A special 17th of May with the SBSCA

The magnificent mural at Bergen Place tells the story of the Nordic immigration to Ballard and Seattle and provides the perfect backdrop for the Seattle-Bergen Sister City Association's musical program for this year's 17th of May celebration.. Photo courtesy of the Friends of Bergen Place

Musical magic at Bergen Place park and an honored guest

For over a decade, the Seattle-Bergen Sister City Association (SBSCA), has produced a musical show at Ballard's Bergen Place park. This tradition features local Nordic-inspired performers in an outreach to the greater community for a fitting celebration of Norwegian Constitution Day, Syttende Mai, the 17th of May.

This year's program, led my SBSCA President Morten Blomsø, will be a bit of a family affair, with his son, Anders, on stage as emcee. His daughters, Maren and Britt, will be there to support them, along with other community volunteers.

The Winter Band opens this year's program at Bergen Place with toe-tapping Norwegian tunes. Photo courtesy of 17th of May Seattle

This musical lineup opens at 12:15 p.m. with The Winter Band, a group that preserves Norwegian heritage through traditional music, "gamle norske sanger" (old Norwegian songs) and dance tunes. Led by Ruthi Winter on the fiddle, they are frequent performers at Nordic museums and Sons of Norway lodges. Their toe-tapping tunes will set an upbeat tone, which will continue throughout the day.

Birgit and Phil Ages of the Folk Voice Duo cross cultural boundaries with beloved tunes from Scandinavian and European melodies. Photo courtesy of Folk Voice Band

Next on the program at 1:30 p.m. is Folk Voice Duo, Birgit and Phil Ages. With music that "crosses cultural borders and speaks to all ages," the husband and wife offer color and variety to any event. For this year's special occasion, they will perform Scandinavian favorites as well as songs from other European cultures that have made their way across international borders. Everyone will be sure to want to get up and dance and sing along.

The 17th of Day is Barnas dag—Chilrden's Day—and in this spirit, Barneleikarringen will sing and dance at this year's festivities at Bergen Place.. Photo: Martin Ng

In Norway, Constitution Day is "Barnas dag"—Children's Day—and in Ballard, it is no different at Bergen Place. At 2:30 p.m., the popular children's dance group Barneleikarringen will take the stage in their traditional costumes. "Barneleikarringen" is a classic Norwegian tradition of children's games, songs, and folk dances. Their performance will be an opportunity for the little ones to take inspiration and learn about their heritage, and they may want to join in on the fun!

Erna Solberg, grand marshal for this year's 17th of May celebration, will address the crowds at Bergen Place park at 3:00 p.m. Photo:: regjeringen. no

But without a doubt, the day will reach a high point when the 2026 17th of May Seattle Grand Marshal Erna Solberg, arrives at Bergen Place at 3 p.m. with Honorary Norwegian Consul Viggo Forde. A native of Bergen, Norway, Solberg served as prime minister of Norway from 2013 to 2021 and still holds a seat in the Norwegian Parliament. She continues to be a prominent voice in Norwegian and global politics. Solberg will be accompanied by this year's honorary marshals, Konrad Uri and Captain Dale Pedersen, both who have made immense contributions to the Ballard Norwegian community over the course of many decades.

To honor and entertain these distinguished guests, the Norwegian Ladies Chorus will present an all-Norwegian selection of songs. The women will then be joined by their male counterparts in the Seattle Mannskor to sing the national anthems of Norway and the United States. The men will then finish off this segment of the program with their renditions of their favorite Norwegian songs.

The Norwegian Ladies Chorus and the Seattle Mannskor join forces every year at Bergen Place to sing the U,.S. and Norwegian national anthems. Photo courtesy of 17th of May Seattle

The afternoon's' final act at 4:00 p.m. will be no less impressive, when soprano Laura Loge and pianist Steven Luksan of the Northwest Edvard Grieg Society appear center stage. The celebrated duo will perform songs from their 2025 tour "Musical Migration," which took them to venues across the Norwegian America and Norway in commemoration of 200 years of organized Norwegian immigration to North America. With their rich and varied repertory, they will bring the program at Bergen Place to a conclusion on a high note.

Soprano Laura Loge and pianist Steven Luksan wiil bring the afternoon of music at Bergen Place to a spectacular conclusion with highlights from their "Musical Migration" program, which took them across the United States and Norway. Photo courtesy of the Northwest Edvard Grieg Society

All of this musical magic will take place against the backdrop of the magnificent mural at Bergen Place, which depicts the history of the Nordic immigration to Ballard and the Pacific Northwest. The program is open to the general public and is free of charge, and we look forward to seeing eveyrone there. Velkommen and hipp, hipp, hurra for Syttende Mai—welcome and hip, hip, hooray for the 17th of May!

Learn more about this year's 17th of May celebration at 17thofMay.org.