By Annika Plummer, Staff Assistant, North Dakota Horizons
The Norsk Hostfest in Minot is North America's largest Scandinavian festival. There are thousands of 
people who flock to the Hostfest to get their fix of music, food, shopping and more. You can find vendors with Norwegian, Swedish, Danish, Icelandic and Finnish goods and eat rommegrot, risengrot, potato klub, lutefisk and other Scandinavian delicacies!
This year, I had an opportunity to volunteer again at the Scandinavian Heritage Bookstore. It is a great fit for my interests; I love to read and enjoy sharing my favorite books with others. Although North Dakota Horizons didn't have a booth at Hostfest, authors we have featured in our "Books with Dakota Roots" section of the magazine were signing autographs in the bookstore.
Lauraine Snelling, author of the popular Red River, Return to Red River and 
Daughters of Blessing series, was happily signing copies of her newest book, A Measure of Mercy, the first book in the Home to Blessing series (which is featured in the "Books with Dakota Roots" in the Fall 2009 issue of Horizons). These series are all set in Blessing, North Dakota, a fictional town. However, Drayton, North Dakota, claims Blessing as its own, and in July of this year, put on a play about Snelling's Red River series. Be sure to read your Summer 2009 issue of Horizons to learn more! Check out Snelling's website here.
Another North Dakota author was also signing books at the Hostfest - Roanne Henke. "Fiction that find blessing in the broken" is the theme of her books; they are all very thought provoking and powerful books about friendship, love and relationships. And they're set in North Dakota! Henke's books have also been featured in our "Books with Dakota Roots" section, and she was also featured in our Winter 2006 issue. Visit Henke's website here. 
Another book that caught my eye was The Boys From Vangen: Vangsgutane. The book contains little stories and cartoons, first published in 1941, about two hard-working boys in Norway who became role models for Norwegian children. The book is bilingual - written in both English and Norwegian! Alexander Knud Huntrods, a 
student at the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks in massage therapy, was the one to translate the book. I find it charming! Click here to learn more about the book.
The Norsk Hostfest wasn't just about books for me - I did participate in the annual Bunad Style Show. I have a beautiful Hardanger bunad and it is fun to show it off! Bunads are the traditional costume of Norway. There are many different types of bunads, specific to different areas in Norway. They are beautiful!
If you've never visited the Norsk Hostfest, I encourage you to do so! It is an exciting place to both learn about different cultures and sit in on some great entertainment - and even get some recommendations on a good book! 
Photos (top to bottom): Annika Plummer in her bunad at the Scandinavian Heritage Bookstore; Lauraine Snelling visits with a fan after signing one of her books; Snelling's newest book, A Measure of Mercy; Roxanne Henke signs a book for a fan; Henke's popular books After Anne, Finding Ruth and Becoming Olivia; Alexander Knud Huntrods holds a copy of The Boys From Vangen: Vangsgutane; Huntrods, Plummer and Stig Herjuaune, one of the others involved in the printing of The Boys From Vangen: Vangsgutane; Helene Anderson, right, shows off her bunad with two others before the Bunad Style Show (Anderson is the co-coordinator of the style show); and a little girl shows off her bunad.
Little girl...you look so adorable.
Posted by: gokkasten | March 27, 2012 at 02:34 PM