Thank you for purchasing a Nordic Fest 50th Anniversary Book and DVD

You made this progress possible: mange takk!

Your purchase of the book and DVD combo entitled "Nordic Fest: 50 Years Strong" is most appreciated.Your role in making Nordic Fest 50 years strong through your volunteering, attending and support is even more appreciated!

The Nordic Fest 50th Anniversary Book project team recently presented a check to Vesterheim Norwegian American Museum for $8,334.24 from book sale proceeds. This donation funds the baseline needs for Vesterheim to properly review and eventually prepare the Nordic Fest archives as part of the Museum collection. Your purchase(s) of the book and DVD combo made this gift possible! Mange takk!

A limited number of copies of the "Nordic Fest: 50 Years Strong" book and DVD are now available in the Vesterheim Museum Store in case you need Christmas or other upcoming gifts. 

If you have a personal Nordic Fest story you would like to share that you've added to your copy for a future blog post, please submit it to nordicfest50 at gmail dot com. The Nordic Fest 50th anniversary project blog with dozens of stories that supplement your book content will remain available at http://nordicfest50.blogspot.com. 

Since April 2014, weekly Nordic Fest stories and project highlights have been posted to this space. This blog will remain up as long as possible, but posts will be less frequent moving forward.

Until then, make your plans to visit Decorah throughout the year and attend the 2017 Nordic Fest. Mange takk again for being the core of the celebration of the 50th Nordic Fest! 

Skål,
Dawn Svenson Holland
Volunteer researcher, author and project co-chair

Nordic Fest 50 Book/DVD Project Proceeds Donated

The team of volunteers who worked on the book/DVD combo “Nordic Fest: 50 Years Strong,”represented here by project co-chair Erik Anundsen, right, presented Chris Johnson, President/CEO of Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum, left, with a check for $8,334.24. The check represents proceeds from sales of the commemorative book/DVD combo through the end of August. 

This amount, made possible by the project’s donors and 700 book/DVD purchasers, will be used to fund the baseline costs for Vesterheim to review the extensive Nordic Fest archives over the course of the next two years and properly preserve them, making them available for future researchers. 

A limited number of copies still remain and are available in the Vesterheim Museum Store.

Nordic Fest: 50 Years Strong Book & DVD Combo Now Available for Sale at Vesterheim

The book and DVD combo entitled "Nordic Fest: 50 Years Strong" is now available for sale at Vesterheim Norwegian American Museum Store, 502 West Water Street in Decorah.

The Museum Store is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily in Decorah. The book will be placed online at a later date. 

Prior to, during and immediately after Nordic Fest, approximately 70% of the first print order sold. The remaining copies will be available at Vesterheim while supplies last.  

Stay tuned to this space for future announcements on the Nordic Fest archive project at Vesterheim. 

While Announcements Come Together, Revisiting Thanks

It was 50 years ago this fall that members of the Decorah Jaycees and the Norwegian American Museum started developing their plans for the 50th annual Nordic Fest the following July. For five decades, Nordic Fest has filled the last full weekend in July with memories to last a lifetime. 

The volunteer-driven project, "Nordic Fest: 50 Years Strong" attempted to celebrate a sense of the magic of this 50 year event in a 304 page full color book with space to record the reader's own favorite memories, as well as a companion DVD. 

Watch this space for more announcements soon on the start of the Nordic Fest archives being established at Vesterheim Norwegian American Museum, history project results and impact, as well as the location where you may still pickup your copy of the book and DVD combo entitled, "Nordic Fest: 50 Years Strong."

While these final details come together, it's worth taking another moment to thank at least the categories of people who, just like when Nordic Fest itself was being created 50 years ago, came together, rolled up their sleeves and pitched in for the good of the community. 

Mange tusen takk igjen to:

• Book team members Erik Anundsen, Adrienne Leseth Coffeen, Cam Leseth Forde, Paul Hexom, Josh Holland, Deb Paulson/Zelda Productions, Harley Refsal, Tyler Rinken, as well as Don & Julie Wurtzel.
• The many people and organizations who donated the use of their articles and photographs to ensure the beautiful historical and visual story of Nordic Fest could be told on its 50th anniversary. 
• The dozens of community members who participated in interviews, helped check details, made needed connections and more.
•  The team at Vesterheim Norwegian American Museum who are taking on the Nordic Fest archives in follow up to this project.
• Everyone who bought a book or books to share this story and ensure the success of the project. 

A Note on Dr. Marion Nelson

Dr. Marion and Lila Nelson, photo courtesy Vesterheim

The following letter to the editor appeared in an August 2016 issue of the Decorah Newspapers and is used here with permission:

Dear Editor,

Congratulations to Decorah on a great 50^th Nordic Fest, and mange takk to everyone who purchased a 50^th anniversary Nordic Fest book and DVD! Some copies are still available as you plan Christmas gifts and more. Contact nordicfest 50 at gmail dot com with any questions.

Nordic Fest volunteers dedicate massive behind the scenes passion and effort towards creating the enjoyment of this event. These volunteers are the core of Nordic Fest for all 50 years. For every moment enjoyed at Nordic Fest over 50 years, hundreds of volunteer hours have been committed behind the scenes toward making those experiences possible.

Whether you’ve loved every moment of your Nordic Fests or were upset by a few moments in one parade, consider raising your hand for the Nordic Fest board when the time comes this fall for elections. The experience will likely help you appreciate even more the 50 years of stunning enjoyment community benefit enabled by board and other volunteers.

With that said, the perfectly imperfect process of volunteering means there are times when clarifications are in order due to unintended oversights. During Opening Ceremonies and the Nordic Fest parade, one of the seven Nordic Fest founders, Dr. Marion Nelson of Vesterheim Norwegian American Museum was inadvertently left off of the recognition list.

Marion became the director of what was then the Norwegian American Museum in 1965 and helped the fledgling Nordic Fest ensure authenticity in its planning via the Museum connection and his deep scholarship and passion. His many Nordic Fest contributions include development of the first Folk Art School at Vesterheim for the first Fest in 1967, selection of the last full weekend in July for Nordic Fest due to its historically traveled and rain-free status, and a Folk Music Festival that enhanced Nordic Fest for many years.

Marion and his wife Lila remained an important ongoing part of the Nordic Fest team until their retirement from Vesterheim in 1991 after the 25^th Nordic Fest. Although Marion passed away in 2000, his wife Lila served as a key resource during the research project for this book.

The recognized founding Jaycees – Jerry Aulwes, Mike Dahly, Harry Olson, Darrell Pierce and Gary Svenson (my father), as well as community member and Vesterheim board member Phyllis Leseth all made massive contributions to that first Nordic Fest. Thanks for helping me note that Dr. Marion Nelson did as well.

Regards,

Dawn Svenson Holland

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Guest post: Nordic Fest 50th Anniversary Book & DVD Well Worth It

Editor's Note: While book sales are currently paused to allow for the Nordic Fest fiscal year end, watch this space for more information about where to get your book soon! 

The following letter about the project appeared in the July 22, 2016 Decorah Newspapers and is used with permission. Thank you, Cam! 

Dear Editor:

Decorah is about to make headlines again. Nordic Fest is celebrating its 50th year. As a special tribute to commemorate Decorah’s 50-year celebration of all things Norwegian and to preserve its history, Dawn Svenson-Holland has written a book called “Nordic Fest: 50 Years Strong.”  

Dawn’s father, Gary, was a member of the original board that started planning events a year before the first Fest in July of 1967. His records, files, and pictures were the backbone of the book. Her additional research resulted in many interviews where people shared information, anecdotes, and memories from past Fests. The book is 304 pages long and is filled with details and pictures from each year of the Fest along with chapters dedicated to specific topics such as the planning the first Nordic Fest, Vesterheim, and the Nordic Dancers. There is even a DVD with footage of the first Nordic Fest that is included in the purchase of the book.

All profits will go to Vesterheim so they will be able to archive, catalog, and permanently store all Nordic Fest records.

I urge everyone to buy a copy of this new book, which documents the efforts of the community in putting on an ethnic celebration that has brought thousands of people to our town. Residents have been supportive of the Nordic Fest in so many ways. Working at booths, decorating windows, being in the parade, putting on church suppers, preparing Norwegian delicacies, watching the Nordic Dancers, listening to the Luren Singers, participating in races, dancing in the streets, seeing the fireworks, and enjoying the many musicians and entertainers are some of the many ways we’ve showcased our community with visitors, friends and family. 

The focus of the Nordic Fest has always been Decorah’s Scandinavian roots so exhibits at Vesterheim, indoors and out, have been popular. Handicrafts from all over the U.S. are entered in competitions in folk art. Each year there are countless volunteers who make the Fest work.  The book gives an overview of the complexity of the Fest with all its parts and gives credit and recognition to all the groups who make the Fest the success it has been for 50 years.

This book is a valuable history in one volume and well worth the price. I urge you to buy this keepsake book. Anyone who has been involved in the Fest or enjoyed the Fest as a visitor will be impressed and fascinated by all the details. Thank you, Dawn, for taking on the monumental task of documenting the Nordic Fest. 

Cam Forde

Decorah

Nordic Fest 50th Anniversary Book Project Fun Facts

The Nordic Fest 50th anniversary book project continues as plans are underway to establish the Nordic Fest archives with Vesterheim Norwegian American Museum. 

As the book team knows from the recent years of effort on this project, this is a major undertaking. To Jennifer and the entire Vesterheim team, your efforts are truly appreciated! 

Some copies of the book and DVD combo are still available for sale here;  http://www.nordicfest.com/site/nordic-fest-50-book.html

The following are a few interesting notes from the project to date:

1. To date, shipments of purchased books have gone to 21 U.S states.
2.  One 90 years young Decorah native received a surprise book and return trip to Decorah for the 50th Nordic Fest.
3. The United States Jaycee Headquarters in Chesterfield, Missouri have added a book to their archives in honor of Nordic Fest starting as a Jaycee project. 
4. Decorah's own Nordic Dancers presented a book to the US Embassy in Norway during their post-Nordic Fest tour of Norway. 
5. The Norwegian-American Historical Association at St. Olaf College added a book to their collection. 
6. Many area residents, Decorah and Nordic Fest fans, as well as businesses and organizations made multiple book purchases, enabling the success of the project. 

Mange tusen takk, everyone!