Minot Daily News File Photo This photo shows a past Norsk Hostfest. This year's event has been canceled.

The 2021 Norsk Høstfest has been canceled, but plans are underway to bring the festival back in 2022 with a new president at the helm, according to the Norsk Hostfest website.

The website went on to say the Høstfest Board of Directors voted this week to cancel this year’s festival, the second consecutive year the event has succumbed to pressures brought by the COVID-19 outbreak. Board members said the pandemic has hurt the outlook for Høstfest in several ways: the tour business has been severely curtailed, travel concerns reduce the likelihood of attracting visitors from Scandinavia, the Canadian border may not yet be reopened by this fall, and patrons may be hesitant to resume gathering in large numbers under one roof.

David Reiten, who has been president of the Norsk Høstfest Association since 2011, has announced he is stepping down from that position. Reiten took over leadership of the festival from his late father, Chester, who helped found the event in 1978 and guided it through years of rapid growth and long-term success.

A news conference was planned for today, April 28, at 11 a.m.

Watch The Minot Daily News for more information.