Nordic Fest is...

On Thursday, July 22, 1982, the Decorah Journal published its annual Nordic Fest edition, just prior to the 16th event. 

The front page welcomed everyone to Nordic Fest with an introduction from an unknown author that reads as follows:

Nordic Fest is...
A time when everyone is Norwegian. 
Music, dancing, arts and food.
A joyous opening ceremony at Courthouse Square that makes you feel proud to live here.
Seeing friends and neighbors in colorful costumes.
Seeing old friends and neighbors you haven't seen.
Campers, hundreds of them.
Food smells that make your mouth water.
House tours, farm tours, bus tours and troll tours.
Puppet show, Pokey Pete, animal barn and movies for the kids.
Antiques, crafts and bunad show.
Horseshoes, rock throw, Evelopet and bucket brigade.
Vesterheim, rosemaling and Norwegian American craft workers. 
Needle workers, quilters and cooks. 
Church suppers, food booths and demonstrations. 
Friendly faces at the information booth.
Watching a parade where you know everyone - even the horses.
Activities at Luther and a visit to the Porter House Museum
Street dancing, fireworks and torchlight parade.
Lots of company.
Nordic Dancers, the Kilties and the Christenson Family Singers.
Cut laws, trimmed shrubs and beautiful flower gardens all over town.
Special guests from Norway. 
Like going home and feeling like you never left.
Velkommen til Nordic Fest! 

How would you finish the sentence...."Nordic Fest is.....?" 

Nordic Fest: Creative Inspiration

A scan of original logo developed for the first Nordic Fest and used for many years

The experience of enjoying Nordic Fest has served as creative inspiration for many over the years, as seen in this example poem written by Valdorf T. Moe of Decorah. The poem was published with the 1989 official Nordic Fest program:

Our little town will burst its seams

In realization of its dreams.

From all four corners of the Nation,

Come crowds filled with anticipation.

Norwegian coloring is there,

With eyes of blue and flaxen hair.

Arts and crafts are on display,

For all to see, day after day.

Folk dances on the Court House Square,

Cause eager crowds to gather there. 

Scandinavian pastries hold full sway,

With Smorgasbords served every day.

Time well filled with simple pleasure,

Our cup oe'rflowing without measure.

Those, whose fathers sailed the sea,

Are proud of their ancestry.

Our friend, whose origin was Killarney,

Speaks broken Norse with Irish blarney.

So three short days go all too soon,

The Street Singers will still their tune.

So as we watch our friends depart,

We know that they have won our heart.

Then we will wait for future years,

To welcome all, again, "with cheers."

And they, in turn, will hold as blessed,

The days they spent at Nordic Fest.

Thank you, Valdorf for sharing your gift of writing and your love of this event with the Nordic Fest 26 years ago! 

Nordic Fest Parade History Tidbits

A Color Guard from Decorah area Veterans' organizations leads off the 2014 Nordic Fest parade. Photo courtesy of Marilee Reinertson Torres, http://i-mrt.blogspot.com/ 

The Nordic Fest Grand Parade has traditionally been the event with the highest attendance each year, with people lining up chairs the night prior and filling both sides of the street as more than 100 entries make their way from one end of Water Street to another. #Nordicfest50 research done to date has revealed some interesting aspects of the history of parades during Nordic Fest:

• A Children's Parade has been a part of each Nordic Fest to date, in accordance with the Norwegian tradition of hosting such activities during holidays that dates back to 1820, most commonly associated with the Syttende Mai Norwegian Constitution Day. Although originally held on the Friday of Nordic Fest, the Children's Parade is currently incorporated into the Grand Parade. 

• A Children's Parade from Rock Island Park to the Courthouse Square just before Opening Ceremonies officially started the first Nordic Fest on Thursday, July 27, 1967.

• Early parades had themes associated with them prior to when each Nordic Fest year had its own overall theme. For example, the 1968 parade, themed "This Is Norway" featured mobile displays depicting cities or areas in each of Norway's five districts. 

• A couple of early parades actually started at near Vesterheim Norwegian American Museum and headed towards the Winneshiek County Fairgrounds, the opposite of today's standard direction. As parade participation grew, staging entries at the open and available Fairgrounds became the best way to accommodate everyone. 

What are your favorite Nordic Fest parade memories? 

Troll Walk Fun Year Round

As mentioned in last week's post, a dedicated group of Luther College faculty and Decorah community members, first organized by Dr. George Knudson, have brought immeasurable education and fun to Nordic Fest with the annual Troll Walks. 

Given that missing picnic basket items and other mischief actually occurs unexplained in Decorah year-round, the Troll Walk volunteers organized the International Troll Information Center, letterhead of which can be seen above. This letterhead was from 1983 and the typewriter produced letter sent with it reads as follows:

August 19, 1983

Mange tak for leading Troll Walks! Not only were people here for Nordic Fest pleased with your efforts; I have also received requests from several foreign nations to provide names of those knowledgeable in troll matters. There may be consulting fees in it for any of you interested in traveling to Afghanistan or Outer Mongolia. 

I believe we should plan for a second annual winter meeting of the International Troll Walkers Association, but it probably won't be safe before hibernation time. Any of you wishing to submit papers for the meeting should contact the Information Center. You will receive a formal program in a later mailing. 

Thanks again!

Sincerely, 
Roger M. Knutson
Corresponding Secretary
International Troll Walkers Association 

Have you reported any troll sightings at Nordic Fest or otherwise to the troll-free number listed above?  

Troll Walks: An Enchanted Part of Nordic Fest Fun

Volunteer Troll Walk guides, also known as Trollologists

One of the ongoing, regular events many years of Nordic Fest is listed in the program as Trollheim: Tur til fots (Tour of Troll Trails). What kind of mischief is this all about? 

In 1973, Dr. George Knudson, Luther College professor of chemistry, as well as passionate promoter of the natural and cultural treasures of the Decorah area, brought his imaginative and fun Troll Walk through the Ice Cave and Dunning Springs areas to the seventh annual Nordic Fest. Dr. Knudson's spirit of fun at Nordic Fest may also be seen here. 

Various books produced over the years regarding the history of the Decorah area have cited that mischief-making trolls joined Norwegian immigrants when making the long journey from Norway to the Decorah area. 

Dr. Knudson built on these legends and tales, added in local history, geology and natural features and Trollheim: Tur til fots was born, providing a one hour family fun opportunity at most Nordic Fests since 1973.  

Although Dr. Knudson and his wife were lost to a plane crash in Alaska in 1977, his colleagues with the Luther College biology department and community members carried on this enchanted tradition. Each guide brings his or her own unique spirit and twist to the Troll Walk story. 

The incredible volunteers who have maintained and developed the Troll Walk tradition include: Jim Eckblad, Ed Epperly, Roger Knutson, Mary Lewis, Dennis Magnuson, Dave Roslien, Geraldine Schwarz, and John Tjostem, 

Luther College is the longtime donor of the vans that carry Troll Walk participants from Downtown Decorah to the Dunning Springs area for the educational walk and attempts to capture trolls in photos. In the 42 years since the Trolls Walks have started, there have been no known clear captures of trolls, despite many photography attempts. 

What have your troll experiences been in Decorah? 

50 years of Nordic Dancers

Nordic Dancers performing near Vesterheim during the 2004 Nordic Fest parade

In an earlier post, more was shared about Nordic Dancer founding director Betty Hacker. The Nordic Dancers have been an integral part of Nordic Fest for its entire history. Student dancers are now selected during the spring of their third grade year and generally spend age eight through age eighteen dancing together. The addition of live orchestra music with the fifth group of dancers brought this beloved tradition to an even higher level of excellence. 

There is generally a senior and junior group of dancers performing at each Nordic Fest. Every five years, when the senior group of Nordic Dancers graduates high school, a new group of third graders is organized. 

Brief highlights of the Nordic Dancer groups over five decades include:

• Group one included 20 student dancers, directed by Betty Hacker, who performed together from 1967 to 1972.
• Group two included 24 student dancers, also directed by Betty Hacker, who performed together from 1969 to 1978.
• Group three included 24 student dancers, directed by Betty Hacker as well as Pastor Paul and Lois Christenson. This group performed together from 1973 to 1982.
• Group four included 24 student dancers, directed by Pastor Paul and Lois Christenson. This group performed together from 1978 to 1988. 
• Group five included 30 student dancers and 7 musicians. The musicians were directed by Jeanette Spilde and the dancers by Betty Hacker, Pastor Paul and Lois Christsenson, as well as Jon and Mary Hart. Theses students performed together from 1984 to 1993. 
• Group six included 24 student dancers and 7 musicians. The musicians were directed by Jeanette Spilde and the dancers by Jon and Mary Hart. These students performed together from 1989 to 1998.
• Group seven included 32 students dancers and 7 musicians. The musicians were directed by Jeanette Spilde and the dancers by Ela Uhl, as well as Jon and Mary Hart. These students performed together from 1994 to 2003. 
• Group eight included 24 student dancers and 7 musicians, directed by Ken Procter & Ruth Procter, as well as Jennifer Larson. These students performed together from 1999 to 2008.
• Group nine included 32 student dancers and 7 musicians. Musicians were directed by Jennifer Larson and the dancers by Jim & Ann Kephart, as well as Deb & Kelly Reagan. These students performed together from 2004 to 2013. 
• Group ten, the current senior group of Nordic Dancers includes 30 student dancers and the usual musicians. Directors are Jim & Ann Kephart, as well as Dwayne & Lisa Lundtvedt. This group started performing together in 2008.
• Group eleven, the current junior group of Nordic Dancers includes 36 student dancers who performed at their first Nordic Fest in 2014. They are directed by Amy Bruening, Elizabeth Bruening, Jeni Holtan Grouws and David Grouws. 

In addition to being a highlight of each Nordic Fest, these eleven groups have served as Decorah and Nordic Fest ambassadors across Iowa, the United States and in Norway several times. 

Were you a Nordic Dancer? If so, what memories would you like to share?

Are you a Nordic Dancer fan? What is your favorite dance? 

How are Nordic Fest Crowds Estimated?

Photo taken along Water Street in Decorah following the 2008 Nordic Fest parade

After the first Nordic Fest in 1967, headlines announced stunning sized crowd of 37,000 attended. News reports from some successive Nordic Fests reported even larger crowds. 

How was this number determined? 

There is the challenge of most Nordic Fest events not being gated and/or requiring an admission fee, which means there are not generally tickets or hard data to be officially counted. While pieces of Nordic Fest like the Historic Homes Tours and the early Fly-In Breakfasts had official attendance data, this does not capture many who are out enjoying non-ticketed activities each year. 

It appears that from 1967 through 1982, the Decorah Area Chamber of Commerce, which recently celebrated its 90th year, used available tourism tools and tips to estimate the number of people in Decorah each day of Nordic Fest. Daily estimates were combined to come up with the estimated attendees each year. 

Here's an example of one year's estimates, from the 1971 Nordic Fest:

• 12,000 people in town Friday
• 32,000 people in town Saturday
• 10,000 people in town Sunday
• 54,000 total estimated attendance, 1971 Nordic Fest 

Although this plan means many attendees were estimated more than once, this is consistent, for example, with the gated Iowa State Fair where daily attendance totals are counted and combined, even if there are people who attend all ten days of that event.

Even with the standards for estimating used by the Chamber for the first 16 years of Nordic Fest, the process was an absolutely inexact science. With that said, the streets of Decorah remain quite full during each Nordic Fest, especially when the weather cooperates, as it often does.  

Even using much more conservative estimates for attendance, Nordic Fest has likely had at least one million people enjoy its non-commercial ethnic fun over the course of nearly 50 years. Impressive!