Calendar
Special Events
Syttende Mai — Constitution Day
Midtsommer Gala — 20th Anniversary
Crossings 2025 — 200 Years of Norwegian Immigration to North America
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On Display at Norway House
Travel with Norway House
Events at Mindekirken
MPI presents Countering Chaos: Navigating Election Disinformation
This Springs’s program of the Minnesota Peace Initiative is a joint effort with the Committee on Foreign Relations MN. Speakar Barbara McQuade and Judge John Tunheim discuss the growing threat of disinformation to democratic elections around the world.
Sámi Inspired Pewter Thread Bracelet Class with Liz Bucheit
We will explore the traditional techniques of triple braiding coiled pewter wire and sewing the finished braid to softened reindeer hide.
Norskeklubben — Mindekirken Norwegian Language + Culture Program
Mindekirken norskeklubben is a Norwegian language and culture group for kids around ages 5 to 12 that explores the theme sanger og fortellinger (songs and stories). With an informal structure, activities may include games, songs, art projects, and dramatic play.
Registration is required, but it is FREE to attend.
Save the Date: Norway House Visits Spring Grove
Save the date for a group trip to Spring Grove and nearby communities like Decorah, IA! Details to be announcedat the Spring Dinner at Norway House on April 23, 2024.
Norskeklubben — Mindekirken Norwegian Language + Culture Program
Mindekirken norskeklubben is a Norwegian language and culture group for kids around ages 5 to 12 that explores the theme sanger og fortellinger (songs and stories). With an informal structure, activities may include games, songs, art projects, and dramatic play.
Registration is required, but it is FREE to attend.
Spring Grove Expo at Norway House
Peruse displays from Giants of the Earth, comic strip characters Han Ola og Han Per, and other Spring Grove organizations and destinations, and see some of the stories from the Giants Oral Histories Project.
Krumkake with the Flavors of Spring
Crispy, delicate krumkake cookies are usually associated with Christmas. However, you can enjoy krumkake all year long! By switching up the flavors, we can make krumkake for any occasion. In this spring-themed class, we'll make strawberry cardamom krumkake and lemon lavender krumkake. We'll cover the basics in this hands-on class, but most of our time will be spent making cookies, so all skill levels are welcome! Bring an apron and a container so you can take home cookies.
Heidi Eger is perhaps best known as our “Lefse Guru” and also runs a lamb farm near Spring Grove which will provide the meat for the fårikål (lamb in cabbage) at our Spring Dinner: An Evening to Celebrate Spring Grove.
Norskeklubben — Mindekirken Norwegian Language + Culture Program
Mindekirken norskeklubben is a Norwegian language and culture group for kids around ages 5 to 12 that explores the theme sanger og fortellinger (songs and stories). With an informal structure, activities may include games, songs, art projects, and dramatic play.
Registration is required, but it is FREE to attend.
Introduction to Spoon Carving with Erik Vevang
Learn how to craft a greenwood spoon and finish the class with your own hand-carved serving spoon!
ONLINE: Unraveling the Knot: Shared and Divergent Designs in Celtic and Viking Knotwork
In this seminar and discussion, teaching artist Jeanine Malec will highlight the overlapping motifs as well as unique characteristics that unite and define these two fascinating historical traditions in knotwork and design. Rounding out our panel, Carstens Smith, Director of Education at Norway House and Steve Griffith, Education Chair and history instructor at Celtic Junction will share their insights on the overlapping histories between Norway and Ireland and how they intersect in America.
2024 Peace Scholars Conference
Six colleges founded by Norwegian-American immigrants in the 19th century came together to sponsor an annual summer Peace Scholars program in Norway, designed to deepen students’ understanding of dialogue and conflict by learning about Norway’s approach to these topics both domestically and abroad.
Students are currently elected through an application and interview process as Peace Scholars—from Augsburg University, Concordia College (Moorhead), Luther College, Pacific Lutheran University, and St. Olaf College—to be awarded a seven-week academic experience including a dialogue-focused pre-week. The Peace Scholars program is an outgrowth of the Noble Peace Prize Forum. The forum was founded in 1988 by the five-college consortium of Augsburg, Augustana (Sioux Falls), Concordia (Moorhead), Luther, and St. Olaf.
The 2024 Peace Scholars conference will include presentations from the 2023 Peace Scholars and a keynote speech: The Rule of Law—The Path to Peace by the Honorable John R. Tunheim, U.S. District Judge for the District of Minnesota. The conference is free and largely open to the public—with a few private engagements—and we welcome you to join us, learn with us, and meet others with a passion and dedication for peace!
Mindekirken Tuesday Open House: Mass for the Nameless
Join our dear friends at Mindekirken for their weekly lunch and lecture program, featuring Ellen Hofsø—author of nine popular fiction books providing glimpses into the lived experiences of the Sami in Scandinavia.
Her most recent book—Messe for de navnløse (A Mass for the Nameless)—was inspired by a mass held by Pastor Gunnar Kristiansen in 2004. Having taken place on a cemetery in Gildeskål, Norway, the mass was for all of the Sami who were buried in an unmarked mass grave. The presentation will be held in a style that is called bokbad (book bath) in Norway, where Ellen Hofsø and Pastor Gunnar will engage in a dialogue about her book.
Viking Knotwork in the Mammen Style with Jeanine Malec (Day 2 of 2)
Learn how to draw zoomorphic Viking designs — for all experience levels.
Norskeklubben — Mindekirken Norwegian Language + Culture Program
Mindekirken norskeklubben is a Norwegian language and culture group for kids around ages 5 to 12 that explores the theme sanger og fortellinger (songs and stories). With an informal structure, activities may include games, songs, art projects, and dramatic play.
Registration is required, but it is FREE to attend.
Author Talk with Kim Donaldson
Kim Donaldson is a storyteller interested in Genealogy, History, Photography and Travel since a young girl. She has been archiving vintage photography and old family stories for years. Magnus and Gina: Unbeaten by the North Dakota Prairie is a nonprofit philanthropy project for the National Association of the Deaf. Kim is the great granddaughter of Magnus and Gina.
Viking Knotwork in the Mammen Style with Jeanine Malec (Day 1 of 2)
Learn how to draw zoomorphic Viking designs — for all experience levels.
Norskeklubben — Mindekirken Norwegian Language + Culture Program
Mindekirken norskeklubben is a Norwegian language and culture group for kids around ages 5 to 12 that explores the theme sanger og fortellinger (songs and stories). With an informal structure, activities may include games, songs, art projects, and dramatic play.
Registration is required, but it is FREE to attend.
Krumkake with Springtime Flavors - SOLD OUT
Crispy, delicate krumake cookies are usually associated with Christmas. However, you can enjoy Krumkake all year long! By switching up the flavors, we can make krumkake for any occasion. In this spring-themed class, we'll make Strawberry Cardamom Krumkake and Lemon Lavender Krumkake. We'll cover the basics in this hands-on class, but most of our time will be spent making cookies, so all skill levels are welcome! Bring an apron and a container so you can take home cookies.
The instructor, Heidi Eger, is also the teacher of Norway House's highly popular lefse classes.
Make Fårikål, the National Dish of Norway - Sold out!
Make the national dish of Norway—Fårikål! This is a dish where the result is much greater than the sum of its parts. Lamb, cabbage, and simple seasonings create a flavorful and satisfying dish. Learn the technique for making this Norwegian favorite.
We will make Fårikål, cucumber salad, and boiled potatoes together. Your instructor, Heidi, raises 100% grass-fed lamb, so she will also give you a primer on how to shop for and cook with different cuts of lamb. We'll be shortening the normally long cooking time for stew by using an Instant Pot, so we'll finish our class by sharing a meal.
Pysanky with a Nordic Flair - Sold out!
Learn to make pysanky, ornately decorated eggs from Eastern Europe and the Baltic countries with Nordic-inspired designs. The artwork is created by repeatedly outlining designs in beeswax and dying the eggs. Renata Fossett will walk you through the steps so you will end the class with a completed egg.
Decorate Påskris (Easter Switch) with Kari Tauring
Learn about the Nordic Easter tradition of decorating pussy willow switches. When Christianity came to rural Norway, Finland, and Sweden around 1200 A.D., the ancient land-based traditions were kept in families and blended with the new church practices.
Make a Recycled Gnome— Fisherman or Hiker - Sold out!
Join Lynn Hjelmen, author of The Recycled Gnome, to learn how to make a delightful Scandinavian gnome from recycled materials. The class project is a 12” Hiking or Fishing Gnome. All the materials needed for the class will be provided. When you are at home, you can create your own gnomes using Lynn’s ideas and sweaters, pillows, sheets, and cardboard, items that you probably already have. Kits for other gnomes will be available from the teacher after class. Her book will be available at Also Ingebretsen’s, located in Norway House.
Author Talk With Gunnar Nerheim
Join us to hear Gunnar Nerheim, University of Stavanger professor emeritus of modern history, speak about his new book. Norsemen Deep in the Heart of Texas: Norwegian Immigrants 1845–1900 will be hot off the press from Texas A&M University Press. This free event is co-hosted with the Norwegian American Historical Society. Books will be available for purchase from Ingebretsen’s, and the Kaffebar will be open for snacks and beverages before and after the talk.
A Gathering of Knots: Viking Knotwork Open Drawing Session
This class will offer an opportunity for students of any previous Viking Zoomorphic Knotwork class to come together for facilitated drawing time to help build skills and community. Come with sketchbooks and drawing media of choice, and we will work through fine-tuning techniques together, sharing successes and challenges we’ve found along the way.
Drawing Ringerike Viking Knotwork with Jeanine Malec (Day 2 of 2)
Learn how to draw zoomorphic Viking designs — for all experience levels
WWII History Round Table: The Viking Battalion (Ramsey County Historical Society)
Join the WWII History Round Table and RCHS for a very special evening as authors and collaborators of The Viking Battalion, Erik Brun, Kyle Ward, and Olaf Minge, share a collection of biographies of the veterans from the 99th Battalion. The battalion was formed by Norwegian-Americans for ground operations in Norway, which was later reconsidered. They showed great valor in the battles of Europe.
Drawing Ringerike Viking Knotwork with Jeanine Malec (Day 1 of 2)
Learn how to draw zoomorphic Viking designs — for all experience levels
SOLD OUT: Evergreen Foraging with Maria Wesserle
Join Maria Wesserle, founder of Four Season Foraging, to learn which evergreens to harvest and which to avoid. Together, you will go over the identification of different evergreen species and how to use them. This class will focus on traditional uses as you make pine-infused vinegar, pine switchel, hot tea, juniper salt, and a bit of juniper butter to spread on tasty slices of rye bread. Suggested age 16 and up (those under 18 should be accompanied by an adult.)
Recycled Gnomes with Lynn Hjelmen
Join Lynn Hjelmen, author of The Recycled Gnome, to learn how to make an appealing Scandinavian gnome from recycled materials. The class project is a 12” Gnome with a Bird Friend. All the materials needed for the class will be provided.
Introduction to Spoon Carving with Erik Vevang
Learn how to craft a greenwood spoon and finish the class with your own hand-carved serving spoon!
SOLD OUT: Coulibiac with Max Stevenson and John Twedt
Coulibiac—salmon, dill, rice, mushrooms, and other good things, baked in a decorated pastry—is one of the best dishes to journey around the Baltic Sea. Join Max Stevenson and John Twedt as they break down how to make the classic coulibiac of salmon, a Thai-inspired version, and a dessert version.
Besteforeldre & Barnebarn Heart-to-Heart with Brenda Hudson
A Grandparents & Grandchildren Heart-to-Heart with Brenda Hudson.