What Nordic Fest Memories are Going in the Back of Your Book?

What favorite Nordic Fest memories are you writing in the back of your copy of "Nordic Fest: 50 Years Strong," or what new journeys has reading the book taken you on?

One book reader shared that a photo from the first Nordic Fest in the book reminded her of a bunad her late mother made for her. This Decorah resident wore the bunad to serve lemonade at the Porter House Museum during the first Nordic Fest, which also marked the first time the Museum grounds were open to the public. 

When this Decorah resident locates this family heirloom bunad, it will be passed on to her granddaughter, who is named in her mother's honor. Nordic Fest traditions continue on indeed!

If you still would like a copy of the "Nordic Fest: 50 Years Strong" book and DVD combination, visit the Nordic Fest website to place an online order. Orders may be placed for pickup at the Decorah Area Chamber or shipment to you. 

All project proceeds support the permanent placement and proper organization of the Nordic Fest archives with the event's 50-year partner, Vesterheim Norwegian American Museum. 

If you would like to submit your favorite Nordic Fest memories for a future guest blog post here, please comment below or email nordic fest 50 at gmail dot com. 

Nordic Fest: 50 Years Strong: Some Copies Still Available

Some copies of the book and DVD combo entitled, "Nordic Fest: 50 Years Strong" are still available online at www.nordicfest.com for $50 each. Proceeds support the project to permanently place the Nordic Fest archives with Vesterheim Norwegian American Museum starting in late 2016.

This historical Nordic Fest retrospective features 304 full color pages, a section at the back to record your own Nordic Fest memories, and a DVD with movie footage from the first Nordic Fest in 1967, as well as a digitized copy of a promotional video from the 25th Nordic Fest. 

Purchased books may either be picked up at the Decorah Area Chamber at no charge or shipped by the project at a cost starting at $8 for one book. 

Book purchaser Rebecca Hanna said, "It was delightful reading about all the Nordic Fests of the past 50 years and seeing all the photos of so many Decorah residents and volunteers that I happen to recognize. Even though I wasn’t present at all the fests, I made the first one and the last thirty-some years. I’m glad I picked up this keepsake book so I can keep reliving these fond moments from the past.” 

Nordic Fest 50th Anniversary Book Project: Preliminary Results

What a wonderful 50th Nordic Fest just wrapped up in Decorah!

Watch this space for additional reporting soon, but here's a look at preliminary success indicators for the Nordic Fest 50th Anniversary Book project. You made this success happen: mange tusen takk!

1. Before anyone had seen the results of the project (first available to the community on July 16), incredible community volunteers and Nordic Fest fans invested in 420 books and DVDs.
2. The Decorah Area Chamber of Commerce staff and volunteers made significant contributions to this project by providing a local presale purchase as well as book pickup location. 
3. Early project supporters donated more than $5,000 to the project. This allowed for the following project expenses to be covered prior to the start of book sales:
• Professional transcribing of interviews
• Purchase of a DVD burner, DVDs and cases to accompany each book 
• Partial book layout expenses
4. Massive in-kind support was dedicated to this project by volunteers who researched and wrote the book, edited it, wrote the introduction, scanned the photos, produced the DVD and more. 

Nordic Fest 50th Anniversary Book and DVD $50 Rate Extended Through Nordic Fest

In appreciation for everyone who has made 50 years of Nordic Fest in Decorah possible, the $50 rate for the limited edition book and DVD has been extended through Nordic Fest July 28-30, while supplies last.  

Books are available online at www.nordicfest.com and at Nordic Fest Headquarters at the Decorah Area Chamber of Commerce, 507 West Water Street throughout the event. There is an additional fee if shipping of a book or books by Nordic Fest is needed. Organizers report book sales are strong.

Nordic Fest hosted its first event in 1967 as a Decorah Area Junior Chamber (Jaycee) and Vesterheim joint project focused on the authentic Norwegian cultural connections present in Decorah. Nordic Fest remains uniquely nonprofit and noncommercial across its 50 year history. Nordic Fest continues due to the dedication of a wide array of community and Vesterheim volunteers, as well as the support of the Decorah Area Chamber of Commerce.  

All project proceeds will be given to Vesterheim Norwegian American Museum to support their intake and proper organization of the Nordic Fest archives during 2016 and 2017..

The project also has a blog at http://nordicfest50.blogspot.com.

The full 50^th Nordic Fest brochure is also now available at www.nordicfest.com.  

Fifty Years of Nordic Fest! Guest post by Dr. Elwin D. Farwell

Dr. Elwin D. Farwell on campus during his tenure as Luther College President, 1963-1981.
Photo courtesy Luther College Archives, Creative Commons License, https://www.flickr.com/photos/luthercollegearchives/ 

Editor's Note: With the week of the 50th Nordic Fest here, the Nordic Fest 50 team is honored to publish this guest post from Dr. Elwin D. Farwell, who served as Luther College President as the first Nordic Fest came together in 1967. Dr. Farwell and his wife Helen set a beautiful tone for Nordic Fest being good for Luther College and Luther College being good for Nordic Fest across 50 years. 

Fifty years, half a century of Nordic Fest! Each one distinctive and a showcase for Decorah. I recall Dale Ahern, newspaper editor lamenting all the events of May in Decorah, then nothing until September. We really needed some event to bridge the long summer months. And so the birth of Nordic Fest! 

Each year it is a new experience - an opportunity for Decorah to showcase its beauty and uniqueness. We who live here are blessed throughout the years but in late July we can share our quality of life with visitors from far and wide. And they come!

We who live in this beautiful valley named for an Indian chef really are a privileged people. We have the Upper Iowa River, recreational facilities, golf courses, exceptional schools - Luther College and nearby, in Calmar, the fine Northeast Iowa Community College.  

Helen and I thank God for the people of Luther who invited us to leave California and come here 53 years ago. Our California friends thought we were crazy for leaving that climate. But they were wrong! 

In preparation for Nordic Fest, we share generously and put on our finest hospitality. The parade is one of my favorite events. I appreciate the marching bands, the floats with queens and the comic characters. 

This huge crater - the valley of the Upper Iowa becomes a time during Nordic Fest where we show to visitors the best of life. Merchants display a welcome and show their best with those drawn to the life and culture of the town. And everyone cooperates to make the Fest better each year. 

We consider living here a privilege. Decorah is a special place - made so by special people - not just Norwegians but adopted English and Germans, Danes and even Swedes!  There is a fine ecumenical spirit that visitors sense when they come, and it is valid because that is how we live, what we believe, and what we share. 

Nordic Fest 50th Anniversary Book Presale Rate Continues through Wednesday, July 27

Area residents and Nordic Fest fans have until Wednesday, July 27 to purchase their copy of the Nordic Fest 50^th anniversary book and DVD entitled, “Nordic Fest: 50 Years Strong” at the special rate of $50, 23% off of its regular price.

Books are available online at www.nordicfest.com and via cash or check at the Decorah Area Chamber of Commerce, 507 West Water Street during regular business hours. There is an additional fee if shipping of a book or books by Nordic Fest is needed.

"It was delightful reading about all the Nordic Fests of the past 50 years and seeing all the photos of so many Decorah residents and volunteers that I happen to recognize. Even though I wasn’t present at all the fests, I made the first one and the last thirty-some years. I’m glad I picked up this keepsake book so I can keep reliving these fond moments from the past,” said book purchaser and Vesterheim Norwegian American Museum Folk Art Gold Medalist Rebecca Hanna.

The 50^th Nordic Fest also marks the 50^th year of the Folk Art School and Exhibition at Vesterheim. www.vesterheim.org.

Nordic Fest first took place in 1967 as a Decorah Area Junior Chamber (Jaycee) and Vesterheim joint project focused on the authentic Norwegian cultural connections present in Decorah. Nordic Fest remains uniquely nonprofit and noncommercial across its 50 year history. Nordic Fest continues due to the dedication of a wide array of Vesterheim and community volunteers, as well as the support of the Decorah Area Chamber of Commerce.  

All project proceeds will be given to Vesterheim Norwegian American Museum to support their intake and proper organization of the Nordic Fest archives during the fall of 2016 and the spring of 2017.

The full 50^th Nordic Fest brochure is also now available at www.nordicfest.com.  

1991 Promotional Nordic Fest Video

The 50th Nordic Fest is almost here! Where does the time go?

In celebration of this special anniversary year, today's post looks back at a promotional video recently transferred from VHS from 25 years ago - promotion of the 1991 Nordic Fest.

A few hairstyles may have changed, but the core strengths of Nordic Fest remain:

• Genuine cultural heritage celebration
• Non-commercial fun with tremendous nonprofit benefit, especially over the event's 50 years 
• All with the backdrop of the stunning Driftless area of Decorah, native home and chosen home for many wonderful people who have made 50 years of Nordic Fest possible

See you in Decorah soon!