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Norwegian Christmas CelebrationDecember 6, 2025
10 AM-4 PM
Kick off the holiday season with the annual Norwegian Christmas celebration at Vesterheim!
The Museum Building will be open from 10 AM–4 PM with free admission for youth under age 18. Vesterheim Hanson Commons and the Museum Store will be open 9 AM–5 PM
Enjoy Norwegian holiday traditions like a Juletrefest (Norwegian Christmas tree party of singing around a decorated tree) with a visit from the Julenisse and Julebukker, costumed folk who roam the museum complex scaring away evil spirits.
Activities Schedule:
10 AM – 3:30 PM Take a picture with Nils, the Giant Nisse, outdoors in Vesterheim Heritage Park.
10 AM – 3:30 PM Get involved with crafts in both the Museum and Vesterheim Hanson Commons.
11 AM – 3 PM Stop by and see the goats from the Lost Pine Farm in Decorah, Iowa.
11:30 AM and 1 PM Join Jultrefest in Vesterheim Hanson Commons. Dragonfly Books in Decorah has generously donated copies of The Snowman by Raymond Briggs. These books will be distributed to children during the Jultrefest celebrations. One book per family, please.
Warm up with hot drinks and Scandinavian s’mores around a fire or bites of traditional Norwegian lefse treats – all free – located on the patio behind Vesterheim Hanson Commons.
There will be plenty of live music, folk art demonstrations, and Norwegian treats! Don’t forget about holiday shopping!
Performance Schedule:
10 AM – Eden Ehm Hardanger Fiddle Concert, Bethania Church
11 AM – Decorah Chorale, Bethania Church
11:45 AM – Decorah High School Madrigal Singers, Museum Building
12 PM – Northern Lights, Bethania Church
1 PM – Luren Singing Society, Bethania Church
Folk Art demonstrators will be in the Museum, Museum Store, and Vesterheim Hanson Commons from 10 AM to 3:30 PM
Oneota Weavers Guild will be selling various items in the Bruening Welcome Center, Westby-Torgerson Education Center and the Norman Borlaug Heritage Foundation selling julenek (wheat sheafs) in Heritage Park.
Thank you to our generous supporters!
This event is supported by a generous gift in memory of Darrel Morf.
Additional support is made by:
Generous gifts in memory of Lois Christenson support the music at Norwegian Christmas.
Youth Programming is supported by a generous gift by Walmart.
Juletrefest is supported by a gift from Milly Rugland in memory of Walt Rugland.
Demonstrators at Norwegian Christmas are supported by a gift from Jon and Mary Hart.
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Event Venue
502 W Water St, Decorah, IA, United States, Iowa 52101
Tickets
Concerts, fests, parties, meetups - all the happenings, one place.