The Final Høstfest!? Amber Grause Reflects on What Was, and What Still Can Be
PUN-T Media
Minot, ND - For Amber Grause, Norsk Høstfest was never just a date on the calendar. It was family, identity, and a sense of belonging built over decades of tradition.
In January 2026, organizers confirmed what many in the community had feared. The 2025 Norsk Høstfest was the final year of the festival. The announcement marked the end of an event that had shaped Minot’s cultural identity for generations. For Grause, the news felt deeply personal. “When I look back on my time as Miss Norsk Høstfest 2007, what stands out most are the lifelong friendships,” Grause said. She recalled meeting people from across the country and Norway, playing with the Accordion Club, and the pride that came with representing a festival her family attended for nearly 30 years. Growing up, Høstfest was a family tradition, something her family looked forward to every year. Becoming Miss Norsk Høstfest made that connection even stronger.
“It felt like I was carrying on something that meant so much to the people I love,” she said.
At the time, Grause said Høstfest felt like the heartbeat of Minot. It brought the community together and served as a reminder of shared roots and values. Even now, she believes the festival represented far more than entertainment. To her, Høstfest was about connection. Families gathered to share food, music, and stories, creating memories that allowed parents and grandparents to pass down their heritage through experience rather than words alone.
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For Minot, Grause said, Høstfest was part of the city’s identity. It welcomed visitors from around the world while reminding locals what made the community special. There was a warmth and togetherness during Høstfest that she believes could not be found any other time of year.
That is why, even after the festival’s final year has come and gone, Grause is helping rally people around the idea that Høstfest does not have to disappear entirely.
“Hearing that 2025 was the final year really felt personal,” she said. “This festival has been such a big part of my life and so many others.” Grause believes saving Høstfest does not mean recreating it exactly as it once was. Instead, she hopes the heart of the festival can continue through smaller events, reimagined celebrations, or new community led efforts that still honor the same spirit.
“Saving Høstfest is about keeping traditions alive,” she said. “It is about making sure future generations still have a place to feel that pride and sense of belonging.”
She encourages community members to stay involved by sharing ideas, volunteering if opportunities arise, donating when possible, and continuing conversations about what Høstfest could look like moving forward.
As Minot adjusts to life after its final Norsk Høstfest, Grause hopes people remember that while a festival may end, the culture and connections it created do not have to.
Those interested in supporting efforts to preserve Norsk Høstfest traditions can learn more or contribute through the GoFundMe campaign at: