Norway Day in Olympia is a Norwegian tradition started in 2007 by members of Olympia’s Hovedstad Lodge #94, Sons of Norway and members of Olympia’s Prillar Guri Lodge #30, Daughters of Norway.

What is it, you ask? Norway Day festival filled with Norwegian music, arts and crafts, and an abundance of Norwegian history, genealogy, and delectable foods with the aroma and tastes of days gone by, but certainly not forgotten. Norway Day is the coming together of Norwegians from around the country to celebrate a unique way of life and a heritage abundantly rich in culture.

The 16th Annual Norway Day Festival will come to life at 10:00 AM on Saturday, April 20, 2024 in the Expo Center at the Thurston County Fairgrounds. Working together, the Sons and Daughters of Norway will create an experience of a lifetime, an experience you will surely want to share with your family and friends, both young and old, year-after-year.

Norway Day offers the unique opportunity for you to participate in a cultural exchange, one where you can don your Norwegian bunad or Norwegian sweater and learn how to search and document your Norwegian roots through genealogical research. Experience the joy and laughter of music and dance from the “Old Country.”  Don’t forget your camera, as they say, “A picture is worth a 1,000 words.” You’ll want your picture taken with the Vikings, the fjord horses and the Norwegian Elkhounds!

Bring your appetite and enjoy the traditional Norwegian pølse med lompe, non-traditional “meatball sundae” and delectables like krumkake, sandbakkels, smulteringer, Oslo kringle, julekake, fattigmann, and much more. There will be lots of artwork, crafts, giftware, and baked goods to purchase, and demonstrations of wood carving and Norwegian waffle baking to enjoy.

You don’t have to be Norwegian or go to Norway to experience the joy of Norwegian culture. Mark your calendar and join us on Saturday, April 20 from 10 AM to 4 PM in the Expo Center at the Thurston County Fairgrounds. Admission is $3. Children under 12 are free with an adult. For additional information, call Joanne at (360) 923-1242.