SPECIAL EVENTS PAGE

JANUARY

01/25-26/2025, Saturday/Sunday
120th Norge Annual Winter Ski Jump Tournament
Saturday 1/25 11AM – 4:00PM  –  Gates Open at 10:30 AM
Sunday 1/26     Noon – 4:00PM  –   Gates Open At 11:00 AM
https://norgeskiclub.org/
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FEBRUARY

  MARCH

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APRIL

MAY

2025 SYTTENDE MAI ACTIVITIES

**05/17/2025 SYTTENDE MAI LUNCHEON
Saturday, May 17, 2025
Old Orchard Country Club (NEW LOCATION)
700 W Rand Rd.
Mount Prospect, Illinois

**05/18/2025 SYTTENDE MAI PARADE
Sunday, May 18, 2025
Parade and Park festivities:
Sunday, May 18 from 12 Noon - 3pm rain or shine
PARADE: 1:00 PM
Park Ridge, Illinois

**05/25/2025 MINNEKIRKEN CONCERT
Featuring the Minnekirken choir, Normennenes Singing Society and other talented entertaining musicians.

JUNE

06/07/2025
Norsk Museum in Norway, Illinois
Annual Taste of Norway Breakfast and Opening Day Cultural Events
8:00 to 11:00 a.m.
Norway Community Building
3656 E 2631st Rd.
Sheridan, IL.

The Norsk Museum in Norway, Illinois, kicks off its 2025 season on Saturday, June 7, with the Annual Taste of Norway Breakfast and Opening Day Cultural Events, celebrating Norwegian heritage through food, crafts, and festivities.

Two centuries ago, Cleng Peerson led the Sloopers, the first organized group of Norwegians, to America seeking religious freedom. Initially settled on land provided by New York Quakers near Rochester, they faced nine years of clearing dense forests for farming. Peerson then scouted better farmland in LaSalle County, Illinois, leading to the community’s relocation.

From 8:00 to 11:00 a.m., the Norway Community Building at 3656 E 2631st Rd, Sheridan, IL 60551 (off Rt. 71, opposite the Norway Store) will serve a traditional Norwegian breakfast, including fried Kumla, ham, chive-scrambled eggs, fruit cups, and fresh coffee. No tickets or reservations are needed; donations support the restoration of the historic Norway Temperance Hall.

From 1:00 to 5:00 p.m., the Norsk Museum opens with a vibrant display of Norwegian culture. Highlights include the Skagerrak Viking Ship on the lawn, Rosemaling demonstrations by Lynn Sove Maxson and Kathy “Kass” Mufich, stitchwork by Harriet Anderson Bower, and Krumkake-making by Myrtle Duvick. Kids can join a “How to Be a Viking” craft activity, while everyone can enjoy the Viking game of Kubb and Norwegian pastries from the Polar Star and Cleng Peerson lodges.

Run by volunteers and funded through donations and events, the non-profit Norsk Museum operates without tax support. It’s open June through October, Saturdays and Sundays, 1:00 to 5:00 p.m., with group tours available by request during off-hours.

“We’re thrilled to celebrate our heritage with the community,” said Dave Johnson, Norsk Museum Board President. “We invite stories, photos, artifacts, or volunteers to help preserve our legacy.”

Visit www.NorskMuseum.org or call Dave Johnson at (815) 343-5070 for details. Join the Norsk Museum on June 7 for a day of tradition and Norwegian pride.

JULY

AUGUST

SEPTEMBER

OCTOBER

10/3-4-5/2025
CELEBRATING NORWEGIAN IMMIGRATION
THE SLOOPER 200TH ANNIVERSARY
NORWEGIAN HERITAGE WEEKEND
NORWAY, ILLINOIS

Two hundred years ago this coming October, the sloop Restauration brought the first organized emigration of Norwegians to the United States.  Known as the “Sloopers”, those 52 Norwegian emigrants were seeking religious freedom and a better life in America.  Not successful in building a first settlement site in NY, they made their way west and found better farmland in the Fox River Valley area, where they founded Norway, Illinois, the first permanent Norwegian settlement in America.

We invite you to join us October 3-5, 2025 in Norway, Illinois to celebrate Norwegian immigration at a three-day weekend of Norwegian cultural fun. 

We've included a link to the full weekend schedule to give you a sense of all the wonderful activities.

The Culture Weekend begins at 1:30 p.m. on Friday, October 3 at the Community Center in Norway, Illinois, 3667 E. 2603rd Road, Sheridan (Norway), Illinois.

It will feature Slooper and Fox Valley Settlement pioneer history, traditional Norwegian culture and craft programs and classes, Norwegian games and movie night, “Sluppen” fun walk, Norwegian barn dance with Norwegian folk music and food, traditional Norwegian worship service, and a chance to meet descendants of the first Norwegian-American immigrants at their Slooper Society annual meeting.

This is a Sons of Norway District 5 Adult Norwegian Cultural Weekend event in Norway, Illinois, sponsored by Polar Star and Cleng Peerson Sons of Norway lodges, the Norsk Museum, and the Slooper Society of America. 

Weekend pre-registration is required.

Details on all events and activities will be updated as appropriate on:
 Polar Star Lodge website: www.polarstarlodge.com
 Norsk Museum website: https://norskmuseum.org
Questions: Contact Barb Johnson at [email protected] or 630-632-2329.

Contact persons:  Barb Johnson - [email protected]
        Nancy Andersen - [email protected]
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NOVEMBER

DECEMBER