History of Decorah's Nordic Fest

In 1966, the Luther College Women's Club approached the Decorah Jaycee service organization. The Women's Club no longer wanted to sponsor the annual Sytten den Mai (Norwegian Constitution Day) dinner held on the Luther College campus. They wanted to see Decorah continue to celebrate its Norwegian heritage. Based on this request, several bright community minds started thinking.

Founders Jerry Aulwes, Mike Dahly, Harry Olson, Darrell Pierce and Gary Svenson enlisted the help of Vesterheim Director Marion Nelson and Women's Club member Phyllis Leseth. This team set two goals for their Nordic Fest: celebrating all the wonderful community spirit of Decorah as well as Decorah's Scandinavian heritage. They made non-commercialism an important center of Nordic Fest. Decorah is forever indebted to their tireless efforts, dedication and foresight. The first Nordic Fest was held in July of 1967.

It is also important to remember that Nordic Fest is a nearly whole community effort each year. An all-volunteer board of directors do the main planning and organizing, which is made possible by year-round volunteer support. Nordic Fest is an unbelievable testament to the power of teamwork. The people of Decorah truly put their heart and soul into creating non-commercial Scandinavian family fun.