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The Norwegian heritage of many of Stoughton's citizens is celebrated each year as our entire town and thousands of guests observe Syttende Mai. The words "Syttende Mai" are Norwegian for "seventeen May", and we hold the event on the weekend closest to May 17.
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On that day in 1814, the Norwegian Constitution was signed, giving Norway independence from its 500 year union with Denmark. Stoughton's Syttende Mai celebration dates back as far as 1868, when Norwegian immigration to this part of Wisconsin was reaching its peak.
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Syttende Mai is a very colorful, gala, family-oriented affair with many people wearing authentic Norse costumes. There are folk dancing performances by the world famous Stoughton Norwegian Dancers, exhibits of Norwegian rosemaling (painting) and hardanger (needlework),woodcarving, Norse costume style show, Norwegian church services, smorgasbord of Norwegian foods, a variety of musical performances, and an Ugliest Troll Drawing contest.
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Photograph by
Smith Photography
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Syttende Mai also features an arts and crafts fair, quilt show, Village Player performances, street dances, Viking encampment, canoe race, 20-mile Run, 17-mile Walk, a sailboat race on Lake Kegonsa, a huge Norwegian parade, and local food stands everywhere! A king and queen, and prince and princess are chosen to reign over the festivities.
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2009 Stoughton Norwegian Dancers
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2009 Norwegian Dancer
Row 1: Jens Arneson, Lauren Rosowski, Grace Goepfert, Isabel Stokstad, Michaela Montgomery, Hallie LeMoine, Hope Wahlin, Wendy Sime
Row 2: Sean Gerber, Schyler Hanson, Talia Tyler, Erin Wolf, Greg Krantz, Mackenzie Bower
Row 3: Ronnie Sime, Justin Hale, Danielle Swenson, Ben Deschane, Skip Gerber, Olivia Wahlin, Aaron Frey, Michael Palmer, Matt Geister-Jones
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These are the Rosemaling pieces that are the prizes for the Rosemaling Raffle this year. The pieces are on display at the Nordic Nook in Stoughton. Tickets can be purchased from any WI State Rosemaling member or at the Rosemaling Show at Wells Fargo Bank during the Syttende Mai weekend.
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Come celebrate Syttende Mai with us in Stoughton on the weekend
when everyone claims to be Norwegian!
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The Syttende Mai Executive Committee has selected Rodger Roloff and Joan Laffey-Roloff as this year's King and Queen to reign over the Syttende Mai Festival. Rodger and Jo have lived in Stoughton nearly all of their adult lives.
After graduating from the UW-Madison, Jo and her first husband Jim moved to Stoughton in 1957 when Jo began teaching speech and English, coaching forensics, directing plays, and later serving as a Team Leader for the Stoughton Area School District. She taught in the District for 34 years, retiring in 1995. Jo and Jim raised their family of five children here: son Kevin, and daughters Kelly, Michelle, Colleen, and Judi.
After a three-year enlistment in the Marine Corp and then graduating from UW-LaCrosse, Rodger, with his wife Pat, moved to Stoughton in 1960 when Rodger began teaching history, social studies, and driver education courses, and coaching basketball and tennis. They raised four children: sons Howard, David, and Ken, and daughter Laura. Rodger retired in 1994, also after 34 years of teaching.
For many years, our King and Queen were each active with the Norwegian Dancer Parent Group, as six of their nine children were Dancers. They are both members of St. Ann Church and have volunteered in a variety of ways there and at St. Ann School over the years.
Jo was widowed in 1987, Rodger in 1995, and the two were married in the fall of 1999. Together they have 21 grandchildren (Jo 14, Rodger 7), so they enjoy many sports events, plays, concerts, dance and piano recitals.
Currently, Rodger is a member of the Lion's Club and the Edvard Grieg Men's Chorus. He regularly volunteers at the Stoughton Food Pantry and at Nazareth House. Jo is serving her third term on the Stoughton Hospital Foundation Board, volunteers at St. Ann School, and is a member of the Blue Stocking Book Club, the Heritage Garden Club, and the Stoughton Festival Choir. She has recently published a memoir, Saving Grace, and enjoys speaking to a variety of groups about her book and the struggles, blessings, and gifts of special needs children.
(All profits from the sale of Saving Grace are donated to groups which help special needs children. The book is available at Clock Tower Gifts, Cheesers, Midwest Books, and Silverado Point – or by emailing jorog@charter.net)
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Princess: Katrina Baumeister
Prince: Logan Armagost
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