Lodge Activities of Note and Distinctions
We were named the International Lodge of the Year for 1999 at the Sons of Norway International Convention held at Stavanger,
Norway in 2000.
Our lodge hosted to the Third District Convention in 1964, co-hosted in 2008, and hosted it again in 2024.
Our Lodge Newsletter, the Capital Viking, has placed first in the Third District Newsletter Competition.
A 65th Anniversary Celebration picnic was held at the Cultural Center in 2018, with six of the past presidents in attendance.
We celebrated our 80th Anniversary in 2023.
The lodge received a Large Lodge of the Year award from the 3d District in 2020, 2024 and again in 2025.
A Gold Merit Award as well as an Honorable Mention as the Family Lodge of the Year were received in 2025.
Today, in addition to the board of directors, our officers include a Librarian, a Sports Director, a Youth Director, two Newsletter Co-Editors, a Webmaster, a Cultural Director, and a Photographer.
Norwegian Christmas Festival & Bazaar
Our first Norwegian Christmas Bazaar was held in 1967 at the Washington Hilton Hotel, and we have organized an annual Christmas bazaar ever since. This event serves both as a fundraiser and as outreach to the community. In recent years, it has expanded from simply selling Norwegian and Scandinavian goods to becoming a true festival with many cultural activities and demonstrations. During 1997-2008, our bazaar was part of the Royal Norwegian Embassy’s Christmas at Union Station. In the years of 2009-2012, the annual event was held at the Fairfax Elks Club. Starting in 2013 and continuing for several years, the event was held at Christ Lutheran Church in Fairfax, directly across the street from our lodge's home at the Norway House. Currently, the holiday bazaar and festivities are held at the Norway House and last over 3 days during the first weekend of December.
17th of May
Syttende Mai, the Norwegian Constitution Day, commemorates the signing of the Constitution of Norway on May 17, 1814 which declared Norway to be an independent kingdom. We celebrate Syttende Mai (17th of May) by co-sponsoring and participating with other Norwegian-American organizations as well as the Royal Norwegian Embassy in both a picnic and a celebratory parade at Carderock, Maryland.