Miss Fjord Folk Fest crowned as festival launch grows nears
Submitted Photo Miss Fjord Folk Fest Karena Verbitsky of Minot is crowned by Miss North Dakota’s Teen, Addison Pringle of Surrey.
Submitted Photo Dancers with the Rinat Mouzafarov Institute of Dance and Ballet Theatre are shown in Scandinavian costumes as they prepare to perform at Fjord Folk Fest Aug. 21-22. From left are: front, Ski Fantasy dancers Kaydence Klein and Isaac Siembida; back, Carter Klein, Madilyn Monson, Kimberly Klein, Kourtney Klein, Sarai McCormick, Ali Haas, Addison Pringle, Naomi Athouriste, Astrid Allan and Chloe Burgard. Photo by Ronald Rouse.
Submitted Photo Miss Fjord Folk Fest Karena Verbitsky of Minot is crowned by Miss North Dakota’s Teen, Addison Pringle of Surrey.
Submitted Photo Dancers with the Rinat Mouzafarov Institute of Dance and Ballet Theatre are shown in Scandinavian costumes as they prepare to perform at Fjord Folk Fest Aug. 21-22. From left are: front, Ski Fantasy dancers Kaydence Klein and Isaac Siembida; back, Carter Klein, Madilyn Monson, Kimberly Klein, Kourtney Klein, Sarai McCormick, Ali Haas, Addison Pringle, Naomi Athouriste, Astrid Allan and Chloe Burgard. Photo by Ronald Rouse.
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Karena Verbitsky of Minot has been crowned the first Miss Fjord Folk Fest, according to the organization that is launching the inaugural festival this weekend, Aug. 21-22.
The opening ceremony for Fjord Folk Fest is set for Friday at 9 a.m. in Fjord Hall in Minot Municipal Auditorium. Doors open at 8:30 a.m.
"We can't wait to open the doors to this new chapter and welcome guests from near and far," Executive Director Amber Grause said. "This festival is about keeping beloved traditions alive while igniting fresh energy into the future."
Fjord Folk Fest, conceived following the announcement earlier this year of the dissolution of the long-running Norsk Hostfest, will run from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. both Friday and Saturday at the auditorium. A dance follows each night until 10 p.m.
Additional parking will be available at the Maysa Arena, with a free shuttle running throughout the day.
The new Miss Fjord Folk Fest is a third-year law student in the three-year program at the University of South Dakota Knudson School of Law. Following graduation, Verbitsky plans to return to North Dakota to advocate for landowners' rights while supporting the industries that are the foundation of the state's economy, according to festival information. She also is an amateur boxer, currently ranked ninth in the nation in her weight class.
She has more than 10 years of involvement in Norsk Hostfest and other Scandinavian events as a singer and dancer.
Verbitsky will receive a $1,000 scholarship provided by an anonymous sponsor as well as numerous other prizes provided by sponsors. She also has the opportunity to compete for the title of Miss North Dakota 2027, which will be held in Williston in June of 2027.
Judging this year's contest, which drew five candidates, were Sarah Seay, Feliciana Castaneda and Shanel Effertz.
Fjord Folk Fest will feature more than 40 retail and food vendors, a new Heritage Cafe serving a meatball dinner, artisans demonstrating throughout the day, Viking encounters and children's activities such as storytime and crafts.
Two free stages will entertain festival-goers throughout the day in Fjord and Heritage Halls.
The schedule includes (both days unless noted):
- 11 a.m. Friday and 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. Saturday, Stealin' Country
- 9 a.m. Saturday and 6 p.m. both days, Daniel Starks
- 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., Project Constellation
- 10:15 a.m. and 2 p.m., Accordion Club
- 11:30 a.m. and 3:15 p.m., Ryan Keplin (Fiddling Lefty)
- noon and 4 p.m., Dakota Drifters
- 12:45 p.m. both days and 7 p.m. Friday, TOts (Too Old to Stand)
- 1 p.m., Chad Filley
- 3 p.m., Country Gentlemen
- 5:45 p.m., Heritage Singers
- 7 p.m., Jerry Schlag & Friends
Other activities include a Veterans Threads of Remembrance Ceremony at 11 a.m. in Heritage Hall on Saturday.
Festival goers can learn to make krumkake at 11 a.m., lefse at 1:30 p.m. and Hardanger embroidery at 3:30 p.m., all in the Arisan Village. Storytime with a Troll takes place at 1 and 6 p.m. each day and the Viking Hour begins at 10 a.m. and again at 4 p.m., all in the Nordic Explorer Hall.
The Rinat Mouzafarov Institute of Dance and Ballet Theatre, which had a more than 30-year connection with Norsk Hostfest, will be bringing its Norwegian folk dances, polkas, sweater dancers and Ski Fantasy to Fjord Folk Fest both days at 4:30 p.m. in Fjord Hall.
Performing the popular ski dance will be Isaac Siembida and Kaydence Klein. Addison Pringle and Carter Klein will perform a Norwegian waltz, and Siembida and Ali Haas will dance a Norwegian folk duet. Several advanced dancers will perform a Norwegian folk dance, and advanced and intermediate dancers will come together for polkas. The youngest dancers will parade into the auditorium in their Norwegian sweaters to perform a series of simple folk dances. Lutefisk and Dala horse dances also are on the program.
Additionally, it wouldn't be a Scandinavian festival without the food. On the menu are classic Nordic eats such as Swedish meatballs, bread pudding, rice pudding, rommegrot, potato klubb, Viking waffles on a stick, rosettes, krumkaka and lefse as well as traditional foods such as hamburgers and ice cream.