Caledonia Argus

Spring Grove prepares for another splendid celebration

Posted: 5/13/03

If itís fun times and great food youíre after, look no further than the Syttende Mai festival in Spring Grove this weekend. Celebrating Norwegian Independence Day with everything from motorcar races to chainsaw woodcarving, the event is sure to be a splendid affair for young and old alike.

ìThere will be a lot of fun things to do, and if you like Norwegian food, youíd better come,î said Syttende Mai committee member Donna Trehus.

Traditional Norwegian favorites like lefse, rommegrot, and sweet soup are a mainstay of Syttende Mai, and typical festival foods will be available as well. Check out the Norwegian Dinner on Friday at 11 a.m. in the Legion Clubroom, the pancake breakfast on Saturday from 6:30-9:30 in the Fest Building, and the Norwegian meatball dinner on Sunday from 11-1:30 in Trinity Church.

And donít forget about the delicious brats offered behind the Legion on Saturday at 5 p.m. and on Saturday and Sunday beginning at 10 a.m., or the mouth-watering pork burgers available on Main Street at 11 a.m. Saturday.

Entertainment galore will keep you busy as you digest all that great food. New to the festival this year is a demolition derby and a figure-8 race. Both events were featured at last yearís Spring Grove Sesquicentennial celebration, and the turnout was so overwhelming that the Syttende Mai committee decided to add them to the bill. The figure-8 race gets underway at 4:30 Saturday, and the demo derby kicks off at 2 p.m. Sunday, both events will take place just east of Spring Grove on Highway 44.

Also new to the festival this year will be Harley Davidson motorcycles on display, Trehus said. This year marks the 100th anniversary of Harley Davidson, and many bikes will be parked between the Corner Store and Ivy Grove Cafe on Main Street.

Be sure not to miss the Grand Parade on Saturday at 1:30. The annual parade is one of the first in the area, and usually attracts throngs of people anxious to catch a glimpse of the floats and marchers and to enjoy the weather. This yearís parade will feature around 120 units.

Woodcarver Duane Nelson will be chipping away in the city park throughout the festival, creating eight sculptures that will be auctioned off at festivalís end to help raise funds for Syttende Mai.

Donít worry about finding your way around the many and sundry activities at Syttende Mai this weekendñ most activities happen in the city park or the Fest Building, separated by just a block.

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