Founded in 1978 by Chester Reiten, Hostfest has grown from a modest gathering into a cultural centerpiece drawing tens of thousands of visitors each fall to Minot’s North Dakota State Fair Center. Its mission remains unchanged: to preserve and share the heritage of the Scandinavian countries through authentic food, art, music and fellowship.

“This festival is about representing the unique culture of Scandinavia and making it accessible to as many people as possible,” said board member Karen Rasmusson. “It’s about food, the arts and genuine Scandinavian music. That’s what keeps people coming back.”

A milestone year

The 2025 festival carries a special significance as communities in the United States and Canada mark the bicentennial of the first organized emigration from Norway in 1825, when the sloop Restauration sailed to North America. Organizers say this anniversary deepens Hostfest’s role as both a cultural celebration and a bridge between generations.

Isaac Siembida, a dancer at the Rinat Mouzafarov Institute of Dance and Ballet Theatre, is among the Ski Fantasy dancers who will be performing during Norsk Hostfest Sept. 24-27. Photo by Ronald Rouse.

Board member Tonia Vitko said watching classrooms of children engage with the exhibits is a highlight.

“It gives the older people excitement, too, because they see that and they’re sharing,” Vitko said. “Grandparents are talking with their grandchildren, and it just makes the heritage blossom.”

One new addition in honor of the bicentennial is a showcase celebrating the life and legacy of Sondre Norheim, born in 1825 and remembered as the “father of modern skiing.” Displays will trace his innovations in ski design and technique, connecting them to the broader story of Norwegian resilience and creativity.

Music and culture

Entertainment remains at the heart of Hostfest, with the Great Hall of the Vikings once again hosting nationally and internationally known acts. This year’s lineup includes Bjoro Haaland, Matt Vee and The Killer Vees performing a Neil Diamond tribute, ABBAcadabra with an ABBA tribute, Cash vs. The King honoring Johnny Cash and Elvis Presley, and country group Little Texas.

Karen Rassmusson and Tonia Vitko, from left to right, are Norsk Hostfest board members and volunteers.

Beyond the main stage, side venues will feature polka bands, Scandinavian folk performers and cultural showcases that bring Nordic traditions to life in smaller, more intimate settings.

One tradition that has delighted audiences for decades is the Scandi Ski Fantasy dance, performed by students of the Rinat Mouzafarov Institute of Dance and Ballet Theatre. About 60 dancers, from beginners to advanced, will take the stage daily at 4 p.m. in Stockholm Hall. The studio, which has been involved in Hostfest for more than three decades, will also present its signature lutefisk and Dala horse dances, along with duets by young dancers. Each morning, the Dance of the Norwegian Sweaters parade steps off at 11 a.m. in Stockholm Hall, adding another layer of color and tradition to the daily lineup.

Festivalgoers can also explore vendor halls, arts and crafts markets, and cultural learning centers where oral histories from Scandinavian immigrants and their descendants are being preserved.

One of the festival’s most symbolic spaces is Livets Loft, the “Loft of Life.” Positioned above the festival floor and decorated with Scandinavian banners and art, it serves as a retreat where visitors can pause to reflect.

“It’s a reminder that Hostfest is not just about entertainment,” Vitko said, “but also about connecting with the spirit of heritage and community.”

A new cultural addition this year is Fjord and Folk – Stories, Traditions and Heritage, a gathering place where families and friends can celebrate Nordic roots. The stage blends music, storytelling, food and folk culture.

The State Historical Society of North Dakota, Sons of Norway and Daughters of Norway will present activities, stories and artifacts. Guests can listen to and share oral histories while taking part in hands-on experiences. The space features a Genealogy Corner, hosted by the Mouse River Loop Genealogical Society, where visitors can receive guidance on beginning their own family trees.

It’s a chance to connect the past with the present, organizers said.

Volunteers heart of Hostfest

From lefse and krumkake to lutefisk dinners and meatballs, volunteers from area churches and community groups prepare and serve meals at Norsk Hostfest that carry recipes across generations.

Several Minot Lutheran congregations work together to serve thousands of plates throughout the week.

“It takes hundreds of volunteers just to make that happen,” said Teresa Loftesnes, Hostfest’s volunteer coordinator. “The general public has no idea how much hands-on work goes into building entire kitchens inside the State Fair Center, stocking them with stoves and refrigerators, and then keeping them running all week long. It’s like creating a small city inside a city.”

Loftesnes oversees the filling of roughly 2,000 volunteer shifts. She said that while some jobs, such as working in the Scandi Kitchen, can be hard to fill, the enthusiasm of those who step forward keeps her motivated.

“I wouldn’t stay here if I didn’t love it,” she said. “Even after 46 years, people are still excited about volunteering. They don’t want to lose this festival. They want it to stay in Minot.”

Volunteers are what make Hostfest possible, from ticket-takers to strolling characters dressed as trolls. Loftesnes recalled a widower who came to her booth last year looking for purpose after his wife’s passing.

“Next thing I know, I’m dressing this 72-year-old man in a troll costume,” she said. “He worked three shifts that weekend and had the time of his life. It gave him a sense of joy and pride to be part of it.”

Rasmusson agreed that the volunteers are the soul of the festival.

“You get people who see each other only once a year — here,” she said. “For some, this is the only time they gather as family or friends. That sense of community is what makes Hostfest different.”

Vitko added that blending tradition with new experiences is vital to keeping the festival fresh.

“There are must-haves that people expect every year, but we also bring in new acts and vendors,” she said. “You can’t have the same old thing every year. The goal is to balance the tried-and-true with something new to keep it alive.”

On Saturday, Sept. 27, Hostfest will host what is believed to be its first-ever wedding. Organizers say the ceremony will be a celebration not only of the couple but also of the sense of community and continuity that defines the festival. The event is seen as a reflection of how deeply Hostfest has become woven into the lives of those who attend.

Passing heritage to next generation

Hostfest is also investing in children’s programming this year. The Magic City Discovery Center is partnering with the festival to provide hands-on activities for children, from crafts to interactive exhibits. Heritage centers are setting up booths where young visitors can touch, see and learn about tools and traditions from all five Nordic countries.

Familie Fjord, a family-focused space, includes interactive exhibits and hands-on games with the Magic City Discovery Center, storytelling sessions, live music and traditional Nordic dance, Swedish song games and lessons playing the ancient Lur.

A new oral history booth will allow guests to record their own family stories of Scandinavian heritage, preserving them for future generations alongside the accounts already gathered from earlier immigrants.

A new cornerstone of Hostfest’s educational outreach is Lag and Leare, which translates to “Learn by Doing.” Different cultural arts will be demonstrated throughout the day, featuring rosemaling, Viking bowl making, ski making and other crafts.

Norsk Hostfest also gives schoolchildren from across the region a chance to experience Scandinavian culture firsthand. Students try their hand at crafts, taste traditional foods and listen to stories, making connections between history and their own lives.

“It’s really about giving kids the chance to connect with heritage in a way that’s tangible,” Rasmusson said. “When they see and touch these things, they realize this isn’t just history. It’s their story too.”

Looking ahead

The Norsk Hostfest board is composed of 11 members, each of whom balances planning with hands-on work during the festival week. They meet monthly throughout the year to guide the direction of the event.

Rasmusson said the mission remains clear.

“We’re here to promote Nordic culture, to celebrate and share it,” she said. “And we want to engage the next generation so that it carries on.”

As the bicentennial of Norwegian immigration is marked this year, organizers say the festival’s role is more important than ever.

“We’re losing a generation of those who were direct immigrants or children of immigrants,” Vitko said. “Now it’s the grandchildren and great-grandchildren. It makes it all the more important to pass this on.”