The Magic of Scandinavian Heritage & Norsk Høstfest in Minot

Have you ever wondered why Minot celebrates things like trolls, Vikings, and Norwegian dancing with such excitement? It’s all because of the strong Scandinavian heritage here, AND one of the biggest celebrations of it is Norsk Høstfest, coming September 24-27, 2025, at the North Dakota State Fairgrounds, and the Discovery Center will be there celebrating in the Familie Fjord with the STEAM of Scandinavia! 

What Is Norsk Høstfest?

• Started in 1978 by Chester Reiten and friends who wanted a way to celebrate the Nordic traditions many families brought with them when they came to North Dakota, says the Norsk Hostfest website. Reiten was also able to establish a Sister-City relationship with Skien, Norway. Skien is of a similar size to Minot and has become our “hands across the sea,” providing a warm and welcoming relationship with present-day Norwegians! 

• It has since grown into North America’s largest Scandinavian festival, according to the North Dakota Tourism Division

• At the festival, you’ll find awesome things: traditional food from the Nordic countries, folk music and dancing, artisan crafts, hands-on cultural experiences, “Leg & Lær” (make-and-learn) booths, and fun for kids in the Familie Fjord area.

Why Scandinavian Heritage Matters in Minot

Many people in North Dakota, and especially around Minot, came from Scandinavia a long time ago. Folks from Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, and Iceland settled here, bringing their culture with them, according to the State Historical Society of North Dakota. Because of that, Minot has places that help us remember and explore those cultures, like the Scandinavian Heritage Park, a 14-acre park full of replicas of Norwegian log houses, a Finnish sauna, a Swedish Dala Horse, a Danish windmill, and more! The park is like a real-life storybook where kids can step inside history instead of just reading about it. They can peek into the Gol Stave Church Museum, wander around the bright red Dala Horse, or marvel at the giant windmill blades. Walking the trails is like taking a trip across five countries in one afternoon, and along the way, kids can imagine what life was like for Scandinavian families long ago. The park also offers space to picnic, play, and discover, making it a perfect outdoor classroom where learning about heritage feels like an adventure.

How Scandinavian Heritage Inspires Creativity & Discovery

Here’s where the fun of heritage meets learning, creativity, and play—just like we do at the Magic City Discovery Center:

• Stories & Traditions Become STEAM Adventures: Hearing tales about Vikings, trolls, and Norse gods can spark imagination. Making or reading those stories can lead to art, writing, or design. Kids might draw their own mythical creature or build a Viking ship from cardboard!

• Crafts & Hands-On Learning: Crafts like rosemaling (Norwegian decorative painting), woodworking, textile weaving, or making traditional Scandinavian costumes show skills like precision, design, color, and history. These are STEAM skills in disguise.

• Cultural Foods to Explore: Foods like lefse, Æbleskiver, lutefisk, lingonberries, and how they’re made, teach science (cooking, chemistry), culture, and tradition. Tasting something new is learning!

• Music, Dance & Rhythm: Traditional songs, fiddle tunes, folk dancing; all full of rhythm, beat, pattern. Kids moving to music or learning a dance are exploring physics (sound waves), coordination, and culture.

• Community & Roots: Understanding where people came from and why they brought certain traditions builds empathy and connection. It’s discovering history in a way that’s personal and present.

How the Discovery Center Connects With Heritage & Play

At the Magic City Discovery Center, we love blending learning and imagination with cultural discovery. Here’s how Scandinavian heritage fits perfectly with what we do:

• In our Creativity Studios, kids can experiment with traditional Nordic art patterns like Dala horses, rosemaling lines, or Viking motifs.

• Our Pattern Place gallery provides kids with the opportunity to design their own Scandinavian quilt, mask, or pattern.

• In Makerspace, building model Scandinavian structures or designing Nordic-inspired crafts can introduce engineering and design thinking.

• Our Sound Sensations gallery takes inspiration from Scandinavian music or folklore, allowing kids to listen, perform, and move.

• Outdoor exploration can tie in walks to places like Scandinavian Heritage Park, or scavenger hunts where kids look for icons (windmills, stave-church shapes, etc.) and learn about symbols of heritage.

When and Where? Let’s Celebrate Together!

• Date of Norsk Høstfest: September 24-27, 2025

• Location: North Dakota State Fairgrounds, Minot, ND

• Cost: FREE for kids 16 and under each day! 

Bring your family, bring your curiosity, bring your appetite (for both food and fun)! There’s something magical about seeing your heritage in music, crafts, flavor, and stories.