Celebrate Syttende Mai at Vesterheim, Decorah, Iowa, on Saturday and Sunday, May 16 and 17, 2009.
Celebrate Syttende Mai, Norway’s “Constitution Day,” at Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum, with free museum admission on Saturday, May 16 and Sunday May 17. On Saturday May 16, there will be a children’s parade, Decorah’s Nordic Dancers, activities for all ages, milkshakes from the “Moo Mobile,” and food.
Norwegians traditionally celebrate Syttende Mai with a children’s parade—a crowd of excited children marching through the streets waving flags, singing songs, and bringing good cheer to the day. The Vesterheim children’s parade will begin on May 16 at 10:30 a.m. The route starts on Main Street in Decorah at the Winneshiek County Courthouse, then travels north along Washington Street to Water Street, then west on Water Street to Mill Street.
Decorah’s Nordic Dancers will lead the parade and everyone is invited to march along or cheer from the sidewalks. Norwegian flags will be provided for everyone marching.
Following the parade, there will be a dance on Mill Street near the museum led by the Nordic Dancers, with audience participation, and the Nordic Dancers will sell ice cream shakes from the “Moo Mobile.” Inside the museum there will be special activities for children and tours.
The Dayton House will be open for lunch, serving varme pølse grilled to order in the courtyard, and other favorites.
Also on May 16 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. there will be an opening reception for the visiting exhibition Augustus F. Sherman: Ellis Island Portraits 1905-1920, The exhibition of photographs of immigrants as they passed through Ellis Island is sponsored by the Eric and Joan Norgaard Charitable Trust, with special funding from the Alliant Energy Foundation for family-oriented activities.
Syttende Mai is a great time to see an exhibition of student projects from the museum’s Featherlite Pioneer Immersion Program on view May 16 from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and May 17 from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. in the Westby-Torgerson Education Center.
In case of inclement weather, the parade and Nordic Dancers will be canceled, but all other activities will continue as scheduled.
May 17 is the day Norway ratified its constitution in 1814 at Eidsvoll. On “Constitution Day” Norwegians like to focus on children, who will inherit both the spirit of national freedom and the Norwegian heritage and culture that are at the heart of Syttende Mai. Come and celebrate Syttende Mai!
Free museum admission both days from 9:00-5:00. Sponsored by Jeff and Marilyn Roverud.
Where: Vesterheim Museum, 523 W. Water St., Decorah
When: May 16 and May 17, 9am - 5pm
Info: http://vesterheim.org/events/Syttende_Mai.php