Giants of the Earth Heritage Center

"Coming Home": A Journey From Norway to America with Dave Ellingson
2025-07-23 19:00 - 21:00 (America/Chicago) | MN
“Coming Home”: A Journey from Norway to America
7pm on Wednesday, July 23
Giants of the Earth Heritage Center

Join us for an inspiring evening with pastor, author, and adventurer Dave Ellingson, known as the “Paddle Pilgrim.” Dave will present his film Coming Home, sharing stunning visuals and stories from his long-distance kayak journeys exploring faith, nature, and the meaning of home.
The program includes a screening of Coming Home, a live talk and audience Q&A, and a book signing opportunity with Dave.

Admission: Freewill donation appreciated.

Open to all—bring friends, family, and anyone who loves stories of faith, adventure, and creation care.

The Ellingson and Nesheim families journeyed from Norway across the Atlantic and up the Hudson River and Erie Canal to the Great Lakes, ultimately establishing their farms just north of Decorah, Iowa in Pleasant and Canoe Townships. Their great-grandson, the Rev. Dr. David Ellingson, has spent much of his ‘third act’ retracing his ancestors’ voyages in his kayak. Dave has written several books about his adventures.

“Whenever Dave Ellingson invites me into his kayak, I know I’m in for a true adventure. It’s white water for the soul in a way that is truly transformational travel.” -Rick Steves, Travel Writer/Television Personality

Bullet Journaling® Class
2025-09-09 18:30 - 20:30 | MN
Join Giants of the Earth for an educational evening on Bullet Journaling® led by Charity Condit Schroeder on September 9, 2025 from 6:30 – 8:30PM. As an Occupational Therapist and owner of Driftless Area Rehabilitation, Charity will discuss how to:

Learn the basic structure of bullet journaling

Identify behaviors of feeling overwhelmed, distracted, etc.

Practice setting up spreads to track key behaviors and outcomes

Explore how to refine key motivations and put into a trackable system

Change a worrisome narrative riddled with procrastination to a full, meaningful life

Participants are welcome to bring notebooks, pens, washi tape, stamps, stickers, etc. (Durable basic dot grid notebook also available for sale for $8). Make your reservation today by filling out this form or calling Giants of the Earth at (507) 498-5070. Free-will donations welcome.

Garden Party 2025
2025-09-20 15:30 - 20:30 | MN

Special Sunday Open Hours
2025-09-21 12:00 - 16:00 | MN
Following our Garden Party, we’ll be open this Sunday 12pm-4pm.
Silent auction bidding closes at 1pm. Items won may be picked up this day, or any day during our normal business hours. Shipping arrangements may be made for your items by calling us at 507-498-5070 or emailing info@giantsoftheearth.org.
See Garden Party event for more details.

Barn Dance
2025-10-03 19:00 - 22:00 | MN
Where: Ye Olde Gray Barn
When: October 3, 2025 @ 7:00pm
Tickets: $12 Adults at Door
$5 Youth
$10 Advance
More information to come

Beer Choir
2025-10-11 18:00 - 19:30 | MN
A community sing-a-long with beer, beverages, and fun!

More information to come.

Koselig Helg
2025-10-24 19:00 - 2025-10-26 17:00 | MN
More information to come.
Register: https://givebutter.com/s1GIRO

Spring Grove Recognition Day
2025-11-01 14:00 - 15:00 | Giants of the Earth Heritage Center, 163 W Main, Spring Grove, MN, 55974, United States
Join us as we celebrate our “official” recognition as Minnesota’s First Norwegian Settlement!
For the occasion of the 2025 Norwegian American Bicentennial, we asked the State of Minnesota to symbolically recognize us in Spring Grove as the first permanent Norwegian settlement. Norwegian Americans have been a major part of shaping our state, and we are proud of the role our community has played as both the first settlement, and the “gateway” for many Norwegian settlers in their new homeland. Free to attend, and includes light refreshments and a souvenir program.
2:00pm at Giants of the Earth Heritage Center
Brief program
Reading of Recognition text
Light refreshments
Singalong of anthems
2:30pm
Commemorative group photo

Recognition Day also includes:

Film Premiere
Premiere of documentary film Dear Land, the next phase of a more than decade-long project to tell the stories of our community’s farm families. Showing times at Spring Grove Cinema are 11:00am, 3:30pm, and 7:00pm. Tickets available here.
Social hour
5:30pm social hour at Rock Filter Distillery, with cash bar and food truck available. No RSVP necessary.

Gingerbread "Workshop"
2025-11-29 10:30 - 12:30 | MN
When: Saturday, November 29
Time: 10:30am-12:30pm
Where: Giants of the Earth Heritage Center (163 W. Main St, Spring Grove, MN 55974)
Cost: Free will donation
Come and work on a Gingerbread “kit house” or bring the kit home to work on. When you are finished leave it or bringing it back to Giants to be on display from December 10 – January 6. Free will donation for a kit.
For more information please visit the exhibit page: https://giantsoftheearth.org/events/gingerbread-lane/

Reverberation Tour
2025-12-12 18:00 - 19:00 | MN
Join us Friday, December 12 from 6:00-7:00pm for a evening of listening to tunes with Scandinavian roots played by the fiddlers from Decorah folk bands, Foot-Notes and Maritza. Come hear Ann Streufert and Beth Hoven Rotto, two friends who have been playing twin fiddles for almost 40 years.

Get tickets at this link or at the door for a suggested “Pay What You Can” donation of $10.

Juletrefest
2025-12-27 13:00 - 16:00 | MN

Reminiscing with Dr. Gray
2026-02-03 14:00 - 16:00, 2026-02-10 14:00 - 16:00, 2026-02-17 14:00 - 16:00, 2026-02-24 14:00 - 16:00 | Giants of the Earth Heritage Center, 163 W Main, Spring Grove, MN, 55974, United States
Dr Gray is looking forward to seeing a lot of folks on Tuesdays at 2:00 in February at the Heritage Center. If this is your first year to attend, be assured that the atmosphere is very relaxed and people talk about what they know best-their very own experiences, or stories their family passed down. About 3:00 p.m., we take a break for decaf coffee and a home-made treat before finishing the afternoon about 4:00, or a little after.
Topics this year are as follows:
• February 3: Past Colorful People of Norwegian Ridge
• February 10: My Favorite Toy When Small; My Favorite Toy When Adult
• February 17: Favorite Foods When Growing Up; Most Interesting Place Where I’ve Eaten
• February 24: Favorite Class at School; Favorite Teacher
Dr. Gray has Extra Topics in his back pocket.
Open to all! Come and share your stories, hear other stories, of days gone by.

Koselig Helg
2026-03-20 19:00 - 2026-03-21 19:00 | MN
To register follow this link: https://live.givebutter.com/c/hCIoKs

Spring Grove Homecoming
2027-06-23 08:00 - 2027-06-27 17:00 | MN
