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Westby will host its 40th annual Syttende Mai celebration this weekend.

The Syttende Mai Princess, Devi Stoffregen, was chosen last weekend and she will be joined by First Attendant Emily Bauer and Second Attendant Christa Nerison in presiding over the event.

As always, the big event is the Syttende Mai Parade, Sunday, at 1:30 p.m.

The Westby Syttende Mai celebration is offering the following new events this year.

-- Kid’s 3-on-3 basketball on Saturday.

-- Leather n’ Lace in the Entertainment Tent on Friday from 8 to 11 p.m.

-- Draft horse show at the ball park on Saturday at 9 a.m. A Syttende Mai button will be required to attend.

-- Rømmegrøt Eating Contest after the Lip Sync Contest on Saturday at approximately 11 a.m. The contest will be divided into age groups to see who can eat the most rømmegrøt in a given time. Prizes will be awarded with a 2008 Syttende Mai button as entry fee.

-- Norwegian Olympics at the ball diamond on Saturday at 1 p.m. The Olympics will include a bed race, canoe race, eating contest, lutefisk throw, rosette drop, 5 K run, motorcycle poker run, rook tournament, potato sack relay and bike race. A 2008 Syttende Mai button is the entry fee.

-- Kid’s Bike Race is at Nordic Race Way on Sunday. Registration is at 9 a.m.; races start at 10 a.m. Competing age groups are 5-6, 7-8, 9-10 and 11-12. Cash prizes will be given for each age group. One 2008 Syttende Mai button per family is the entry fee.

-- Helicopter rides will be offered on Saturday and Sunday at Marr’s Field on the west side of Westby, near the high school. A five to six minute ride will cost $30 and passengers must have a 2008 Syttende Mai button before boarding.

The annual Syttende Mai walk/run and bike tour will be held on Saturday. Participants of the walk/run will register at the Westby Cooperative Credit Union at the north end of town. Registration begins at 7 a.m. the day of the walk or participants may register in advance at the Wellness Center at Vernon Memorial Health-care in Viroqua. Events begin at 8:30 a.m.

Participants of the scenic 30, 60 or 100K bike tour will register at the Westby Area Historical Society Thorson House on Black River Avenue. A $15 pre-registration fee ($25 day of event) includes route support, free gifts (custom cycling socks, sample cheese curds, food coupon and other cool schwag), and refreshments. To register, contact Dave Maxwell at 608-634-7475 of email him at dbmaxwell@mwt.net, or arrive 30 minutes prior to the start. Participants must sign a waiver and wear a helmet. More information and registration forms available at www.westbywi.com.

Westby Syttende Mai is proud to announce the 2008 Syttende Mai Saturday Night Entertain-ment will be Folkendan-slag. Consisting of 45 traditional Norwegian Folk Dancers and Musicians from three dance clubs from Gjovik, Norway and surrounding area,

Folkendanslag will help celebrate Westby’s 40th Syttende Mai. The performance will be Saturday at 7:30 p.m. in the Westby High School gymnasium. Admission is $5 and a 2008 Syttende Mai Button. Syttende Mai buttons will be available at the door for $3 or at local businesses. For more information, please contact the Westby Chamber of Commerce at 634-4011.

The 40th annual Westby Syttende Mai original festival button design, created by local artist Evelyn Larson, will also be raffled off on Saturday evening during intermission of the musical show. Larson, known to many as the “Nissie Lady” has designed the festival button since 1970. Larson’s buttons always depicts a Norwegian nissie incorporated with rosemaling.

The annual Syttende Mai car show on Sunday was cancelled for 2008.