Institute Participants also visit historic sites in Iowa.  Pictured: A group visit to the childhood home of President Hoover.

The limited edition Nordic Fest 50th anniversary book is now available for pre-sale at 23% off its rate during Nordic Fest. Online pre-sales are available through Monday, July 4, 2016.  It includes 22 chapters, great photos, a spot to record your favorite Nordic Fest memories and a DVD with movie footage from the first event in 1967. Reserve your piece of Nordic Fest history today: http://www.nordicfest.com/site/nordic-fest-50-book.html 

Nordic Fest Bus Tours: Preservation Point for Decorah History

Nordic Fest organizers recognized the event as an opportunity to promote return trips to Decorah. Bus tours of Decorah were an important part of that promotion, and Hawkeye Stages of Decorah has been a major sponsor of these tours during Nordic Fest since the beginning. Photo courtesy www.hawkeyestages.com

1977 marked the 11th year of bus tours of scenic and historic Decorah at Nordic Fest. Along with his fellow volunteer guides Jack Anundsen, Gene Johnson, Dean Thurmer, Ken Bjerke and Gene Wicks, Hubert Leseth loved sharing his passion for Decorah as a volunteer tour guide. The following notes from his 1977 bus tour script, provided by his family, preserve interesting aspects of Decorah's history: 

• The current Decorah City Hall stands on land formed by filling in an old bend of the Upper Iowa River
• The Old Stone Mill currently part of Vesterheim began operating as a grist mill in 1851, when power was obtained by running water through a mill race from a dam upstream through a a wheel under the mill. The mill operated until 1966.
• The first power generating station was build in Decorah just four months after Edison began operating his first plant in New York City. The first plant provided power for 20 lights in Decorah and and was located near the present Winneshiek County Courthouse.
• Luther College was moved to Decorah from La Crosse, Wisconsin in 1862. The under-construction Faith and Life Center will be a 3.8 million dollar building that serves as a chapel and auditorium for the performing arts. 
• Tuition at Luther College was free until 1921, when the charge became $60 per year. 
• First Lutheran Church was built in 1876 of brick made on the Luther College campus. 

Thank you Hubert Leseth, and all the Chamber and tourism volunteers who have been building awareness of Decorah through tours for 50 years!  

The limited edition Nordic Fest 50th anniversary book is now available for pre-sale at 23% off its rate during Nordic Fest. Online pre-sales are available through Monday, July 4, 2016.  It includes 22 chapters, great photos, a spot to record your favorite Nordic Fest memories and a DVD with movie footage from the first event in 1967. Reserve your piece of Nordic Fest history today: http://www.nordicfest.com/site/nordic-fest-50-book.html