Eighty three Sigdalslag members and friends got together on the campus of St. Olaf College, Northfield, MN, for the 7 Lag Stevne July 11-13. This was the largest number of Sigdalslag participants in 20 years. The theme, Join Hands and Dance, embodied the spirit of the event with talented Norwegians and Americans coming together for the annual celebration.

Outstanding musicians and dancers performed at three stevne programs. It was the 16th year that groups with origins in Land, Hadeland, Numedal, Ringerike-Drammen, Sigdal, Telemark, and Toten collaborated to plan the 7 Lag Stevne and celebrate the Norwegian part of our heritage..

Vocalist Kristen Bergland, a soprano who loves to share her songs with audiences, joined the dancers of the Dassell Leikarring, Dassell, MN, Friday night. Saturday evening the Junior Spelemannslag, a wonderful group of talented musicians and dancers from Bø, Telemark, Norway, provided the featured entertainment following the 5:30 PM banquet. More than 330 people enjoyed the banquet and entertainment.

A genealogy room was set up by the genealogists of the seven lags and many participants enjoyed the use of reference materials made available all day Thursday as well as Friday morning. The Sigdalslag genealogy area was especially well endowed and superbly run by Lee Rokke, our genealogist. Several classroom lectures were available and there were docent tours of NAHA (Norwegian-American Historical Association) which is headquartered in the Rolvaag Memorial Library on campus.

More than 340 people registered for the stevne from the seven lags. All seven lags gathered together Friday afternoon for the opening program which included several welcome messages. There were vocal selections by Ms Bergland. The presidents from the seven lags each greeted the attendees.

On Saturday morning more than 60 Sigdalslag members gathered for a business meeting and time of socializing. The business meeting included election of officers and a discussion about changes in our bylaws. We enjoyed a video about Norway and there was a time for each attendee to introduce themselves. Refreshments included coffee, juice, muffins and a delicious kransekake.

2002 Stevne Photos are available for your viewing by CLICKING HERE.


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