Petersburg, AK: The Annual Little Norway Festival

Please check our local business listings for useful information in planning your Petersburg visit:

Velkommen til Petersburg, Alaska’s Little Norway
May 14th-17th, 2009

The Petersburg Little Norway Festival Committee and Chamber of Commerce welcome all residents and visitors of Petersburg to the Annual Little Norway Festival each year.

Little Norway Parade
© Glo DeBoer

This annual celebration dates back to May 17th, 1958 when two local women, Bernadine Trones and Alma Wallen chaired the first Little Norway Festival in celebration of our unique Norwegian heritage. Syttende Mai or May 17th, celebrates the signing of Norway’s Constitution in 1814. Petersburg’s Little Norway Festival has grown over these last 49 years to span the 3rd weekend of May and celebrates not only Norway’s Constitution, but U.S. Armed Forces Day, the coming of spring and beginning of the fishing season.

Residents and visitors, young and old alike dressed in Norwegian bunader (folk costumes) host as well as partake in the Festival events. The rowdy Vikings and Valkyries stir up lighthearted mischief whenever and wherever they can.

Great music always plays a large part of the Festival fun and indoor and outdoor dances are scheduled for Friday & Saturday evenings. Art events include; the Annual Mitkof Mummer’s Melodrama written and produced each year by the local theatre group, a variety of artist receptions, rosemaling classes and a local Art’s & Craft Share. The heart of downtown is barricaded and booths line the street offering a variety of wares and information. Food, always an important aspect of any festival, ranges from traditional Alaskan Native fare and Petersburg’s world-class seafood to fine Norwegian delicacies. A parade, a walk/run race, a pageant, style shows, many dedications, receptions and open houses fill out the very full Annual Festival Schedule and insure entertainment for everyone.

Though the Festival Schedule remains largely the same, each year a preliminary schedule of events will be available through the Petersburg Visitor Information Center & Chamber of Commerce in April of the Festival year.

This year & future Festival Dates:

The Festival dates are customarily the third weekend in May coinciding with May 17th.

2009 – May 15 -17th

With true hometown flair, “The Little Norway Festival” is a celebration of Southeast Alaskan life and all are Velkommen til Petersburg!

2009 Festival Schedule (tentative)

THURSDAY, May 14th	$ indicates admission fee or cost
Open Viewing	Children’s Coloring Exhibit–USDA Forest Service: Corner of Nordic & Haugen Dr. Check out the windows of the Forest Service building for these colorful creations by some of Petersburg’s youngest artists!

9:00 am - 5:00 pm	Visitor Information Center: open
10:00 am-5:00 pm	Clausen Memorial Museum: open (no charge) The Clausen is honored to host the 'Festival Arts & Craft Share'. Stop by, see the latest in local talent and take a walk through Petersburg's rich history.
2:00 pm-5:00 pm	Norwegian Sweater Modeling Event-Lee's Clothing-Main Street See a variety of beautiful Norwegian sweaters modeled throughout the afternoon!
1:00 pm $	One Hour “Make It - Take It” Rosemaling Class Cubby Hole-14 Sing Lee Alley. Create your own pin or keychain using acrylic paints. Call 772- 2717 to sign up!
2:00 pm	Muskeg Walk with Forest Service Interpreter: Meet at Visitors Center. Join Mary Clemens on an interesting leisurely walk and learn about the unique surface that makes up the Mitkof Island ground cover.
4:00 pm-7:00 pm	Wild Celery hosting J. Jewelry Designs This jewelry show will highlight the work of Janine Gibbons-Ruecker as she returns to display her beautiful jewelry.
5:00 pm-6:30 pm	Hotdog Concert - Main Street Come enjoy the music and grab a bite to eat all courtesy of Lighthouse Assembly of God and Masters Commission - Wasilla, Alaska.
6:00 pm-9:45 pm	Little Norway Tournament: Ball Field Cheer on your favorite local team as they take on teams from around Southeast Alaska.
6:00 pm $	Viking Feast - Upstairs in the Elks Ballroom Join the Vikings & Valkyries as they roll up their sleeves & dive in to this fun feast. Limited tickets are sold at the door so make sure to get yours early!
7:00 pm-9:00 pm	Beachcomber Inn Season Opener with the Pickled Herring Band Come earlier and have dinner at this historic cannery site, and then enjoy the sounds of the Pickled Herring Band, back by popular demand for the Festival!

FRIDAY, May 15th:
Open Viewing	Children’s Coloring Exhibit–USDA Forest Service: Corner of Nordic & Haugen Dr. Check out the windows of the Forest Service building for these colorful creations by some of Petersburg’s youngest artists!
8:30 am - 4:00 pm	Spring Show Off - Petersburg High School Commons Come see what high school students have been doing this year as class and individual projects are displayed throughout the Commons.
9:00 am-2:00 pm & 6:30 pm-9:00 pm	Little Norway Tournament: Ball Field Cheer on your favorite local team as they take on teams from around Southeast Alaska. Check in for the latest schedule so you don't miss a game.
9:00 am - 5:00 pm	Visitor Information Center: open–1st and Fram
9:30 am – 5:30 pm	Rae C. Stedman Elementary School Art Show: Wells Fargo Lobby. Stop in and check out the kid’s spring creations!
10:00 am - 5:00 pm	Clausen Memorial Museum: open (See Thursday)
10:00 am – 4:00 pm	Pickled Herring Band: Main Street. Lend an ear to this very entertaining and energetic group as you check out this year’s vendors at downtown Husf lid!
10:00 am – 5:00 pm	Downtown Husflid Open: Main Street. Main Street is closed off and there are concessions and craft booths galore! The food court is located under the big tent in the Hammer & Wikan parking lot.
10:00 am – 5:00 pm	Seaport Gallery with featured artist Brenda Schwartz Join us for an opportunity to view limited prints and originals for sale by Brenda Schwartz
11:00 am & 2:00 pm $	One Hour “Make It–Take It” Rosemaling Class Cubby Hole-14 Sing Lee Alley. See Thursday at 1pm
12:00 pm $	Scandinavian Style Show & Luncheon: Sons of Norway Hall An annual sellout! Get in line early to watch and listen to the wonderful display of traditional Norwegian Bunader, all while enjoying a lovely Petersburg lunch.
12:00 pm - 6:00 pm $	Beer Garden: Sponsored by Harbor Bar. Located in the parking lot at the corner on Excel & Main Street. Relax and enjoy a cold one while taking in the festival sights and sounds.
???? $	Viking/Valkyrie Jail Those Vikings and Valkyries are tricky! You never know when they might haul you off to jail, so watch out!!!
3:45 pm	Parade Line Up: Bottom of PFI Hill
4:00 pm	The Annual Festival Parade: Main Street. Look up as the Temsco Helicopter kicks off the parade by passing through the Narrows with the USA & Norwegian Flags. Cheer on the participants and join in the celebration by bringing your f lags to wave!
4:00 pm	Petersburg Viking Baseball: Ball Field Cheer on as the Petersburg Vikings take on the Craig Panthers in this double-header!
4:30 pm	The Annual Sil (Herring) Toss: Main Street. Immediately following the Parade, both youth and adults line up to see how far partners can toss the favorite lil Norse fisk!
5:30pm – 8:00 pm $	Emblem Club Smorgasbord: Elks Lodge upstairs Come and enjoy an amazing spread of Norwegian and Alaskan dinner delights!
6:00pm - 8:00 pm $	Steak Night at the Moose Club: Moose Lodge, Family Center. The Members of the Moose invite you to stop in and relax after a full day of activities.
7:30pm	Gry Mortonsen Documentary Premier - Wright Auditorium Welcome Gry back to Petersburg and have the first chance to view the film she's worked so long on making about our very own Little Norway Festival. Donations are greatly appreciated and will go toward Gry's travel costs.
8:30pm - 10:30pm	Beachcomber Inn featuring the Bjorn Solli Jazz Trio Make your way out to the Beachcomber to enjoy a delicious dinner and then stay to relax and enjoy an evening of music and friends.

SATURDAY, May 16th
Open Viewing	Children’s Coloring Exhibit–USDA Forest Service: Corner of Nordic & Haugen Dr. Check out the windows of the Forest Service building for these colorful creations by some of Petersburg’s youngest artists!
8:00 am	Little Norway “Lop the Loop” 5K Run/Walk: Main Street 7:30 am – Registration. Race begins at 8:00 and is free.
10:00 am	Petersburg Viking Baseball: Ball Field Cheer on as the Petersburg Vikings take on the Craig Panthers in this double-header!.
10:00 am – 3:00 pm	Visitor Information Center: Open: 1st and Fram
10:00 am - 5:00 pm	Clausen Memorial Museum: open (See Thursday)
10:00 am - 5:00 pm	Downtown Husflid Open: Main Street
10:00 am - 12 noon	USCGC Liberty Open House: Coast Guard Dock With over 50 years of dedicated service the USCG proudly invites everyone to tour the USCG cutter Liberty!
10:00 am - 5:00 pm	Seaport Gallery with featured artist Brenda Schwartz Join us for an opportunity to view limited prints and originals for sale by Brenda Schwartz
10:00 am - 12 noon	Dolly Derby: North Harbor: We’re in partnership with Fish and Game this year for this popular event! Young anglers will have a chance to learn about catch and release or to hook a fish dinner. There’s no charge, just remember your life jacket!
10:00 am - 1:00 pm $	Kaffe Hus: Sons of Norway Hall Relax and visit while sampling traditional Norwegian foods. A great stop for authentic pastries, open faced sandwiches, cookies and coffee; all in a casual atmosphere.
11:00 am – 1:00 pm $	WOTM Beer Bits to Go: Moose Lodge Thanks to the Women of the Moose, here’s your chance to enjoy that Petersburg Specialty – Halibut Beer Bits! Come early as this local favorite sells out fast.
12:00 pm - 3:00 pm	Hostel Open House - 805 Gjoa Street Ever wonder about Petersburg's Hostel? Stop by to learn more about what Petersburg has to offer and about hostelling in Alaska. Call for more information or to set a private tour
12:00 pm - 6:00 pm	Beer Garden: Sponsored by Harbor Bar. Located in the parking lot at the corner on Excel & Main Street. Relax and enjoy a cold one while taking in the festival sights and sounds.
???? $	Viking /Valkyrie Jail Those Vikings and Valkyries are tricky! You never know when they might haul you off to jail, so watch out!!!
1:00 pm	Petersburg Viking Baseball: Ball Field Cheer on as the Petersburg Vikings take on the Craig Panthers in this double-header!
2:00 pm	Pickled Herring Band Music: High School Gym Enjoy the toe tapping variet y of authentic accordion music and if you’ve never danced at a pageant before, here’s your chance to step out and join in the fun of true Scandinavian st yle as we warm up for this year’s pageant.
3:00 pm	Little Norway Festival Pageant: High School Gym Enjoy Petersburg’s rich multi-ethnic heritage through music, drawings, award presentations and the featured “Festival Dancers.”
4:45 pm - 8:30 pm	Little Norway Tournament: Ball Field Cheer on your favorite local team as they take on teams from around Southeast Alaska.
4:30 pm - 7:30 pm	All You Can Eat Shrimp Feed: PFI Cookhouse Hosted and served up by the PHS Basketball Teams. You are invited to pick and eat as much as you can of this Petersburg delicacy.
7:00 pm - 9:00pm $	Bjørn Solli Jazz Trio - Sons of Norway Hall a 21 and over event Join us as we welcome The Bjorn Solli Trio as they provide an evening of music and entertainment. Kito's Kave will be hosting refreshments so make sure to bring your ID as it will be checked at the door. Here's your chance to relax after a busy day.
8:00 pm $	The Annual Festival Dance: Elks Lodge Members & Guests Only Haven't had enough, yet? Here's another chance to enjoy the Pickled Herring Band from northwest Washington! Schottisches, polkas, waltzes, foxtrot, swing and more along with familiar melodies with one generation and create new memories for another. Remember, standard house rules apply so plan in advance. Skoal!

SUNDAY, May 17th
Open Viewing	Children’s Coloring Exhibit–USDA Forest Service: Corner of Nordic & Haugen Dr. Check out the windows of the Forest Service building for these colorful creations by some of Petersburg’s youngest artists!
8:00 – 11 am $	The Annual Festival Pancake Breakfast: St. Catherine’s Catholic Church. Enjoy this hearty breakfast as you ease your way into the final day of the Festival!
10:00 a.m. - 1:00 pm	Church of your choice
10:00 am – 2:00 pm	Clausen Memorial Museum: Open This is your last chance to check out the Festival Art Share!
12:00 noon - 4:00 pm	Visitor Information Center: Open Lots of interesting information and recipes for visitors and locals alike. If you haven’t been in lately, this might be a good time to stop by!
12 noon $	Rotary Club Seafood Bake & Barbecue: Sandy Beach. (Credit cards accepted) Enjoy the ultimate meal of grilled salmon, halibut & black cod with the works on the side while visiting with friends, old and new. This annual picnic truly promotes the Alaskan Spirit! This is also your last chance to hear the Pickled Herring Band and find out who won those Alaska Airlines tickets or the cash! Philanthropist of the year honored
1:00 pm	Little Norway Tournament: Ball Field Cheer on your favorite local team as they take on teams from around Southeast Alaska. Check in for the latest schedule so you don't miss a game.
7:00 pm	Baccalaureate Service for the Class of 2009: Wright Auditorium. All are invited to join and celebrate in worship the bright futures of our PHS graduates!