American heritage and American festival in Farsund

Little piece of America in Farsund

Experience a little piece of America in Vanse Farsund. Come and join in the annual American Festival in the last weekend of June. The American festival is an annual event that celebrates the regions close relationship with the United States.

Line Dancing American Festival

Norwegian Americans

Between 1825 and 1925, more than 800,000 Norwegians immigrated to North America—about one-third of Norway's population with the majority immigrating to the US. Norwegian Americans cultivated bonds with Norway, sending gifts home often and offering aid during natural disasters and other hardships in Norway. There are more than 4.5 million people of Norwegian ancestry in the United States today. Read more.

American history in Vanse

There is a strong American presence in Vanse, with American cars, flags, American migrants, diner stores and American foods. The town even has a road called Route 8 which is a little tour of Vanse and these American areas.

The American festival has been going since 2008 and has been a great success every year. It takes place in the last weekend of June. There are concerts with local and international artists, a drive in movie, fairy tale parade, street dancing, American car show, toy market, gospel brunch and fun activities for the kids.

Kjell Elvis from Farsund

Elvis

Vanse’s own Elvis impersonator Kjell Elvis performs every year at the festival and there are artists from Norway as well as the USA. Kjell Elvis is a real hit with the locals and tourists that come to this event and his shows are always packed. In 2015, he performed a live show at the nursery home for his older fans.

Fairytale parade

The Fairytale Parade is for kids between 5 and 10 years of age that begins at the start of the official parade. The kids can choose their own costumes but these have an American style - cowboys, etc

Fun Games

The Selvaag Park will be filled with lots of Fun Games for the kids and on Saturday morning, there is a toymarket where they can sell their toys.

Street Parade

Food Festival

Each year there is a food contest at the festival. The locals and visitors are welcome to participate in the contest and each year a different type of food is selected. In 2013 it was a cheesecake and in 2014 it was a hamburger. The contest is judged by expert food critics.

The lucky audience will be able to sample the food after the competition is finished and the winner is announced.

Street Parade

Don't miss the Street Parade on the Friday and Saturday of the festival filled with dancers, American cars, live music, floats and more American historical inputs.

In and around Farsund

In the Farsund region, there are plenty of activities to do after or during the festival. The town of Kvinesdal has its own American festival, American Emigration Festival, during the summer which takes place over one week. There they have an American museum and a statue to monument emigrants moving to and from Norway and the United States.