About Us
Our History
Norsk Høstfest celebrated the Scandinavian culture and heritage of the five Nordic countries of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden. Each nation was represented in one of the halls in which the festival took place, and each was named after its country’s capital city. The individual styles of each country’s entertainment, food, clothes, art, and jewelry could be found throughout Norsk Høstfest and also in the Scandinavian Heritage Park, the only park in the world representing all five Nordic countries.
Norsk Høstfest existed to celebrate Scandinavian Heritage by promoting and preserving its culture and community values for the benefit of future generations.
Norway
Finland
Norway
Sweden
Denmark
Iceland
Who we are
Norsk Høstfest was a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. Its mission was to celebrate, preserve, and deepen the impact of Scandinavian culture and heritage in the social fabric and economy of the Minot region. Program focus areas included Høstfest in the Schools, Scandinavian Youth Camp, the Scandinavian-American Hall of Fame, the Skien-Minot sister city relationship, and Norsk Høstfest. The festival also crowned a yearly Miss Norsk Høstfest and held a trip to Denbigh, ND, for the annual wreath-laying ceremony honoring Sondre Norheim, known as the Father of Modern Skiing.
Norsk Høstfest was held annually in the fall in the N.D. State Fair Center on the North Dakota State Fairgrounds in Minot, N.D., USA. The festival was founded in 1978 by the late Chester Reiten and a group of friends who shared his interest in celebrating their Nordic heritage. The festival grew into North America’s largest Scandinavian festival, with people attending from all across the world.
The festival featured dynamic entertainment, authentic Scandinavian cuisine, and put Scandinavian culture on display with hands-on cultural experiences and handcrafted Nordic merchandise.
Scandinavian Heritage Association
While the festival had grown to become the largest Scandinavian festival in North America, there are other entities in Minot, ND that have sprouted from the same interest of preserving heritage and celebrating Nordic culture. Among those organizations that have been cultivated through the joint interest in the Scandinavian culture are the Scandinavian Heritage Association, and the Høstfest-Heritage Foundation.
Norsk Høstfest received no city, county, state, or federal tax funds. Officers and directors of the board received no pay.
THE FESTIVAL
Scandinavian tradition was on full display for the four days of the festival. From Nordic entertainment to culinary options, guests truly had a cultural experience. Visits with artisans showcased ancient traditions, or taking a walk back in time at Viking Village. No matter where you roamed during Høstfest, one thing was for sure – it would be a Nordic adventure!