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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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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 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.
Route 8 will take you on a journey around Farsund and the Lista landscape. WELCOME!
Go to: Travel the "Route 8" in FarsundRoute 8 will take you on a journey around Farsund and the Lista landscape. WELCOME!
Kvinesdal has a long and vast history of emigration from the United States. American foods, american cars and american music in Southern Norway.
Are you ready for a wUNDERful gourmet marathon – five meters below sea level? Check out the first underwater restaurant in Northern Europe.
If you are a true «Frozen» fan, you might know that Arendelle got its name from the Norwegian city Arendal in Southern Norway. And as it turns out, the city even has its own Elsa look-alike.
As a young man, world-famous author Henrik Ibsen worked as an apprentice pharmacist in Grimstad. Don’t miss out on the chance to experience Norway’s most important author in Grimstad, Southern Norway.
Kristiansand is the communications centre in Southern Norway. It has extensive train, bus, ferry and plane links with the rest of Norway and abroad.
Why not spend the night in a lighthouse while on holiday? There are several lighthouses offering accommodation along the southern coast of Norway.
Southernmost Norway offer action-packed river rafting, climbing and skiing in the Setesdal mountains, experiences in Raet national park, fishing, diving and surfing at Lista beaches.
Cultural heritage, history and art museums in Southern Norway. The museums includes open-air museums, a World War II cannon museum in Kristiansand, Setesdalsbanen museum railway, working factory museums and modern art museums and galleries.
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