I had only attended Minot’s Norsk Høstfest festival twice, in 2024 and 2025, before the Norsk Høstfest Association announced that 2025 had been its last event. But as the photo intern this summer at the State Archives, I have had the opportunity to work with photos from the festival that were donated by the association after the event’s conclusion. The photos date to 1978 when Norsk Høstfest was created to celebrate and honor Scandinavian traditions, bringing in attendees from across the world. I have learned so much about Norsk Høstfest through these photos, which provide a fascinating glimpse into the festival’s past. These are just a few of my favorites.

Over the years, crowds flocked to the North Dakota State Fair Center in Minot to celebrate Norsk Høstfest, as seen in this 1993 picture. SHSND SA 11762

I was surprised to see that in 1983, Princess Astrid of Norway visited Minot to attend Norsk Høstfest. Minot is a sister city to Skien, Norway. Princess Astrid, second daughter of King Olav V and Crown Princess Märtha of Sweden, was able to attend Norsk Høstfest again in 2007, highlighting its importance internationally. 

Princess Astrid is escorted by then-Gov. John Hoeven to the Norsk Høstfest Governor’s Reception, 2007. SHSND SA 11762

In 1984, Yvonne Ryding from Sweden was crowned Miss Universe. That fall, she made a special appearance at Norsk Høstfest, the only reigning Miss Universe ever recorded to visit North Dakota.

Miss Universe 1984 poses with a Norsk Høstfest vendor holding a commemorative plate with a Scandinavian design. SHSND SA 11762

The International Peace Garden is not the only place to commemorate North Dakota’s relationship with Canada. In 1985, Miss Canada, Karen Elizabeth Tilley from Alberta, attended Norsk Høstfest. Earlier that year, she had placed in the top 10 of the Miss Universe competition.

Attendees and festival staff dressed in traditional Scandinavian outfits jumped at the chance to take photographs with Miss Canada, 1985. SHSND SA 11762

A special exhibit at the Scandinavian festival in 2013 showcased a remarkable toy that was introduced in 1949 from a company founded by Ole Kirk Kristiansen, a Danish man. This famous toy, called LEGO bricks, was proudly built into Scandinavian designs for Norsk Høstfest attendees to view and admire. Children also had the opportunity to play with LEGOs on tables in front of the display.

Children show off their creations, 2013. An elaborate Scandinavian LEGO display is visible in the background. SHSND SA 11762

Finally, a large red Dala horse was a fixture at Norsk Høstfest for years. A Dala horse is a traditional Swedish wooden horse painted with decorative patterns. After the closure of Norsk Høstfest, this Dala horse was moved to the ND Heritage Center & State Museum in Bismarck, where it appears in our new exhibit marking the nation’s semiquincentennial: ND250 Road Trip: Our American Story.

This man, dressed as Danish author Hans Christian Andersen, poses with two children in front of the beloved Norsk Høstfest Dala horse, 2001. SHSND SA 11762