Stoughton’s Syttende Mai festival is a weekend-long celebration of Norwegian heritage featuring fun activities and cultural experiences for the whole family. Check out three days of parades, amazing food and drink, arts and music, athletic competitions, and kids’ activities steeped in centuries of Norwegian culture. From the late 1800s to the early 1900s, Stoughton enjoyed an influx of Norwegians, and at one time, as many as 75 percent of its residents spoke Norwegian. These immigrants celebrated Syttende Mai unofficially, but it became an annual, city-wide tradition in the 1950s.
The city-wide festival takes place every year on the weekend closest to Norway’s May 17th Constitution Day, also known as Syttende Mai. In 2026, the festivities run through the weekend of May 15th through the 17th. The Arts & Crafts Fair attracts arts and crafts enthusiasts and artists who appreciate Norwegian culture and its role in the arts. The Stoughton festival features an annual juried craft fair where artisans and artists show and sell their hand-crafted works. The Norwegian art of rosemaling, or decorative painting, traditional Norwegian embroidery and quilts are all on display. Many artists hold public demonstrations of how they create their works, too. It’s a great opportunity for Stoughton festival-goers to meet the artists and appreciate the art’s deep roots in traditional Norwegian culture. It includes the Arts & Craft Fair, Hardanger Embroidery Exhibit, the Quilt Show, the Rosemaling Exhibit and Sale, and Norwegian Cultural Demonstrations. It runs Saturday from 10am — 6pm and Sunday from 9am — 2pm at River Bluff Middle School Gymnasium, Cafetorium, and Grounds at 235 N. Forrest Street in Stoughton.
Festival activities include:
Stoughton Norwegian Dancers
20-Mile Run, 10-Mile Run, 17-Mile Walk, and Lil’ Community Run
Hardanger Fiddle Performances
Norwegian Heritage Center (Livsreise)
Live Norwegian Art Demonstrations
Edvard Grieg Chorus at the Stoughton Opera House
Norse Costume Style Show
Viking Games Strongman Competition
Craft Beer Tent
Traditional Norwegian Delicacies
Food Trucks
Youth Parade (Saturday)
Norwegian Parade (Sunday)
Canoe Race & Portage on the Yahara River
Stoughton Village Players Theater Original Presentation
Arts & Crafts Fair
Syttende Mai Festival Address:
via Stoughton Chamber of Commerce
532 E. Main Street
Stoughton, WI 53589
(608) 873-7912 Website
More details below!
Stoughton Norwegian Dancers
This dance troupe delights audiences with their intricate footwork, athleticism, and enthusiasm for traditional Norwegian culture. Around since 1952 and clad in traditional Norwegian costumes, or bunad, their dancing to music from the fjords, and their colorful and captivating performances are in demand nationwide. You’ll be able to see the Stoughton Norwegian Dancers and their traditional folk performances every day during the three-day Syttende Mai festival.
Other Live Performances
While enjoying all the Syttende Mai sights and delicious foods, don’t forget to experience the music, dance, and theater performances. Be sure to catch a Norwegian Dancer performance to experience Scandinavian folk dancing. Attend a Stoughton Village Players theatrical performance written and performed by local actors who are expert at presenting the humorous side of life in Stoughton. Be sure to seek out a Hardanger fiddle performance to see and hear these beautiful instruments up close.
Enjoy:
Chorus Public House Live Music
Christ Lutheran Church
Craft Beer Tent Entertainment
Stoughton City Band Concert
Stoughton Opera House
Stoughton Village Players Theater
Crowning the Syttende Mai Royalty
Check out the crowning of Syttende Mai’s event ambassadors in a tradition that spans five decades. Stoughton’s Syttende Mai royalty kick off the three-day event and declare the weekend a statewide celebration.
Those who wear the Syttende Mai crown receive the honor for their commitment to community service and keeping the local Norwegian culture alive. Each year, a couple learns of their nomination in September and must keep it a secret from everyone, even friends and family, for five months. During the Stoughton Norwegian Dancers’ February Norse Afternoon of Fun, the new king and queen receive their crowns and join previous years’ honorees.
Although their reign is symbolic, the annual Syttende Mai King and Queen dress in traditional Norwegian clothing, or bunad, for the entire festival. In addition to opening the festival, the couple attend more than 40 events over the weekend. They are the festival’s icons and serve as cultural ambassadors to visitors. Have questions about the Norwegian cultural demonstrations, colors, music, foods and costumes you see? Ask this year’s king and queen (or one of our many volunteers).
Young people participate in the Syttende Mai royalty tradition, too. Two local third-grade students are selected as the festival’s annual Prince and Princess and are chosen to carry on Norwegian traditions among their peers. They serve as grand marshals of the Saturday Youth Parade, ride in the Sunday Norwegian Parade, and start The Lil’ Run. The pair also attend the opening dinner and make other appearances throughout the Syttende Mai festival.
Again, you’ll find Stoughton along U.S. 51 and Highway 138, southeast of Madison. I-39/90 and U.S. 14 also bring you close!
Ephraim explodes with summer excitement as the Fyr Bal Festival (pronounced feer-ball) re-creates traditions of early Norwegians celebrating Midsummer’s Eve. Artists, food, dancing, musical entertainment and family activities along the picturesque shoreline of Eagle Harbor welcome the arrival of summer.
Featured activities include a boat regatta, a trolley and historic walking tours through the village, and a chance to explore numerous historic landmarks, shops, galleries and restaurants for which Ephraim is well-known. Wilson’s Restaurant & Ice Cream Parlor, the popular spot along Highway 42 in Ephraim, has their annual Fyr Ball Firecracker Frenzy Ice Cream Eating Competition, too!
The signature Fyr Bal event is an evening bonfire, which represents the burning of the ‘Winter Witch’ to usher in the long days – and beautiful nights – of summer. Fireworks complete a perfect day. Stay and enjoy the Scandinavian atmosphere and hospitality.
Ephraim is right along Highway 42 on the Green Bay side of the Door County Peninsula, between Fish Creek and Sister Bay on the eastern edge of Eagle Harbor and the gorgeous Peninsula State Park. It’s a beautiful town and this event is literally a blast! The rest of the details can be found here on the Fyr Ball web page.
Festa Italiana is “your ticket to Italy” once again when it hits Milwaukee’s lakefront July 10th-12th, 2026! Amazing Italian food, great entertainment, and the loudest fireworks around. This year, Festa Italiana celebrates 48 years along Milwaukee’s beautiful lakefront.
Check out Flag-Throwers of the Florentine, direct from Italy. For music, check out great acts across six stages, including the Children’s Stage. Headliners include Anthony Crivello, George Busateri’s Spider George and the Web, Louis Vanaria, The Sicilian Tenors featuring Aaron Caruso, Sam Vitale, and Vincent Riccardi, Agne, Tre Bella, Cory Pesaturo, Graziana Maria Lazzaro, and FLEMT – straight from Italy. Longtime favorite Rick D’Amore makes his return, too!
Magic tricks, food demonstrations, comedians Vince Carone and Carmen Vallone, singers from the Florentine Opera, and more are all performing each day. The UW Marching Band will perform on Sunday, and the Children’s Stage will have all kinds of entertainment throughout the day.
You can also enjoy a romantic gondola ride on the cove, play bocce ball, watch the Copa Festa Italiana Futsal tournament, or compete in Italian Idol. Classic Italian fare and wine tastings, Kids Pizza Making Contest and annual Cannoli Eating Contest. There’s also a traditional Sunday Mass at 11am.
The fireworks go off every Festa evening around 10pm, and they’re a blast! (No pun intended. Okay, fine, pun intended.)
Admission tickets are $13 in advance, $15 at the door; Children 12 and under are admitted free all three days when accompanied by an adult. Festa Italiana is a cashless festival – no cash will be accepted at the box office, ticket windows, or on the grounds.
You can find the grounds under (literally, under) I-794 along Milwaukee’s lakefront. U.S. 18 ends right by the North Gate, and swinging nearby are I-43, I-94, and Highways 32, 38, 57, 59, and 145.
Festa Italiana Address:
Henry Maier Festival Park
200 N. Harbor Drive
Milwaukee, WI 53202
414-223-2808 Website
Start:
July 10, 2026 5:00 pm
End:
July 12, 2026 9:00 pm
Venue:
Henry Maier Festival Park
Phone:
414-223-2808
Address:
200 N. Harbor Drive, Milwaukee, WI, 53202, United States
Calendar of Events
Upcoming Events › Ethnic
May 15, 2026 – May 17, 2026
Syttende Mai Festival, Stoughton
Stoughton’s Syttende Mai festival is a weekend-long celebration of Norwegian heritage featuring fun activities and cultural experiences for the whole family. Check out three days of parades, amazing food and drink, arts and music, athletic competitions, and kids’ activities steeped in centuries of Norwegian culture. From the late 1800s to the early 1900s, Stoughton enjoyed an influx of Norwegians, and at one time, as many as 75 percent of its residents spoke Norwegian. These immigrants celebrated Syttende Mai unofficially, but it became an annual, city-wide tradition in the 1950s.
The city-wide festival takes place every year on the weekend closest to Norway’s May 17th Constitution Day, also known as Syttende Mai. In 2026, the festivities run through the weekend of May 15th through the 17th. The Arts & Crafts Fair attracts arts and crafts enthusiasts and artists who appreciate Norwegian culture and its role in the arts. The Stoughton festival features an annual juried craft fair where artisans and artists show and sell their hand-crafted works. The Norwegian art of rosemaling, or decorative painting, traditional Norwegian embroidery and quilts are all on display. Many artists hold public demonstrations of how they create their works, too. It’s a great opportunity for Stoughton festival-goers to meet the artists and appreciate the art’s deep roots in traditional Norwegian culture. It includes the Arts & Craft Fair, Hardanger Embroidery Exhibit, the Quilt Show, the Rosemaling Exhibit and Sale, and Norwegian Cultural Demonstrations. It runs Saturday from 10am — 6pm and Sunday from 9am — 2pm at River Bluff Middle School Gymnasium, Cafetorium, and Grounds at 235 N. Forrest Street in Stoughton.
Festival activities include:
Syttende Mai Festival Address:
via Stoughton Chamber of Commerce
532 E. Main Street
Stoughton, WI 53589
(608) 873-7912
Website
More details below!
Stoughton Norwegian Dancers
This dance troupe delights audiences with their intricate footwork, athleticism, and enthusiasm for traditional Norwegian culture. Around since 1952 and clad in traditional Norwegian costumes, or bunad, their dancing to music from the fjords, and their colorful and captivating performances are in demand nationwide. You’ll be able to see the Stoughton Norwegian Dancers and their traditional folk performances every day during the three-day Syttende Mai festival.
Other Live Performances
While enjoying all the Syttende Mai sights and delicious foods, don’t forget to experience the music, dance, and theater performances. Be sure to catch a Norwegian Dancer performance to experience Scandinavian folk dancing. Attend a Stoughton Village Players theatrical performance written and performed by local actors who are expert at presenting the humorous side of life in Stoughton. Be sure to seek out a Hardanger fiddle performance to see and hear these beautiful instruments up close.
Enjoy:
Crowning the Syttende Mai Royalty
Check out the crowning of Syttende Mai’s event ambassadors in a tradition that spans five decades. Stoughton’s Syttende Mai royalty kick off the three-day event and declare the weekend a statewide celebration.
Those who wear the Syttende Mai crown receive the honor for their commitment to community service and keeping the local Norwegian culture alive. Each year, a couple learns of their nomination in September and must keep it a secret from everyone, even friends and family, for five months. During the Stoughton Norwegian Dancers’ February Norse Afternoon of Fun, the new king and queen receive their crowns and join previous years’ honorees.
Although their reign is symbolic, the annual Syttende Mai King and Queen dress in traditional Norwegian clothing, or bunad, for the entire festival. In addition to opening the festival, the couple attend more than 40 events over the weekend. They are the festival’s icons and serve as cultural ambassadors to visitors. Have questions about the Norwegian cultural demonstrations, colors, music, foods and costumes you see? Ask this year’s king and queen (or one of our many volunteers).
Young people participate in the Syttende Mai royalty tradition, too. Two local third-grade students are selected as the festival’s annual Prince and Princess and are chosen to carry on Norwegian traditions among their peers. They serve as grand marshals of the Saturday Youth Parade, ride in the Sunday Norwegian Parade, and start The Lil’ Run. The pair also attend the opening dinner and make other appearances throughout the Syttende Mai festival.
Again, you’ll find Stoughton along U.S. 51 and Highway 138, southeast of Madison. I-39/90 and U.S. 14 also bring you close!
Back to StateTrunkTour.com
June 20, 2026
Fyr Ball Festival
Ephraim explodes with summer excitement as the Fyr Bal Festival (pronounced feer-ball) re-creates traditions of early Norwegians celebrating Midsummer’s Eve. Artists, food, dancing, musical entertainment and family activities along the picturesque shoreline of Eagle Harbor welcome the arrival of summer.
Featured activities include a boat regatta, a trolley and historic walking tours through the village, and a chance to explore numerous historic landmarks, shops, galleries and restaurants for which Ephraim is well-known. Wilson’s Restaurant & Ice Cream Parlor, the popular spot along Highway 42 in Ephraim, has their annual Fyr Ball Firecracker Frenzy Ice Cream Eating Competition, too!
The signature Fyr Bal event is an evening bonfire, which represents the burning of the ‘Winter Witch’ to usher in the long days – and beautiful nights – of summer. Fireworks complete a perfect day. Stay and enjoy the Scandinavian atmosphere and hospitality.
Ephraim is right along Highway 42 on the Green Bay side of the Door County Peninsula, between Fish Creek and Sister Bay on the eastern edge of Eagle Harbor and the gorgeous Peninsula State Park. It’s a beautiful town and this event is literally a blast! The rest of the details can be found here on the Fyr Ball web page.
Fyr Ball Festival Address:
Eagle Harbor (Highway 42)
Ephraim, WI 54211
(920) 854-4989
Website
Back to StateTrunkTour.com
July 10, 2026 – July 12, 2026
Festa Italiana
Check out Flag-Throwers of the Florentine, direct from Italy. For music, check out great acts across six stages, including the Children’s Stage. Headliners include Anthony Crivello, George Busateri’s Spider George and the Web, Louis Vanaria, The Sicilian Tenors featuring Aaron Caruso, Sam Vitale, and Vincent Riccardi, Agne, Tre Bella, Cory Pesaturo, Graziana Maria Lazzaro, and FLEMT – straight from Italy. Longtime favorite Rick D’Amore makes his return, too!
Magic tricks, food demonstrations, comedians Vince Carone and Carmen Vallone, singers from the Florentine Opera, and more are all performing each day. The UW Marching Band will perform on Sunday, and the Children’s Stage will have all kinds of entertainment throughout the day.
You can also enjoy a romantic gondola ride on the cove, play bocce ball, watch the Copa Festa Italiana Futsal tournament, or compete in Italian Idol. Classic Italian fare and wine tastings, Kids Pizza Making Contest and annual Cannoli Eating Contest. There’s also a traditional Sunday Mass at 11am.
The fireworks go off every Festa evening around 10pm, and they’re a blast! (No pun intended. Okay, fine, pun intended.)
Admission tickets are $13 in advance, $15 at the door; Children 12 and under are admitted free all three days when accompanied by an adult. Festa Italiana is a cashless festival – no cash will be accepted at the box office, ticket windows, or on the grounds.
You can find the grounds under (literally, under) I-794 along Milwaukee’s lakefront. U.S. 18 ends right by the North Gate, and swinging nearby are I-43, I-94, and Highways 32, 38, 57, 59, and 145.
Festa Italiana Address:
Henry Maier Festival Park
200 N. Harbor Drive
Milwaukee, WI 53202
414-223-2808
Website