Image Credit: VisitClifton.org
Experience the warmth and nostalgia of the holiday season at Clifton’s Norwegian Country Christmas, Friday, Nov 30 – Sun., Dec 2, 2012. Festivities include a Christmas parade in historical downtown Clifton; a Christmas Open House at the Bosque Museum; seasonal exhibits and unique homemade gifts at the Bosque Arts Center; vendor booths and artisan demonstrations at Heritage Village; and a Norwegian Country Christmas Tour–A Tour of Homes, History, and Art! Evening events include carriage rides, Norwegian folk dancers, and a visit from Santa.
In 1854 a small group of Norwegian immigrants arrived in Bosque County along with Cleng Peerson, “The Father of Norwegian Immigration.” The land was free, and the Norwegians thought the beautiful land reminded them of their homeland. They settled northwest of Clifton in a large area today known as the Norse Historic District, where they farmed and built their homes of limestone. By 1900, the settlement had grown to include thousands of settlers and was the largest concentration of Norwegians living west of the Mississippi River. In 1997, Clifton was designated the “Norwegian Capital of Texas” by the state legislature. This unique heritage is kept alive today, in large part, through the annual Norwegian Country Christmas. VisitClifton.org
