Submitted Photo Main Stage entertainment takes place in the Great Hall at the 2022 Norsk Hostfest.

Bringing back an annual Scandinavian festival was the main priority this past year for the Norsk Hostfest Board of Directors, said Board President Tim Mihalick. After a two-year hiatus, the board made some changes, creating a new baseline, but were very happy overall with the 2022 event. The 2022 Norsk Hostfest was Sept. 28 – Oct. 1.

Among changes that took place was scheduling the opening ceremony on opening day ahead of a main entertainment act. The Hostfest Board of Directors also took the initiative to bring in West Fargo- and Minot-based EPIC Events to handle the logistics of the festival.

The 2022 Norsk Hostfest was “honestly, a great year with a great turnout and overall, generally everyone was happy with the return,” said Alexis Meyer, executive director of Norsk Hostfest for EPIC Events. Many of the guests this year commented on the new Kid Zone and how things seemed more accessible in maneuvering the layout, she said.

The awesome entertainment with the five stages and standing room available in the Great Hall worked well, Meyer said.

“Moving forward, choosing entertainment will be met with balancing that younger and older demographic to really find something for everyone. Returning venders were encouraged and planning to come again in 2023. In years to come we would like to see Hostfest expand, bringing in new sales and food vendors, with that Scandinavian flair and artisan aspect,” she said.

“EPIC Events did a fantastic job, and if not for them we could not put it on,” Mihalick said. “People don’t always appreciate change, but it is necessary to have it up and running again.”

In prior years, Norsk Hostfest has been in large part volunteer dependent, he said, and “for a little bit leading up to this year’s festival we wondered if we had enough, but it workedout fine and the volunteers stepped up again. That’s what makes it go — the volunteers — and we are thankful to have them.”