Norsk Høstfest offers a delightful array of activities for families and kids to enjoy.
The Familie Fjord is brimming with entertainment that combines fun and education, featuring engaging performers and entertainers who captivate young audiences. For those with a sense of adventure, there’s an exciting scavenger hunt where kids explore the festival grounds, uncovering hidden secrets and elements along the way. The Kids Passport adds an extra layer of excitement, encouraging children to collect stamps as they embark on a journey of discovery. Once the passport is filled, it becomes a ticket to a special prize. Adding to the festivities is Oskar the Troll, the charming mascot of Norsk Høstfest, bringing joy and laughter to the entire family. The festival promises an unforgettable experience for young festival-goers, making Norsk Hostfest a perfect destination for family fun.
Much appreciation to the Magic City Lions Club and Magic City Discovery Center for their support. Schedule subject to change.
Schedule for Sept. 25, 26, 27
9:00 – STEAM activities with the Magic City Discovery Center all day
9:00 – Schoolfest videos
10:00 – Scandi Sampler #1: Joan Paddock, Renee Vaughan & Tom Klein
10:30 – Viking Story & Song: Shane Ortman
11:00 – Dance of the Norwegian Sweater Dancers with Art Bjorngjeld and Rinat’s Dancers
11:15 – Show & Tell: Viking Weapons with Erik Patton
11:30 – Swedish Folk Stories: Rose Arrowsmith
12:00 – Scandi Sampler #2: Nordic Nyckelharpa: Renee Vaughan & Tom Klein; Scandinavian music, humor, and storytelling: Kyle Elsebrand and Dave Kirkeby
12:30 – Learn the Lur: Joan Paddock
1:00 – Show & Tell: Rosemaling by Louise Bath
1:25 – Scandi Sampler #3: Ross Sutter: Norwegian Storyteller, Kris Meyer, welcome by H.C. Andersen/Rolf Stang; meet & greet H.C. Andersen
1:50 – Troll Tales: Kris Meyer
2:15 – Swedish Song Games: Ross Sutter & Gretchen Jones
2:45 – Show & Tell: Historical Translation with Lars Kval
3:10 – Nordic Dance Demo: Mikkel Thompson, Ginny Lee, Clif Nesseth
3:40 – Norse Myth: Songs, Dances, and Games: Kari Tauring & Carol Sersland
4:10 – Dance of the Norwegian Sweater Dancers with Art Bjorngjeld and Rinat’s Dancers
4:20 – Rinat’s Scandi Ski Fantasy Dancers
5:15 – Scandi Sampler #4: Kari Tauring & Carol Sersland, Shane and Rose Orthmann, Dance Demo with Mikkel Thompson & Ginny Lee
6:00 – Schoolfest videos
Saturday, Sept. 28
9:00 – STEAM activities with the Magic City Discovery Center all day
9:00 – Schoolfest videos
9:44 – Scandi Sampler #5: Nordic Dance Demo: Mikkel Thompson, Ginny Lee, Clif Nesseth
10:30 – Swedish Song and Games: Ross Sutter and Gretchen Jones
11:00 – Rinat’s Norwegian Sweater Dancers
11:30 – Norse Myth: Songs, Dances, and Games: Kari Tauring & Carol Sersland
12:30 – Swedish Folk Stories: Rose Arrowsmith
1:30 – Koo Koo
2:45 – Rinat’s Scandi Ski Fantasy Dancers
4:00 – Koo Koo
5:00 – Schoolfest videos
Ross Sutter & Gretchen Jones
Ross Sutter and Gretchen Jones have worked together at Norsk Høstfest for many years taking part in the Høstfest in the Schools program and also the Scandinavian Youth Camp. Come and join Ross and Gretchen to learn some fun Swedish songs and games. Maybe we can even get mom and dad, grandpa and grandma up to do a dance with us?
Rose Arrowsmith
Actress, author, and storyteller, Rose Arrowsmith has been telling deliciously imaginative folktales, often from Sweden and Norway, since 2001. Rose is the author of children’s books There Are No Sharks in Lake Superior and The Sock Goblin, and middle-grade novel The Marvelous Imagination of Katie Addams. Rose has performed around the U.S. as well as in India and Sweden. She lives in Grand Marais, Minnesota.
Kari Tauring & Carole Sersland
These Viking ladies invite youth of all ages to play, sing, dance, and explore Norse gods, magic ravens, and the sleepy bear. Hide from Finnish elves, call on warrior women, and slay a giant crow. Cow horn and sheep bone flute weave it all together.
Kari Tauring is a runes and Norse myth expert whose nature instruments fascinate young and old. Carol Sersland leads Nordic dance in the Twin Cities and beyond, the way her father taught her to do. These long time friends love to sing, dance, and play together across the timeline of their shared Norwegian heritage.
Renee Vaughan & Tom Klein
Join Renee Vaughan for an enchanting journey with the nyckelharpa! Discover Sweden’s national folk instrument as Renee shares music and some magical stories of superstition that surround it. She’ll be joined by Tom Klein, who will add the rich sounds of his Swedish cittern and Irish bagpipes to the mix. Watch and listen as they demonstrate how these unique instruments come together to create mesmerizing music. Perfect for curious minds of all ages!
Vaughan and Klein are part of the Skandibears Ensemble, hailing from St. Paul, MN. They will perform new and traditional Scandinavian music on nyckelharpa, cittern and pipes. Vaughan and Klein share an affinity for unique instruments and punchy rhythms that carry you away to folkloric lands.
Eric Patton
A regular of the Hostfest’s Viking Village since 2012, Erik Halfdan is an expert on axes, swords, and spears, oh my! Come learn the difference between Norse Iron age tools and Viking Weapons.
Lars Walker
I’m a native of Kenyon, Minnesota, and a graduate of Augsburg College/University, with a Master’s in Library and Information Science from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.
I’ve worked a variety of jobs, including radio announcer, administrative assistant, and academic librarian.
As a novelist, I’m the author of a number of Norse-flavored fantasy novels, including the Saga of Erling Skjalgsson, whose seventh and final volume, “The Baldur Game,” ought to be available for Kindle by the time of the festival (I hope).
As a Norwegian translator, I’ve worked on TV and film scripts (not subtitles) for such productions as “Atlantic Crossing,” “Ragnarok,” “Wisting,” and “The War Sailor.” (Sadly, AI has killed that business.)
I’ve also translated the historical book “Viking Legacy” by Prof. Torgrim Titlestad, formerly of the University of Stavanger. (I’d particularly like to talk about this book, which focuses on Norway in the Viking Age, with a special emphasis on the Viking tradition of democracy.)
I’m currently translating a biography of Sigrid Undset.
Kris Meyer
Kris Meyer is a storyteller, educator, and counselor. As a storyteller, she enjoys audiences of all ages. She offers her stories with inspiration, a quick wit, a warm spirit, and lots of energy. Kris’s stories grow out of folklore, human experiences that teach an understanding of life, and things conjured up in a vivid imagination. Her love of Nordic folklore, particularly troll stories, grew as she sat by the knees of her storytelling father and grandma. Kris is an experienced keynote speaker, workshop presenter, and retreat leader. She’s presented throughout the Midwest as well as in Sweden and China.
Kris and her husband, Don live in Rochester, MN, have two grown children, and one very special grandson.
One of the most special descriptions of Meyer came from a former pastor when he said, “Kris, you don’t remind me of anyone.” To that she says, “YES!”
Kris Meyer, Storyteller
· Grandma’s Leg
· Uncle Arvid and the Ghost
Joan Paddock
Joan Haaland Paddock is Professor of Music at Linfield University in McMinnville, Oregon. The first woman awarded an Indiana University trumpet performance doctorate, Paddock is Fulbright Scholar to Norway, Emmy Award Winner from National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, and HealthRHYTHMS™ Facilitator. A Bach Clinician, she is guest soloist, conductor, clinician, and adjudicator throughout the Americas, Northern and Southern Europe, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East. A trumpeter with Salem Symphonic Winds, Oregon Symphonic Band, Yamhill River Brass, Britt Festival Orchestra, and “on call” with the Oregon Symphony and Portland Opera, Dr. Paddock also leads drumming for team-building and wellness. Uniquely, Joan sounds the Lur (Nordic Wooden Trumpet) for Scandinavian Cultural Festivals in the US and abroad and has performed at Minot’s Norsk Høstfest for over 30 years!
Shane Orthmann & Selma Patterson
Swan-Song: folk duo from Minneapolis
Shane and Selma perform traditional, neo-folk and Norse inspired music. For the Nordic sampler we will be performing Oruminlangi, a traditional faroese folk song, Trollabundin by Faroese artist Eivor Pallsdottir, and Ramund Den Unger, a Danish folk song.
Orthmann is an artist, storyteller and living historian, working as a teacher in Minneapolis with Norwegian, German, and Sami heritage.
From Fall 2015-Spring 2016, Orthmann was an artist in residency at the Creek, retelling the Norse Myths with an emphasis on their place in the seasons and the natural world. Collaborating to create three children’s puppet theater productions.
In 2017, Orthmann was contracted by Concordia Language Villages Nordic Family Week where he put on three short theater productions, a story from Norway, Sweden and Finland. Sjolunden, Salolompi and Skogfjorden participated in the family week.
9/25: The Theft of Thor’s Hammer: Thor and Loki’s adventure as handmaidens
9/26: Loki’s Children and the Binding of Frenis Wolf: The original witch, werewolf and leviathan
9/27: Utgard Loki: Thor’s battle against common sense
Magic City Discovery Center
Join the Magic City Discovery Center for STEAM of Scandinavia featuring hands-on activities for children and families!
David Kirkeby & Kyle Elsebrand
The Norwegian Bachelor Farmers have been entertaining audiences for over two decades with their mix of Scandinavian music, humor, and storytelling.
Past credits include Hostfest, Nordic Fest in Decorah, Iowa, and many Norwegian events in and around the Chicago area.
Elsbernd now lives in the Milwaukee area and Kirkeby hails from Cedar Rapids, Iowa. They had to sell their only cow Bessie to be with us for the 45th Høstfest.
Are you ready for an exciting adventure across the enchanting lands of Norsk Høstfest? Pick up The Troll Jamboree: Storybook Seek-n-Find game book, created by local artist Max Patzner, at the Information Booth in Millenium Hall or download the APP at the festival. Then turn on your sense of curiosity in full gear and embark on a thrilling journey filled with discovery and surprises as you search for the 6 trolls to get your stamps! Once you have gathered all the stamps, turn the troll game book back in at the Information Booth for a reward. A grand prize winner will be drawn after the festival. Onward!
Oskar the Troll, the lovable mascot of Norsk Høstfest, is a whimsical character who embodies the spirit of joy and camaraderie at the festival. Hailing from the enchanting world of Norwegian folklore, Oskar is a friendly and mischievous troll with a heart as big as his infectious grin. With his vibrant attire and a twinkle in his eye, Oskar roams the festival grounds, spreading laughter and cheer to attendees of all ages. Known for his playful antics and warm personality, Oskar is always ready for a dance, a photo, or a hug with festival-goers. His presence adds a magical touch to Norsk Høstfest, creating cherished memories for families and ensuring that the spirit of fun is alive and well throughout the festivities. Oskar the Troll is not just a mascot; he’s a beloved symbol of the joyful celebration that defines Norsk Høstfest.
