Join the excitement at this year’s Norsk Høstfest with a plethora of engaging activities and unique opportunities! Experience the thrill of a Lutefisk Eating Competition, be captivated by The Bunad Show and the Bunad Parade, and participate in the thrilling Scandi Smorgasbord contest. Don’t miss out on the fun – be a part of the festivities and create lasting memories at the upcoming festival!
Høstfest guests are invited to model their Bunad (traditional folk costume) or provide Bunads for others to model to promote the festival’s heritage. Folk costumes from all Nordic countries are welcome. Last year’s shows and parades were spectacular with participants ranging throughout four Nordic generations.
RETURNING FOR A SECOND YEAR: THE BUNAD PARADE! Models will gather by the restrooms in Oslo Hall at 10:45 a.m. each day they want to participate in the Bunad Parade. The parade will take place throughout the NORSK HØSTFEST festival halls. The parade will start at 11:00 a.m. and end back in Oslo Hall with the Bunad Show starting at 11:30 a.m. Romayne Kilde (Bunad Show Coordinator romayne@thenordicheart.com) will line up the models.
To participate in the show, please follow the steps by signing up at hostfest.com/about/volunteering/ to complete/update your volunteer profile. You will then be directed to the Jobs & Shifts page to choose the day(s) you want to model for the show(s). If you’re donating a Bunad, please contact Teresa. See her information below. After we receive your participant confirmation, you will receive an email regarding your Bunad story. For those that participated last year, your description is on file. For new models, you will be sent a link to the Bunad description form.
If you have a Bunad(s), please contact Teresa at the Hostfest office at 701.852.2368 ext. 3 by Tuesday, Sept. 3.
Experience the ultimate culinary showdown at the Lutefisk Eating Competition, a highlight of Norsk Høstfest held in Oslo Hall! Contestants from all corners gather to indulge in this traditional Norwegian dish, known for its unique preparation involving lye-soaked fish. Witness contestants push their taste buds to the limit as they vie for the coveted title of Lutefisk Champion. It’s a spectacle of gastronomic bravery, cultural celebration, and a must-see event for those craving a taste of Norway’s culinary traditions. The competition will take place daily during the festival in Oslo Hall.
The Nordic Kitchen cooking demonstrations at Norsk Høstfest are a popular attraction that offers visitors a chance to experience Scandinavian cuisine in a unique and exciting way. The demonstrations feature professional chefs who are experts in preparing traditional Scandinavian dishes, from smoked salmon to meatballs and everything in between. The chefs share their knowledge and techniques with the audience, offering tips on how to cook and serve the dishes at home. The demonstrations are not just informative but also entertaining, as the chefs are known to engage the audience with their humor and personality.
Visitors to Norsk Høstfest can expect to learn about the unique flavors and ingredients of Scandinavian cuisine while being entertained by the charismatic chefs. The Nordic Kitchen cooking demonstrations are a great way to learn about Scandinavian culture and discover new and exciting dishes to add to your culinary repertoire.
MEET OUR CHEFS
Stig Hansen
Born in Denmark and after 40 years abroad he is now living back in Denmark cooking for international guests at Hotel Randers. Hansen has been helping people across the world explore, discover or rediscover Danish culinary heritage. Learn how to dish up delicious servings of authentic Danish cooking with Old World recipes. He is the author of the award-winning cookbook: Cooking Danish, A taste of Denmark.
Patrice Johnson
Patrice Johnson is a self-described Nordic food geek and meatball historian. From lutfisk to waffles, she loves to spin traditional Nordic recipes into the modern fare. Patrice is the author of Land of 10,000 Plates: Stories and Recipes from Minnesota and Jul: Swedish American Holiday Traditions. She lives in Roseville, Minnesota with her husband and three rambunctious cats, and teaches Nordic cooking classes throughout the Twin Cities and beyond.
Teena Anderson
Teena Anderson is a self-described meatball maniac and has recently been dubbed the Scandinavian Meat Princess of MN on a local television station. She is the owner of a small-town butcher shop named Anoka Meat & Sausage in Anoka, MN. This is where Teena incorporates her passion for her heritage by offering Nordic inspired products like house made potato sausage, Swedish Meatballs, lutefisk, herring, lefse and many other traditional foods. She recently launched a new pizza line that carries her love for all things Scandinavian, like the Uffda pizza, the Viking pizza, and the Bertina pizza, she even has a Big Ole pizza!
Teena frequently cooks on local television shows like Twin Cities Live, MN Live and appears on Fox Good Day in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area. She loves sharing recipes from her food blog, Sweet Tee’s Kitchen on Facebook where she showcases many Scandinavian influenced recipes. Teena also loves teaching others to make lefse and talking about the importance of keeping our heritage alive, by sharing stories of her great grandparents and their journey to America from the Old Country. She grew up in West Central MN, and currently lives in Albertville, MN with her husband.
Each day of the festival, one Mystery Viking will be roaming The Great Hall with $100 cash to give out to the first person who locates them!
How do you locate this mysterious seafarer you ask?
Well, your job is to go around The Great Hall and ask people “Hi, and where are you from?”. Not only is this the way to find our Viking, but also a great way to meet and get to know fellow festivalgoers!
