Let’s start with Norsk Høstfest…what a great celebration! I can’t say enough about the hundreds of volunteers that were able to get Høstfest back on track. The time I spent at Høstfest was highlighted by smiles of friends and acquaintances, quite a few of whom I hadn’t seen in quite a while. Everyone was certainly quick to blame COVID for the lack of contact over the past 3 years, but the reality of the situation is that without Norsk Høstfest, there aren’t a lot of opportunities to greet each other with a friendly smile and a warm handshake.
And as for the Norsk Høstfest reaching out to our military families? The Saturday Military Appreciation Day set a new bar with the free admission and the many activities, including the Military Games in the Great Hall of the Vikings on Saturday morning. I have a feeling that the traveling trophy that was presented to the 91st Missile Wing will be highly contested in the future.
A recent Facebook post from Todd Berning of EPIC, the folks that have taken over the management of Norsk Høstfest, assured us that the festival “would be back!” and that is certainly great news. If you missed it this year, mark your calendars for Norsk Høstfest 2024. We’ll certainly keep you informed of the important dates and times.
And oh, by the way, the Oak Ridge Boys put on a spectacular concert on Thursday night. It is a bit sad that they announced they would be retiring from their concert tours. They have been a big part of Norsk Høstfest for a lot of years.
A Unique Experience
Wednesday evening, we had the opportunity to watch a spectacular North Dakota sunset. The sun hung in the western sky, a large orange globe that finally disappeared on the western horizon. But what was so unique was that the large, blueish white harvest moon appeared in the eastern sky. Back to back grandiose photo opportunities, and you didn’t have to leave your front porch. We talked to some friends who spent the evening on their sailboat on Lake Sakakawea. I could only imagine the beauty of what they were able to experience without the interruption of city lights and buildings.
A Miracle is About To Happen
Well actually, a Miracle on 34th Street. November 17th is the premiere of the Mouse River Player 2nd show this season, Miracle on 34th Street. As part of our “hectic” week, some of our friends joined us for the first show of the season, Goosebumps; The Phantom in the Auditorium. If you haven’t been able to attend a Mouse River Players show, it is great community theater, and a quaint venue in Downtown Minot. I would suggest you book your tickets, and then choose one of the many restaurants downtown for supper. Most are withing walking distance of the show venue. There is more information about Miracle on 34th Street on the MRP website, mouseriverplayers.com.
One More Reminder
The Brass Band of Minot will begin our 2023-2024 concert season on Sunday, October 8th at 4:00 PM at Anne Nicole Nelson Hall on the campus of Minot State University. This concert, as it has been the past couple of years, is dedicated to those who served, and are serving in our military. The concert will feature a past member, Nathan Wilson, as our featured soloist. We will also welcome from Minot Air Force Base, Miss Allie Payne, as our vocal soloist on the National Anthem, and leading the audience in God Bless America. As always, admission is free, with free will donation accepted.
Best Kept Secrets
I know it seems a bit strange, but a lot of those friends I met at Norsk Høstfest were quick to point out that they read my column weekly in the Northern Sentry. Several of them said that it was nice I took the time to point out some of what most of us consider “common place”, but to those new to Minot these events are sometimes Best Kept Secrets. In this week’s paper, you will find our 2nd annual, Halloween calendar. Certainly, I don’t expect you to attend every event, but you can put the calendar on your fridge as a reminder of the many events that highlight fall, and Halloween.
I know I shouldn’t choose one event out of the many listed, but if the weather is nice the Downtown Minot Treat Trail is a don’t miss event for those with younger kids. 10 AM to 12 Noon on Friday, October 27th. Watch for additional details in the Northern Sentry.
Today’s Chuckle
One problem with cellphones is that now your friends can bore you with thousands of vacation photos instead of just a few.
