Gobbler Concessions wins ‘Most Creative’ award at 2023 Norsk hostfest
The 2023 Norsk Hostfest is one for the history books, wrapping up after the weekend of Sep. 27 – 30.
What is the Hostfest?
It exists to “celebrate scandinavian heritage by promoting and preserving traditional family, culture and community values for the benefit of future generations.”
The Hostfest is held annually in the fall in the ND State Fair Center on the North Dakota State Fairgrounds at Minot, ND. Founded in 1978 the festival has recently completed its 44th year and is known as the largest Scandinavian festival in North America. Thousands of people attend from all over the world.
What will you see at the Hostfest?
The festival features world-class entertainment, authentic Scandinavian cuisine and culture on display and for sale as merchandise.
Each of the five Nordic countries are represented: Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden. You’ll see each represented in the “halls” of the Hostfest, each named after the capital city of each nation.
This year’s headliners at Hostfest included Daniel O’Donnell, the Oak Ridge Boys, Daughtry and The Brothers Osborne but the side stages featured ever-popular entertainers like Williams and Ree, “Crazy Fingers” Lindquist, Ragnarokkr, Koo Koo Kanga Roo, Western Plains Children’s Choir, Norwegian Bachelor Farmers and many many more!
Walking through Reykjavick Hall or Oslo Hall you might run into a real, live troll, or Miss North Dakota, or Elsa from Frozen.
Wherever you go, you will not leave hungry as each hall has booth after booth of delights to savor and try from all-out lutefisk eating contests to Scandinavian delicacies, potato klub to honeyed desserts.
There’s a Viking Village where you can get a peek into the past as enthusiasts live out their daily lives as they did ‘way back then; fighting battles, carving wooden figures and furniture, cooking, making chain mail and (again) much, much more!
If you missed this year’s Hostfest, do not dispair, there will be another in 2024! Make plans to attend, whether this is your 40th Hostfest or your first! You really should attend whether you have Scandinavian ancestry or not – everyone is welcome!
Much of this information came from the Norsk Hostfest Website, the Festival Guide, and the author’s own experience of the festivals from 1984 through 2002.
