Main Events

Sy� ende Mai Folk Fes� val May 14-16, 2021

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 “seventeenth of 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 in this part of Wisconsin was reaching its peak. Syttende Mai is a very colorful, family-oriented affair with many people wearing authentic Norse costumes or bunads. There are folk dancing performances by the world-famous Stoughton Norwegian Dancers, exhibits of Norwegian rosemaling (painting) and hardanger (needlework), Norse Costume show, Norwegian church services, smorgasbord of Norwegian foods and a variety of musical performances. The 2021 Festival will be celebrated with a variety of streamed programming and independent activities. Follow the festival on Facebook@SyttendeMaiStoughton and www. StoughtonFestivals.com to see how you can celebrate with us this year.

Taste of Stoughton June 19, 2021

The Taste of Stoughton is taking on an even bigger presence in 2021 with local Stoughton vendors offering the best of their menus! This year we are happy to have a local brewery, cidery & winery owned by Stoughton residents joining the event! What goes best with food and drink? Live music!! Musicians will be jamming the stage the entire day from 11 a.m. - 8p.m. The Taste of Stoughton is an annual event, this year located in Nordic Ridge Park on the SW side of town. It occurs every 3rd Saturday in June, so mark your calendars! Kids can enjoy the splash pad, local park & entertainment. Vendors will have food for sale, as well as beer & wine. General admission is free. ALL proceeds go to Stoughton Parks & Rec. Bring your blankets, chairs & kids to enjoy a day of local food, drink, music all while supporting the community!

Stoughton Fair June 30 - July 4, 2021

Summer is not complete without a family trip to the fair. Held on the grounds of Mandt Park near downtown Stoughton, this fair is one of the last free fairs in the state. It features activities from tractor pulls to demolition derbies, animal exhibits to carnival rides, lawn mower races to fi reworks and of course lots of food. Be sure to experience the best of Americana with a visit to the Stoughton Fair. Learn more about the Stoughton Fair by visiting their website: www.stoughtonfair.com

Coff ee Break Fes� val August 21, 2021

Stoughton is Home of the Coffee Break! In the late 1800s, Norwegian immigrants arrived in the Stoughton area in large numbers, attracted here by the availability of work in T. G. Mandt’s wagon factory. With the men busy building wagons, local tobacco warehouse owners hired the women of Stoughton for seasonal tobacco work. The women found the Gunderson Tobacco Warehouse, at the corner of Main and Coffee Streets (now Hillside St), an ideally located place to work, as it was near enough to their homes that they could periodically run home to check on their families, houses, and the meal in progress. While home, the women took a minute to rest and help themselves to a cup of coffee from the pot always hot on the stove. With this simple habit, the coffee break began — a brief time to relax and enjoy a cup of coffee before heading back to work. Today, Stoughton celebrates our claim as the birthplace of the coffee break with a day-long festival. Events include a coffee “brew off” between roasters, the Cup o’ Joe All Wheels Show, a beanspitting contest, an arts and crafts fair, food, beer

and more. A variety of entertainment, food stands, and of course, plenty of coffee, are all part of the festival. What better way to commemorate the home of the coffee break than to come down and relax in beautiful Mandt Park with a cup of coffee. Victorian Holiday Weekend December 2-5, 2021

All too often, the warm spirit of the holidays is lost in the shimmer of retail glitz. It’s always heartwarming to remember simpler times and connect with family and friends in the true spirit of the season. There’s no better place to do that than during Victorian Holiday Weekend. Victorian Holiday Weekend is a perfect weekend for friends, couples, or families with children. There are many activities to choose from: stroll through a home tour, see a show, browse the art fair, decorate holiday cards or cookies, and be dazzled by the illuminated fi re truck parade. You can also enjoy music at the Opera House, local art galleries, and shop the unique stores and boutiques of this historic, artistic community. Don’t forget to check out the evening Holiday Light Display in Stoughton Rotary Park.

Des� na� on Stoughton

Norwegian Weekends Throughout the Year

The Sons of Norway Mandt Lodge has formed a group called the Stoughton Norwegian Summit Group, bringing together almost twenty groups, businesses and organizations that have an interest in Norwegian Heritage and culture in the greater Stoughton Area. Working with the Stoughton Chamber of Commerce, the purpose of the group is to promote each other’s events, activities and membership while supporting tourism in Stoughton. The Norwegian Summit Group offers two “Destination Weekends” focusing around key Norwegian events in Stoughton. Instead of having a single event, the group creates supporting activities to make the event part of a weekend. People can look forward to performances at the Stoughton Opera House, local music groups, and the world-famous Stoughton Norwegian Dancers during these events, as well as other unique and interesting demonstrations and displays. In the fall, the Wisconsin State Rosemalers Association’s fall sale is the main attraction, and the sale always occurs on the last weekend in October. In the spring, the Stoughton Norwegian Dancers’ Norse Afternoon of Fun is the featured event. That always happens on the second weekend in February.

Livsreise-Norwegian Heritage Center

To commemorate and celebrate Stoughton’s strong Norwegian culture, the Bryant Foundation gifted the city with a Norwegian Heritage Center called Livsreise – “Life’s Journey.” The facility tells the Norwegian immigration story from 1825-1910 with interactive maps, a museum area with immigration and local artifacts, temporary exhibits, a genealogy center and an auditorium for video streaming and presentations. Come experience this glimpse of immigration to America through Stoughton’s story! Norwegian Dancers Goodwill Ambassadors of Stoughton

The Stoughton Norwegian Dancers are a worldrenowned dance group made up of Stoughton High School students. The group has performed all across Wisconsin and throughout the world. For over 50 years, the Stoughton Norwegian Dancers have been entertaining audiences of all ages with their incredible dancing authentic costumes, Norwegian heritage and humor. The group keeps a full schedule of performances throughout the year, including Stoughton’s annual Syttende Mai Festival in May. For more information about the dancers and a full performance schedule, visit www. stoughtonnorwegiandancers.com

Stoughton City Band

Revived after a hiatus of 49 years, the fi rst rehearsal of the band was August 28, 1986 with Director Diane Quick. Less than a year later, Millie Gardner became Director and continued until she handed the baton to Roger Gohlke in October 2007. Gohlke led the City Band from 2007 until 2019 when Beth Gardner took over. Each year the band performs a Friday night concert the weekend of Syttende Mai and plays in the Sunday parade. Other performances include: Memorial Day Ceremonies, combined concerts with the Oregon Band, several summer concerts, and a combined Christmas Concert with the Stoughton Festival Choir, performed in the beautifully restored Stoughton Opera House.