Norsk Høstfest Ceases Operations

(Photo courtesy of Visit Minot/ND Tourism via the North Dakota Monitor)

(North Dakota Monitor) – The board of a Scandinavian heritage festival in North Dakota with a nearly 50-year history said that it has ceased operations and will not host a festival in 2026.

The nonprofit board of Norsk Høstfest said in a social media post the annual event in Minot had become “financially unsustainable,” citing increasing costs and declining attendance.

“In recent years, the festival has faced significant increases in the cost of nationally recognized performers, as well as insurance, facilities, labor and logistics,” festival leadership said in a statement. “At the same time, attendance levels have not rebounded to pre-pandemic levels, creating ongoing financial challenges that cannot be responsibly overcome.”

The board indicated in the social media post that members and staff would not comment beyond the statement. The Norsk Høstfest festival was founded in 1978 by Minot civic leader Chester Reiten and a group of his friends who wanted to celebrate Nordic heritage, according to the festival nonprofit.