Syttende Mai Pages

Each year the Syttende Mai Executive Committee selects a Stoughton area couple to reign over the Syttende Mai festival. This year's honor goes to Steve & Kris Christenson. Steve was born in Stoughton and they have lived here as a family since 1967. Steve is retired and worked for the State of Wisconsin for 33 years. His family had a family jewelry business in Stoughton for 80 years. Kris is retired and worked as an RN at the Stoughton Hospital for 35 years. They have been very active in Norwegian heritage, community service and church activities.

Current activities include membership in Lions, P.E.O., Entre Nous, Edvard Grieg Chorus, Torske Klubben, Stoughton Syttende Mai Committee, Stoughton Festival Choir, Partners of Stoughton Hospital, Christ Lutheran Endowment Foundation, Christ Lutheran Fellowship Committee and Christ Lutheran choirs. Steve and Kris have three children (Anne, Laura and Susan) and nine grandchildren (Thomas, Davis, Nick, Mitchell, Ellen, Jake, Doug, Ben and Lauren).
 

Syttende Mai
Norwegian Constitution Day
May 17

Our 2008 Syttende Mai festival will be held
May 16^th, 17^th and 18^th, 2008.
Application Forms are for 2008

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.

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.

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.

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.

2008 King and Queen - Steve & Kris Christenson

Photograph by
Smith Photography

Photograph by
Blue Kangaroo Studio

2008
Princess: Kyianna Baker
Prince: Collin Maloney

2008 Stoughton Norwegian Dancers

Syttende Mai Performances: Saturday performances at 2:00 pm
(outside street dance - Main & Division St.)
also, 3:45 & 5:30 pm - Community Building.
Sunday performance at 3:45 @ the Community Building.

Syttende Mai Button >>>

and Commemorative Coin
<<<<

Are available at most Stoughton retailers and businesses.

Come celebrate Syttende Mai with us in Stoughton on the weekend
when everyone claims to be Norwegian!