Downtown Decorah Betterment

07/01/2026

4th of July Weekend is a great time to support Decorah's downtown!

07/01/2026

**UPDATE** Because of weather this July 2nd event is moved to the High School Auditorium - still a 6PM start.

The Lawn Chair Night event for tomorrow night (July 2nd) features Driftless Wind Ensemble and a musical lineup of patriotic selections to honor America's 250th birthday! Thank you West Music Cedar Falls for being the Night Sponsor for this kickoff to a big holiday weekend!

We have a couple performances coming up over the next month and would love to have you join us!

06/29/2026

Our Lawn Chair Night Summer Series is possible because of generous sponsorship, talented musicians, and YOU! Thanks for joining us on Thursday nights in beautiful downtown Decorah!

Family Fun Night was June 11th. Footnotes played great dancing music, Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum sponsored, and Impact Coffee's summer cocktails were fresh and delicious! Nearly 300 people enjoyed the event. We even hosted a videographer working with Visit Decorah & Travel Iowa - who snagged some beautiful footage.

06/02/2026

Downtown Decorah Betterment is pleased to host the Lawn Chair Night Summer Series again this year! What a great community tradition of free live music in our town!

This year there will be 13 performances, twelve of which will take place next to Impact Coffee on Washington Street and one - the Nordic Dancers Night - which will take place in front of the Courthouse. A September 3rd Lawn Chair Night has been added to align with Luther College Welcome Week.

Thursday, June 4th (6-7PM) w/ Namoli Brennet
Thursday, June 11th (6-7PM) w/ Footnotes *Family Night
Thursday, June 18th (6-7PM) w/ Ironstill
Thursday, June 25th (6-7PM) w/ Joshua Sinclair

Thursday, July 2nd (6-7PM) w/ Driftless Wind Ensemble
Thursday, July 9th (6-7PM) w/ Katy Tessman
Thursday, July 16th (630PM - 8PM) at Courthouse: Nordic Dancers
Thursday, July 23rd -- NORDIC FEST
Thursday, July 30th (6-7PM) w/ Mike McAbee

Thursday, August 6th (6-7PM) w/ Mike Munson
Thursday, August 13th (6-7PM) w/ Jack Norton
Thursday, August 20th (6-7PM) w/ Slim Whimsy Duo
Thursday, August 27th (6-7PM) w/ Too Old Cat
and
Thursday, September 3rd (6-7PM) w/ Driftless Jazz Collective

Attendees are reminded to bring a lawn chair with them to the events and many will enjoy extending their evening with Impact Coffee's Outdoor Trivia (free to participate) which immediately follows the live music each week. Attendees are encouraged to support area restaurants by ordering carry-out. A food truck is also often stationed on Washington to serve during both the music and trivia events.

This free, public event series is possible through a successful collaboration between Downtown Decorah Betterment Association, Impact Coffee, Visit Decorah Tourism.

Generous sponsorships help make this event series possible. Thank you to Series Sponsors Oneota Community Food Co-op, AJ Realty, Inc., and ITC Holdings Corp. as well as Night Sponsors Decorah Pride, Vesterheim, Decorah Real Estate Fund LP, Northeast Security Bank, West Music, Harman Realty, Decorah Bank & Trust, Sogo Snacks, Sunflower Child Development & Discovery Center, Jubilee, Edward Jones: Spencer C Cuvelier, Viking State Bank, The Highlands, Nelson & Benzschawel Attorneys at Law, ServPro of Decorah, and Luther College.

04/20/2026

The Annual Meeting in March was great! Thank you to Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum for hosting and Thank You to Luther College President Brad Chamberlain for giving the keynote!

Thank you to all our new and returning members for their support. Downtown Decorah is special!

2026 Business Recognition:
On Point Permanent Cosmetics - New Business
Edward Jones - New Location, Remodel
ArtHaus Collective - Business Extension
KD Refillery - New Location
Twisted Gnome - New Location
Mercantile 1028 - New Location
RB Web Development - New Business
Aura Beauty Studio - New Business
Lizzie’s Lofts - New Business, Remodel
Perfect Edge - Facade Improvements
Dragonfly Books - Facade Improvements
Impact Coffee - Facade Improvements
Vesterheim - New Forging Studio
Meyer, Lorentzen, Nelson & Benzschawel - New Business
T- Bock's Sports Bar & Grill - Building Improvements
Blooming Backdrops & More - New Location
Sissa | Embodied Living + Soulful Goods - New Business
Rooted Radiance Esthetics - New Business
Revive & Thrive - New Business
Holistic Pathways - New Business
The Elks - Facade Improvements
Danny & Chelle Meyer - Building Improvements
Fridley Viking 3 Theatre - Building Improvements
David Lester - Building Improvements
Chrysalis Children's Center, A New Division of
NE IA Behavioral Health - New Location, Remodel

04/10/2026

Aura Beauty Studio has a Grand Opening on April 11th from Noon to 3PM. What a great time to see this new business space and tell the Owner Sara Meyer Thank You for choosing downtown Decorah!

04/10/2026

What a great weekend to shop downtown Decorah!