Nordic Fest Board is considering moving the beer tent to in front of Vesterheim

Nordic Fest Board members Kory Courtney and Greg Eide met with Decorah City Council members Monday night to discuss an idea to move the beer tent for the 2020 Nordic Fest.

Said Courtney, "We're in the early stages of considering relocation of the beer garden."  The possible new location would be the 500 block of West Water Street--in front of Vesterheim Museum and the Decorah Area Chamber of Commerce offices.

Eide said the move is being studied because the cost of putting up a sound stage at the present parking lot location of the beer garden has gotten high.  Courtney said the 500 block of West Water Street is being considered because it's "a space that didn't have a lot of things happening" in recent years.

Decorah Police Chief Dave Smutzler said "a lot of logistics would need to be addressed" if the beer garden were moved, even including portable toilet locations.  Vesterheim Executive Director Chris Johnson said he has concerns about the beer tent being in front of the museum: "Our focus is on family-friendly activities."  Downtown Decorah business owner Kate Rattenborg said she is "adamantly opposed" to locating the beer garden in front of the museum during a "family-friendly festival."

The two Nordic Fest Board representatives will take the feedback back to thei Nordic Fest Board to determine whether to pursue the idea, find an alternate site, or drop the idea entirely.