NORA, SOUTH DAKOTA – Tucked away at the nearly hidden intersection of 307^th Street and 475^th Avenue in the heart of Union County, South Dakota, lies the Nora Store, surrounded by rolling farmland.

This quaint place is where you can meet Father Christmas.

With his boisterous laugh and sparkling eyes, he embodies the spirit of giving, often teasingly reaching for a candy cane from his pocket. More than just a jolly figure, he is the down-to-earth and amiable Mike Pedersen from Nora, South Dakota. He plays a restored pipe organ in the serene surroundings, transforming the space into a festive gathering point during the Christmas season for folks from around the Midwest to come together, enjoy warm apple cider, and sing carols.

For 35 years, he has created this magical experience.

“I just want people to leave feeling uplifted and rejuvenated,” Pedersen, 73, explains. “I never anticipated it could turn into something like this.”

From House Painter to Christmas Carol Host

Nora is a small, unincorporated community in southeastern South Dakota, with just two residents: Pedersen and his neighbor, Luke Lyle.

Originally, the area featured the Ronning General Store in the late 1800s, adjacent to a creamery where farmers delivered milk twice a week, and it became known for its Sunshine butter brand, according to Pedersen.

Following its closure in 1906, the Nora Store opened at the same location in 1907, selling items like vinegar for farms and flour sacks for crafting clothing.

After the Nora general store shut down in 1962, it was a decade before Pedersen moved in.

When he finally arrived, he found the store overrun with mice and cats that had turned it into their home. For the next 13 years, Pedersen cleaned and restored the store, turning it into his residence.

Turning a Hobby Into a Community Tradition

Pedersen never intended to host sing-alongs during the holiday season.

In 1986, he purchased several acres of land to relocate from the Nora Store to the adjacent house (someone had to maintain the town’s population!). He began gathering parts of an old pipe organ which was stored at the University of South Dakota’s National Music Museum in Vermillion.

“Music has always just been a hobby for me,” Pedersen shares, recalling taking piano lessons as a child from a neighbor while living in Los Angeles before returning to South Dakota. He also plays and sings at his church.

By the fall of 1989, along with a few friends, he began reassembling the organ, and it became clear to him that “the Lord’s plan” was unfolding.

This pastime would evolve into a beloved tradition. He placed an advertisement in the local newspaper, inviting the community to join him for Christmas caroling.

On a breezy morning recently, Pedersen reminisced about the first time he played the organ. “I was overwhelmed to sit in front of such a magnificent instrument,” he recalls. “I thought, ‘What a blessing!’ I felt unworthy, but I had to discover its sound, and this is what I experienced.”

Then, looking away from the crowd and immersing himself in the familiar black-and-white keys, he played the first song he had ever.

Jesus loves me, and I know it,For the Bible tells me so.Children belong to Him,Though they may be weak, He is strong.

Around 20 attendees are engaging in joyful singing and shouting out their favorite songs to be played next. They have traveled in a convoy from the Trinity Lutheran Church in Tea, South Dakota, which is about 40 minutes away, for a private sing-along event.

“You can tell we’re Lutheran because nobody is sitting in the front row,” comments Dick Gors, president of the church’s group for those aged 55 and older, who gather each month and visit the Nora Store for the Christmas celebration each December.

The store is not a commercial venue; it’s simply a charming gather spot that draws back adults who once visited as children, now returning with their own kids.

“We’ve been coming here for five years,” shares Linda Dannen from Tea, who, alongside her husband Leo, sits in the back row sharing a hymnal. “Mike is wonderful, and he ensures we have a great day.”

With their feet tapping in rhythm, Pedersen skillfully plays the organ while everyone sings “Away in a Manger,” “Silent Night,” and “Oh Come, All Ye Faithful.”

By the third song, Pedersen removes his shoes to connect more with the music, encouraging everyone to ring the bells he distributed among the rows.

Guests also share solo performances, play instruments, and even bring cookies to share with everyone. Like any sacred space, the atmosphere is filled with a contagious sense of hope.

‘Is this my final performance?’

This year, Pedersen pondered whether it might be his last: “I was struggling with a painful hip and a negative outlook.”

However, attention was drawn toward the Nora Store after a South Dakota magazine featured it, and Pedersen gained additional exposure from CBS just earlier this week.

Pedersen has decided to stay another year and might now need additional parking due to the growing interest.

While he walks carefully with a cane, he pauses from playing the organ and reflects, “Is it almost time for me to start playing music in heaven?”

“Nora has been a vital part of my ministry, but is this my final show?” he contemplates after the performance. “I don’t seek fame, just striving to serve and bring blessings to you this Christmas.”

A Touch of Christmas Magic

Magic truly comes alive in Nora, at this century-old country store transformed into a nostalgic treasure trove. It’s more than just the decorations, a guestbook the size of an encyclopedia, a tiny glowing Christmas tree in the corner, or the faux Poinsettia on his organ.

“Oh, there’s no place like Nora during the holidays,” Pedersen joyfully adds as he sings, “you can’t beat home sweet home during the holidays!”

The gathering concludes with everyone singing “We Wish You a Merry Christmas,” before Pedersen gives hugs and warmly wishes everyone a joyful holiday.

To cap off this magical hour, Pedersen walks us to the door, extending his arm to wave as if he were Father Christmas departing in his sleigh, and guess what?

It started to snow.