North Dakota - Cultural Destinations
- By Smithsonian.com
- Smithsonian.com, November 08, 2007, Subscribe
The number one reason people travel to North Dakota is to attend an event or festival. How appropriate, considering North Dakota has many cultural events to choose from, ranging from Scandinavian festivals to American Indian powwows, fairs, rodeos, reenactments and so much more. Two of the best places for delving into North Dakota's culture are the Norsk Høstfest and the United Tribes International Powwow, both rated by the American Bus Association as one of the "Top 100 events in North America."
Norsk Høstfest (North Dakota State Fairgrounds)
Experience an eclectic array of Nordic life from contemporary to traditional at Norsk Høstfest, North America's largest Scandinavian festival that celebrates the heritage and culture of the five Nordic countries. More than 55,000 people from across the United States, Canada and Scandinavia attend this five-day event.
The United Tribes International Powwow (United Tribes Technical College, in Bismarck)
This is one of the largest annual powwows in the United States, with more than 70 tribes and 1,500 traditional dancers and drummers attending each year. At this colorful showcase of cultural pride, American Indians compete in 22 categories of dance competitions for teams, seniors, adults, teens, juniors and small children. The powwow attracts some 20,000 spectators.
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