This year’s local observance of Syttende Mai (17th of May) on Friday evening will include a Norwegian-themed dinner followed by a program featuring author Michael Perry.
The annual observance commemorates Norwegian Constitution Day, which goes back to May 17, 1814. The celebration will take place at Holiday Inn South, 4751 Owen Ayres Court in Eau Claire. It is sponsored by Norden Folk, the Sons of Norway and the Waldemar Ager Association.
The event will start at 5:30 p.m. with a social hour that will include a silent auction, the singing of the Norwegian and United States national anthems and some words of welcome. The dinner, to be served shortly after 6 p.m., will include cod, meatballs, potatoes and gravy, mixed vegetables—and lefse, along with home-baked cookies for dessert.
Perry was born and raised in New Auburn, where he grew up on a small dairy farm as, in his words, a “part-time Norwegian.” He put himself through nursing school while working on a Wyoming ranch and has worked as both a nurse and an emergency medical technician. He currently is a pig farmer as well as a band leader and a radio-TV performer.
Tickets for the event are $25 for adults and $10 for youth, and are available at Festival Foods in Eau Claire and at www.agerhouse.org.