Spring Norwegian Music & Dance Weekend - Folklore VillageFolklore Village

March 17-19, 2023
With a focus on the dances and music of the Telemark area

Online registration is now closed.
Interested in attending any workshops or meals? Call (608) 924-4000; we may be able to get you in. You may register for evening dances at the door (bring proof of vaccination).

Join special guests for an inspiring weekend focused on the music and dances of Telemark, Norway. The weekend includes intensive and engaging workshops, energetic evening dances, delicious cultural meals by RedBarn Catering, and a visit from special guests.

Online registration is now closed. Interested in attending any workshops or meals? Call (608) 924-4000; we may be able to get you in. You may register for evening dances at the door (bring proof of vaccination).

On this page:
-Schedule
-Health & Safety
-Registration
-Scholarships
-Featured Artists
-Meals
-Accommodations

Questions? Contact Kelli Emerson at programs@folklorevillage.org or by calling (608) 924-4000.

Schedule

Click here for a full schedule

The festival features workshops in fiddle and dance, evening parties, catered meals, and more.

Health & Safety

All participants and staff at this event must be fully vaccinated. As part of the registration process you will be required to upload proof of vaccination and complete a waiver acknowledging that you are aware of and willingly assume the risks associated with attending in-person programming.

Masks are strongly encouraged, and will be required if Dane and/or Iowa Counties have high levels of COVID transmissibility.

If you test positive for or have symptoms of COVID please do NOT attend the festival. Instead, contact Folklore Village at (608) 924-4000 to discuss your registration.

Health and safety policies for Spring Norwegian Music & Dance Weekend are subject to change by the Folklore Village Board of Directors’ review and the local health situation at the time of this event.

Registration

Full-Time Adult Registration*
$280 before noon Central Time on March 3
$300 after noon Central Time on March 3

Part-Time Adult Registration*
Friday evening dance: $30
All day Saturday (breakfast – party): $200
Saturday breakfast: $15
Saturday AM workshops: $58
Saturday lunch: $20
Saturday PM workshops: $58
Saturday evening supper and dance: $60
Saturday evening dance (no supper): $30
Sunday breakfast: $15
Sunday AM workshops: $52
Sunday lunch: $15

*For teen and youth prices, contact the Program Manager, Kelli, at (608) 924-4000.

For information about our policies, including cancellation policies, please click here.

Scholarships

Dishwashing Scholarships
It takes a village to put on our festivals. Be a part of the dishwashing crew and help out by washing eating dishes (plates, silverware, and cups) after meals. By filling this essential role you will receive reduced tuition. Dishwashers pay just $120 for the entire weekend! Please contact Program Manager Kelli Emerson at 608-924-4000 or programs@folklorevillage.org to inquire about dishwashing scholarships.

Featured Artists

Loretta Kelley, Music for Dance Workshops

Loretta Kelley is the foremost American performer on the hardingfele (the traditional Hardanger fiddle). Loretta has over 30 years of experience with Scandinavian fiddling. She is a regular teacher at the Nordic Fiddles and Feet Scandinavian music and dance camp, as well as at Scandia Camp Mendocino and innumerable workshops throughout the US. She has made over 30 study trips to Norway and has placed highly in many fiddle competitions there. Her recording with Andrea Hoag and Charlie Pilzer, “Hambo in the Snow,” was nominated for a GRAMMY award in the Best Traditional World Music Album category. Loretta is currently the president of the Hardanger Fiddle Association of America (www.hfaa.org).

Beth Hoven Rotto, Flat Fiddle Workshops

Beth Hoven Rotto plays fiddle with the band Foot-Notes and has provided music for hundreds of dances and community events for over three decades. She has specialized in collecting tunes from descendants of early Norwegian American fiddlers from her locale near Decorah, Iowa. In 2022, she was Musician-in-Residence at UW-Madison’s Center for the Study of Upper Midwestern Cultures and worked extensively with historic recordings in the Mills Music Library as well as started the Scandinavia-American Old-Time Dance Music Ensemble. She’ll be joined by Jon Rotto, whose guitar playing sets the rhythm that brings people to the dance floor.

Bonus!

The Friends of Folklore Village will be in house offering raffle tickets, for a chance to win this spectacular quilt, or other great prizes!

We can only sell tickets when you are in the state of Wisconsin, so here’s your chance to win this hand-made, full-size quilt. The winning ticket will be selected during the Friends’ Spring Hop with the fabulous Ladies Must Swing, on April 22, 2023. (You do not need to be present to win)

Meals

Sharing meals together is a time-honored tradition at Folklore Village. Festival meals are prepared in-house by the fabulous RedBarn Catering team. Using fresh ingredients, head chef J. Miller creates delicious, cultural meals with vegetarian and gluten free options. Have other dietary needs? Please note these in your registration form. While we cannot guarantee that every dietary request can be accommodated, the RedBarn Catering team does their best to accommodate everyone and can provide information on potential allergens during the festival.

Accommodations

Bunkhouse (Very rustic): $15 per person per night
**Capacity limited**
Stay on-site within walking distance (about 3 blocks) of Farwell Hall (main activities building). The bunkhouses are heated, with cots provided, and camp-style toilets and handpump nearby. Showers are located in Farwell Hall. Bring your own bedding, pillow, towel, flashlight, etc. Men and woman are housed in separate buildings. You can register for bunkhouse accommodations via the festival registration form.

Bunkhouse capacity will be limited. Availability is subject to review by the Folklore Village Board of Directors.

Tenting: $10 per tent per night
Stay on our beautiful grounds! Many sites are available. No campfires allowed. Showers and bathrooms are located in Farwell Hall (main activity building). You can register for tent camping via the festival registration form.

RV Camping with Electrical Hook-Up: $15 per RV per night
**Extremely limited; reserve a spot early**
Folklore Village has limited electrical hook-ups for RVs. To register for a spot with electrical hook-up please email programs@folklorevillage.org.

Other Accommodations:
Motels are available with 7-15 miles of Folklore Village. Please make your own arrangements.

Super 8 (608) 935-3888
Deer Valley Lodge (608)924-1600
Best Western (608)935-7739
Pine Ridge Motel (608)935-3386
Quality Inn (608)987-4747
Lodging in Mineral Point