It’s time to dust off those sweaters. The Norsk Høstfest is nearly here.
What’s the Deal with the Høstfest?
It happened while my family was at Logger Fest over the weekend. I was standing to the side of the bouncy-house obstacle course, waiting for my son to come down the final slide, when I heard foreign speech behind me.
In another place I wouldn’t have thought twice about it. But this is Minot, and visitors who speak another language are uncommon. (No, a southerner’s drawl or Canadian’s accentuated “oo’s” don’t count.) Without thinking, I glanced over my shoulder to see a middle-aged woman and young man deep in conversation. When I saw their fair hair, beautiful light eyes, and glowing skin, it occurred to me. They’re Scandinavian. The Høstfest is nearly here.
To someone who is not from around here, it may not seem like a big deal—but the history, traditions, and connections created from the Norsk Høstfest are deep and important to those who have spent their lives in Minot. I know many locals who have developed friendships with visitors and vendors from Norway, Denmark, and Sweden through their involvement with the festival. That moment in the park reminded me —- people really do come from all over to attend.
People around here get really jazzed about their Scandinavian heritage. And just like anything else, the more people who are enthusiastically all-in, the more exciting it looks to the rest of us. The Høstfest brings that enthusiasm front and center. It’s the time when locals give themselves over to their inner affinity for meatballs, Dala horses, and sweaters.
It’s the time when not-locals spend half our time wishing we were Scandinavian so we could fully understand what’s so special about trolls and lefse—and the other half wrinkling our foreheads trying to pronounce “rømmergrøt”, and wondering how an Oofda Taco differs from a regular taco.
The “official” games of the Høstfest can be puzzling to outsiders. However, I’m hopeful classics like “Knock the Fleas off the Black Plague Rat” and “Ring the Troll’s Antler,” will be at this year’s festival.
When we moved back to Minot in 2019, I was out of town for the festival, and the pandemic forced it into hiatus in 2020 and 2021. Like many others, I am anxious for its triumphant return next week.
The last time I was able to attend the festival was in 2015. At the time, we were on the brink of a military move, and I thought it would be the last Høstfest of my life. I spent time chatting with vendors and creating a “This American Life” style audio story to capture the experience. It’s one of my fondest memories. Elderly ladies coached my pronunciation while I ordered food, men reenacting a Viking battle let me try on their gear. Later, Geir Ness, the parfumier, told me how his mother inspired the signature scent in his line. He offered me a “purse-sized” bottle of the fragrance, Laila: the essence of Norway, and it’s the only perfume I’ve worn ever since. I learned about loom arts and sweater patterns, and when night came, I danced the polka to a band flanked with accordions.
The last time I attended the Norsk Høstfest was 2015, when a Viking reenactment participant offered to let me try on his gear. No question, this is a quirky event.
Special Human Connection
That day may not be the typical festival-goer experience—but it sure was great. I’m not anybody special—I just took a special interest in something that is really important to someone else. I learned a lot of things that day, but one thing stands out: Høstfest people are eager to share. They want you to understand the hype. They want you to see the fun, to experience the culture in a way that blesses you. They want to talk to you, hear your questions, and engage. And everyone is so gosh, darn nice. This kind of human connection is precious in a world often divided. Let’s not take it for granted.
I’ve been asked recently if I have tips for attending the Høstfest. I don’t have many, but I’ll share what I’ve got:
Try to attend. It really is a spectacle worth seeing. Yes, it can be pricy (see the following tips for saving on costs), but if you can go, you should.
If you are a military member or family, plan to go on Wednesday, September 28. Military admission is only $10, Kids under 12 are always $5.
If price is a major factor for you, consider volunteering. According to the Norsk Høstfest website, they are still in need of extra hands. Volunteers serve a four-hour shift, in exchange for free admission, food voucher, and merchandise discounts.
In my opinion, the food options are overwhelming—and I usually don’t know what they are. Chat with a local before going in to get their recommendations and have them decode the foreign words for you.
Talk to the vendors. The experience is so much sweeter if you spend time connecting.
To connect with me, see how I spend my days in Minot, or get a little more positivity for your day, find me on Instagram @amy_allender or on Facebook @amyallenderblog.
When my husband and I found out we would be moving to North Dakota, we got lots of unsolicited comments and advice.
“Hope you like the cold.”
“Have fun in the great white north — it’s just ice and wind up there.”
“Why not Minot? Freezin’ is the reason. Haha!”
“Winters last forever.”
While these folks were trying to be helpful or prepare us for our new life, they failed to properly prepare us. You see, this kind of talk prepared us for the cold temperatures, ice, and heavy snowfall. We came to North Dakota ready to upgrade our winter coats and hunker down through long stretches of short, dark days.
However, no one prepared us for the North Dakota summer.
We arrived in Hot Dish Territory in June, only to be gobsmacked by the majesty of summer in the “great white north.”
Maybe there’s no proper way to fully prepare oneself for the sun-never-setting days of a NoDak summer.
Summer in North Dakota means waking to a soft chatter of birds and bits of light sneaking through the blackout curtains early in the morning. It’s days hot enough to enjoy the pool, splash pad, or a sprinkler in the yard followed by evenings cool enough for sweatshirts and s’mores around a fire.
Our summer is filled with a disorienting amount of light. The kind that makes it easy to get out of bed in a good mood. The kind that draws neighbors out of their houses to converge on sidewalks chatting late into the evening. The kind that tempts children to stay outdoors until minutes before bedtime, causes adults to forget to prepare dinner until 8 p.m., and means you can start mowing the lawn at 9 p.m. and still finish with daylight to spare.
Yes, I was prepared for the extremely short days of winter — but I wasn’t prepared for the natural high of life lived in extreme amounts of daylight.
In Summer
Here, summer is held in the beauty of purple flax, vibrant yellow canola, and sunflowers stretching to the horizon. It’s noticing white boxes filled with honey bees and hearing the distinct whistle of a meadowlark as you drive along the outskirts of town. It’s a time to be awed by the miracle of planting, agriculture, and the heroism of farmers who harness nature to produce our nations crops.
I came here ready to invest in warmer boots, but I wasn’t anticipating the wonder summer would stir in my heart.
This wonder is not reserved for the country. Small town summer life emanates a unique atmosphere. It’s a divine mix of food trucks, festivals, and movies and music in the parks. This is the season of bumping into someone you know nearly everywhere you go: walks, errands, romps on the playground, or outings at the zoo. This is the time for small talking with strangers — the pressing hurry of winter has eased, leaving us all content to connect under the warmth of the sun.
These precious warm months are meant for excursions to Whirl-a-Whip, loosening schedules, and root beer floats at MSU’s summer theater.
No one told me to brace myself for the most pleasant summers of my life. No one told me the summer is worth waiting through every brutal windchill of winter.
Summer in North Dakota is fika, an odd affinity for Dairy Queen, and giggling as locals complain about the humidity. Summer is the smell of the splash pad, music on Main Street, and never starting the day in the dark.
Let’s not let the beauty of summer be overshadowed by the cold of winter. Not only when we speak about our sweet Hot Dish Land, but of life. Let’s remind one another of the good, let’s brace one another for the possibility of warmth and beauty — instead of simply focusing on the inevitable windchill. North Dakota is more than winter. Life is more than the hard bits. Summer comes, too.
Let’s brace ourselves to enjoy the lovely seasons as much we prepare to weather the cold.
If you’re new here or will move here soon, be ready — not only for the winter, but also for utterly exquisite summers.
To connect with me, see how I spend my days in Minot, or get a little more positivity for your day, find me on Instagram @amy_allender or on Facebook @amyallenderblog.
Snapping a photo in front of the Dala horse is pretty much a must when visiting the Scandinavian Heritage Park
What to Do in Minot
This month our house feels a bit like a bed and breakfast — and my heart couldn’t be happier.
In a perfect storm of circumstances and schedules, our home will be vacant of visitors only eight of June’s thirty perfect days.
I’ve told you before, I’ll never claim that Minot should be added to a list of must-see tourist destinations. But, by all means, if you have reason to visit, a chance to step into NoDak life for a moment, you should take it.
Sometimes the best, most restful escapes are not to exotic locations where you’re under pressure to see it all and sift through tourist traps to find genuine experiences. It is easier to find rest when you are welcomed into someone else’s normal for a few days. This is what I offer our guests. This is what (I hope) makes the trip across the country, into the wide-open spaces of North Dakota, worth it.
Here in Hot Dish Land, I often find myself in awe of how utterly charming daily life can be. Our existence may not be big-box glamourous, but I wake up each day ready to soak in the unique magic of small-town life.
I’m completely enamored with Hot Dish life, so I find it easy to convince friends and family to come experience the allure of the “you betcha” lifestyle for themselves. No, we cannot offer mountains, big-city attractions, or ocean views. But we can offer rest, quaint city aura, a slow rhythm, and (at least in summer) peaceful after-dinner walks along sun-dappled paths.
To me, it’s not hard to hype this community. I’m never short on ideas of what to do. And when visitors come, I’m anxious to invite them into our world — to show them what makes this place my muse.
If you’re expecting guests, let me help. Here are some of my favorite things to do when company comes. And, if you aren’t expecting company, please use these ideas to flood your social media accounts, like bait to lure friends and family to come visit.
This just sums up a perfect June day in the Magic City for me. [Photo: Amy Allender]
A Not-So-Small Summer List
When we have company, I like to extend the opportunity to both enjoy town, and go on a day trip to a larger attraction. In town, (I’m specifically talking about Minot, but opportunities abound across the state) these are my go-to summer activities when we have guests:
· Roosevelt Park Zoo
· Main Street Books (we go during story time because it’s the cutest and my kids are entertained while grown-ups shop and take in that iconic “book-store” smell.)
· Taking walks to enjoy the perfect weather and long hours of sunlight (my favorites are Oak Park, Bison Plant Trail, Woodland Trail, and Denbigh Experimental Forest.)
· Sundays in the Park (FREE live music at Oak Park at 4 and 7pm every week)
· Thursdays in the City (FREE music, food, bounce houses, street entertainment, etc each week on Main Street at 5:30)
· Special events (I constantly check the visitminot.org calendar to see what’s going on. While my parents were here we attended the Horse Expo. This weekend with my in-laws we’ll be going to the Midsummer Festival. Other events include MSU summer theater, the state fair, and outdoor movies in the park.
· Bike rides. (I’m crazy about the new greenway path at the intersection of 3rd Ave and Broadway by Sammy’s Pizza. It’s so pretty, and it makes biking to downtown completely accessible.)
· Picnic at Pointe of View Winery
· Drives to view sunflowers, flax, or canola fields
· Evenings at home (loan a video binge box, puzzle, or board game from the library and enjoy cozy evenings at home. Our library is the actual best — I insist you show it to all guests.)
International Peace Garden [Photo: Amy Allender]
For something more substantial, I like to take visitors on a day trip — if time allows. These are popular with our friends and family.
· Fort Stevenson Park, Garrison
· Explore a ghost town
· Whirl-a-Whip, Stanley
· International Peace Garden, Dunseith
· Lake Metigoshe State Park
· Raging Rivers, Mandan (*we haven’t been, but this is on our list for this summer)
· Medora (this rides a fine line between day trip and overnight excursion)
Sometimes it is easy to think there’s nothing to do, or things are too ordinary to be exciting. Don’t fall into that trap. Grasp hold of the good and fun all around — no matter where you live. You’ll never be able to live this summer again, so make it a good one. No matter what you do, or how much company you entertain — I hope you find the ability to love where you find yourself to be. I hope your eagerness to live in these warm months is contagious, and if you are blessed with visitors, I hope your moments together will be nostalgia in the making.
To connect with me, see how I spend my days in Minot, or get a little more positivity for your day, find me on Instagram @amy_allender or on Facebook @amyallenderblog.
“I’m about to put a quarter in!” I called to a couple walking their daughter in a stroller at the zoo. “Does she want to ride?”
They parked their stroller and helped their little girl climb onto one of the miniature horses on the merry-go-round at the zoo. My boys were already seated on their chosen steeds.
We go to the zoo a lot. We know the zoo. We love the zoo.
“Mom! Can we ride? It’s working!” My four-year-old pointed with glee as we emerged from the gift shop to see the ride spinning. The carousel is kind of a big deal to us.
The ride itself is nothing to write home about. It reminds me of a ride that would have been outside Kmart when I was growing up in the 90s. You know the type: metal, miniature and pure bliss for a child under eight years old.
One of the few horses I’m willing to risk my money on. [Photo: Amy Allender]
This one has been lovingly hand painted. Each of the four horses is adorned with a different pattern: zebra stripes, tiger stripes, giraffe spots, leopard spots.
The zoo carousel has become one of those quirky small town sagas I love to watch unfold. There’s real dramatic tension. Will the carousel be working? Will we walk up to find an out of order sign? Will we insert our quarter only to discover it won’t turn on?
This little ride is one of the most exciting gambles I take. (Please, no judgement on my very risk-adverse existence.) Zoo staff is regularly working to repair it, and I thank them for these efforts.
Seeing it spinning with our own eyes, it seemed as though we’d hit the jackpot. No risk — proof that it is working was right in front of us.
After stopping to see if the tiger cubs were out, we approached the carousel. I was going to put a quarter in — we might as well fill the seats. Being fearlessly friendly, I called out to the first two families I saw. Once all four kids were safely seated, I crossed to the small, green coin slot.
Once there I could see we were going to have a problem.
Jammed…
The previous quarter hadn’t dropped all the way down, it was left jammed in the slot. I laughed nervously as I looked back at the small, expectant crowd — my boys, two grandparents, a girl about five, another girl probably 18 months and two other parents. My quarter would push this one down, the machine would be fixed, it would all be fine. Right?
I had exactly one quarter. Carefully, I shoved it in, trying to dislodge the clog.
Nothing happened. Now my quarter was lodged. I gave the coin slot a gentle shake.
Nothing.
“Well — this is awkward. The coins are getting stuck in the machine. I’m so sorry. I don’t have another quarter. Maybe next time — ya just never know with this thing,” I said.
The grandfather reached into his pocket. “We just got a bunch of change for the petting zoo. Let’s see if we can get ‘er going.” He leaned over the slot, examining the problem and let out a “Hmupf.”
One quarter in. Nothing.
Another quarter in. Nothing.
“Well, maybe…” he said under his breath. Then he made a fist and gave the machine a single, firm thump. A beat of silence. A metallic whir. The carousel began to spin.
It was like a scene from a movie. But instead of a cool teenager thunking a vending machine for a free soda or a comedic dad pounding the top of the TV for better reception, it was a North Dakotan man in a sun hat and a 25¢ kid ride.
It doesn’t get much better than this… and to finally be able to wear shorts again – score!! [Photo: Amy Allender]
There are millions of reasons why I love life here in Hot Dish Territory. It’s often hard to explain — but this captures the essence. I love that this ride is such an exciting part of our life. I love that this is a community where I can unabashedly call out to others to join us on the merry-go-round. I love that something so simple can make our days so sweet, and that this place is full of people who are ready to step in and save the day with an extra quarter.
To connect with me, see how I spend my days in Minot, or get a little more positivity for your day, find me on Instagram @amy_allender or on Facebook @amyallenderblog.
You know how some board games can force your pawn to return to start? Or at least make you to move back several spaces? That’s spring snowstorms in Minot.
You can play the game. You can execute strategy — but in classic board games like Life, Sorry or Trouble it all comes down to luck. Roll the wrong number, pick the wrong card, spin the wrong space and your progress is lost.
When it comes right down to it, in these games you can almost expect this to happen. Maybe you even build it into your strategy. Then, against all odds, if you don’t end up moving back four spaces or being bumped back to start, it feels like a glorious miracle.
That’s spring snowstorms in Minot.
We’ve moved our clocks, taken the plastic off the windows and put up the blackout curtains in our kids’ rooms. We’ve ventured out in short sleeves. Some of us (me) have even moved the snow pants into storage. We’ve done all the things that indicate spring has officially arrived.
Yet, here we are.
Just because you know a “return to start” is highly likely in those old games, doesn’t make it any less frustrating. Likewise, just because we know a spring snow is almost always the reality, doesn’t make it less jarring.
Maybe after you’ve lived here long enough spring snow becomes part of the yearly rhythm.
I’m not from around here, so no matter how many springs require me to get the shovel back out, it will never — I repeat never — be part of my rhythm. And let’s not forget, we haven’t just faced spring snow — we’ve seen a full-blown April blizzard.
When I heard that up to 30” of snow may fall and the high on Easter is 30˚, you can bet your bonnet I had a hard time taking it in stride. The spring snow is like a maniacal jack-in-the-box. You know it will eventually pop up, and it startles you every time. Will it be prom weekend? Easter? Mother’s Day? Or — God forbid — Memorial Day? Just a dusting? A blizzard? We just never know.
What I do know is that something especially strange happens when a spring snowstorm comes. As I told you several weeks ago — when the Big Thaw hits, folks in North Dakota change. We become new people. People who insist the winter was mild (even if it wasn’t) and radiate positivity. The first Big Thaw sets our collective sights on summer and we don’t look back. The extra hours of sun seem to erase any displeasure we felt toward winter as we see ourselves on the precipice of sunflower season.
After the Big Thaw, a snow storm sends us back to the proverbial Start space.
Long winter and long lines
My head is often so filled with spring that I become incredibly flustered when snow intrudes on my warm-weather mentality.
What should I have in the kitchen? What will I do if the kids can’t leave the house for two days? Where are my mittens? Do I need groceries? Is there a can of cream of mushroom soup in the pantry?
Whether it’s strictly necessary or not, nothing seems to compel those of us in Hot Dish Territory to make a Walmart or Target run quite like an impending blizzard. I can’t fully explain it, but it’s true. Never do I want to go to Walmart or Target as badly as the day before or day of a blizzard.
I’m not the only one. Reliable sources tell me Walmart completely ran out of carts on Tuesday. The self checkout line at Target extended into the beauty section. And, according to a fellow military spouse, the checkout line at the commissary on base wrapped completely around the store — all the way back to produce.
[Photo: @amy_allender]
What a time to be alive in North Dakota.
Although an April blizzard can send me reeling, it doesn’t snuff out my spring spirit. And it shouldn’t snuff our yours either. The old saying holds true — spring snow never stays. At least, I think that’s a saying. I hear a lot of locals say it. This one, no matter how huge, won’t last either. So stay in, pop some popcorn, make a hot dish, throw an extra blanket on the bed, and ride it out. Just think of all the conversations you’ll be able to have about the weather when this is done. But promise me you’ll resist the urge to run out to Walmart until the roads are clear.
To connect with me, see how I spend my days in Minot, or get a little more positivity for your day, find me on Instagram @amy_allender or on Facebook @amyallenderblog.
I’m rarely in town for the State Fair, and this year have thoroughly enjoyed soaking up this much-part of North Dakota’s summer
IYKYK
IYKYK. Have you seen this cluster of letters floating through the expanse of social media feeds and stories? Total transparency: The first time I saw it I googled it. To save you the trouble, I’ll just tell you what it means. “If you know, you know.” IYKYK.
I’ve come to love this expression and its initialism, because Hot Dish Territory is such an IYKYK kind of place. There are so many things that happen around here that sound utterly absurd until you’ve seen them firsthand. Other states and towns may get jazzed about major events and attractions—the draw of which can be easily explained.
Here, we’re busy vying for books at the library sale, waiting in line for a balloon from Dizzy the Clown, and sharing a passion for bars. Let’s be clear on the last one: The “bars” I’m referring to are desserts cut into squares and served on napkins; most often seen at potlucks and funerals. IYKYK.
Try explaining any of these to someone who isn’t from around here, and it won’t make sense until they see it with their own eyes. Even then, it still might not compute.
So, what’s the most IYKYK thing in North Dakota? In my opinion, it’s not sunflower fields, breathtaking sunsets, Lawrence Welk, the odd definition of an “open-faced sandwich,” or even an insistence on saying Sa-KAK-a-WEE-ah, Sakakawea, instead of Sak-UH-jo-WEE-ah, Sacagawea, like the rest of the country.
Daryl’s Racing Pigs is celebrating their 35th year. They are a long-time staple of State Fair entertainment.
No. I think the most “if you know, you know” part of living in North Dakota is the thrill and elation associated with Daryl’s Racing Pigs. If you’re local, you’re probably nodding your head. If you aren’t from around here you are probably wrinkling your forehead in confusion.
Picture this: cute piglets line up and race around a sawdust track. There are two races, each taking about 20 seconds to complete, during the 30-minute show.
Now do you get it? Do you see why locals love it so much?
No? That’s because you’ve got to see it. You’ve got to be there to really understand.
What’s the deal with the pigs?
At first, you may be shocked to see the bleachers around the miniature track completely packed before the race begins. Then, when you find a place to squeeze in, you start to feel the buzz of anticipation. The pigs come out, and you’re a little surprised at just how cute they are. Before you know it, you are cheering for a pig race, laughing at Daryl’s jokes, and crossing your fingers in hopes of winning a t-shirt. After only 30 minutes of observing the pig race, you’ve firmly decided you would definitely, and proudly, wear a Daryl’s Racing Pigs shirt. And you’re a little bummed when you don’t win. I’m speaking from experience, here.
As you navigate the dispersing crowd you tell yourself, “There’s always next year.” Suddenly, you get it. Now, you’ve seen the pigs. You’ll be back. Now you know.
The 2022 State Fair marks 35 years of Daryl’s Racing Pigs. As long as I’ve been living, tiny pigs have been delighting audiences with their adorable ability to run in circles. Children who grew up watching pig races are now bringing their children to the stands, making it equal parts tradition, nostalgia, and genuine thrill.
It may not be a million-dollar act for America’s Got Talent, but boy-oh-boy, it’s entertaining. After listening to a list of entertainment options, Daryl’s Racing Pigs was the one thing my four-year-old repeatedly reminded me he wanted to see. Their 5:30 p.m. show was the cornerstone to our fair-going experience. And let me say, we were not disappointed. IYKYK.
Waiting for the much-anticipated start of a cute little pigs race.
There’s nothing better than allowing yourself to get completely excited by something beautifully simple and quirky. There’s nothing better than living in a place where that kind of excitement is cultivated and kept sacred.
Whether it’s racing pigs, or clowns, or lefse, or something totally different, I’m sure you’ve got your own IYKYK thing. Hang on to it tightly, and savor the mundane glee it so effortlessly generates.
To connect with me, see how I spend my days in Minot, or tell me your own IYKYK, find me on Instagram @amy_allender or on Facebook @amyallenderblog.
Last weekend we visited Rapid City. During the days we crammed in tourist activities. We hit Bear Country, Reptile Gardens, and Old McDonald’s Farm. We ate ice cream at Mount Rushmore and browsed Who’s Toy House downtown. In the evening we visited local friends over meals and later watched our children romp through their yards until the sun started to dip into the hills.
“How’s Minot?” My Rapid City friends would ask. “You make it look so fun on your Instagram stories.”
“It’s great. So fun — it’s just such a weirdly wonderful place,” I’d say. Then I’d weave tales of Trash Christmas and story time at Main Street Books. I talked about weekly trips to the zoo, my appreciation for the causal and low-cost kids’ sports programs, and how I’m looking forward to root beer floats at MSU’s Summer Theatre. When given the opportunity, I can gush about all the things that make life in the Magic City so sweet.
“You should come visit,” I tell my friends. The offer is sincere, but I know it’s unlikely that many will come. And that’s okay. I get it. I have many things to say about life in Minot, but this may top the list:
Minot is a great place to come home to.
I’ll never push to have Minot added to a list of America’s best vacation destinations. You won’t hear me claim Minot is a must-see city.
That’s okay. It doesn’t mean I love it any less.
My family loves welcoming guests. I adore showing them around and taking them along as we do life here in Hot Dish Territory. When friends and family come to visit, they are always pleasantly surprised by how much there is to do and how busy we stay.
Minot is a great place to come home to, but it’s not a vacation destination.
As a newcomer, if you can wrap your head around that truth, you’ll be free to enjoy Minot for exactly what it is: a great hometown.
My child taking in the sights at Mount Rushmore. [Photo: Amy Allender]
The Rhythm Of Life
So while we enjoyed our days in the Black Hills, I also enjoyed cresting the hill on 83 to see Walmart and the sign for Lucy’s Amusement Park in the distance. I knew home was almost within reach. Familiarity began to wrap itself around me like a worn cardigan. Minot.
My family is on the brink of many big changes. Maybe you are too. That’s the nature of life. Nothing stays the same for very long. If I think too hard about the months to come, my stomach turns flips and I feel queasy.
Then I take a few deep breaths and look around. Once I pull myself back into the present moment, the familiar rhythm of life in Hot Dish Territory is like a white-noise machine in a nursery. Soothing and comfortable.
The trains in the distance and the traffic on Broadway sound like an old song. We’ll go to the library today and the zoo tomorrow. In the morning, I’ll hear the rapid tap-tap-tapping of a pesky woodpecker trying to drill into our eaves. I know what time mail arrives and who brings it. If the weather is nice, I’ll ask the neighbors to come play, and we’ll watch the boys get dirty and sweaty until dangerously close to bedtime. On Sunday, a friend will come for dinner. After dessert we’ll offer lengthy Midwest goodbyes after slapping our knees and saying, “Whelp…” Even the unruly howl of the wind and the easy small talk about the weather creates a cadence of home.
These aren’t the sounds of vacation, but they are beautiful nonetheless.
No, Minot isn’t America’s number one summer vacation locale, but it’s a really great place to come home to.
To connect with me, see how I spend my days in Minot, or get a little more positivity for your day, find me on Instagram @amy_allender or on Facebook @amyallenderblog.
The van’s bright yellow exterior, accented by pastel, candy-colored sun rays immediately grabbed my attention. My children were more focused on the massive bubbles being blown in front of the Oak Park amphitheater. I followed, but kept side-eyeing that lovely van, wondering what sort of brilliant idea may be operating out of its large windows.
This at the Build-A-Bubble event hosted by Minot Parks and Recreation. The evening was perfect. Not too warm. Not too buggy. Not too humid.
Families with kids ranging in age from barely-able-to-walk to barely-legal-to-drive, gathered around tubs of bubble liquid on the lawn. Music played, and we all attempted to create six-foot bubbles from dowel rods and string.
My youngest, now 21 months old, was most drawn to the amphitheater stage where a bubble machine was filling the air with small, perfectly-poppable orbs. Meanwhile, I kept glancing at the crowd on the hill near the van.
Then, a gentle voice said, “Would you like to pet the dog?”
Immediately, I recognized one of the trainers and dogs from the Reading Education Assistance Dogs Program, or READ, we’ve attended at the library. My sons quickly, eagerly accepted the invitation.
After I thanked the trainer, she said, “Be sure to go up to the van. They’ve got free ice cream for kids.” At this, my four-year-old took off running. “And books,” she added. “Each child gets to choose a book.”
Sometimes You Can Trust a Strange Van
Hello Sunshine: Ice Cream and Books. Now that we weren’t bee-lining toward bubbles I could read the text on the side of the van.
A woman at the window pointed toward neatly sorted bins and shelves of books that created an open-air library.
“Go pick a book, then come back to the window for ice cream. The book acts like a ticket for your treat,” she said.
So we did. And it was wonderful. And we’ve read those books many times since.
But I can’t stop thinking about that evening spent in the park, and the gosh-darn-goodness of it all. I can’t shake the giddy awe, the grateful excitement I feel just to be alive, and living in Minot, North Dakota at this very moment in time.
If you are from here, moments dripping with kindness and creativity may seem commonplace. Maybe you don’t notice the unusually high number of good ideas that get off the ground around here. The quirky ways people care for each other may be easy to overlook if you are used to seeing them.
Let me assure you, it’s not like this everywhere.
My youngest son at the Build-A-Bubble event at Oak Park. (Photo: Amy Allender/The Dakotan)
Keep the Good Ideas Coming
I go back to the Build-A-Bubble event because it encapsulates so many good things in one concise instance:
A van that offers free books and ice cream to children in high-needs neighborhoods and park events—because a successful way to improve reading skills among low-income children is to make books more accessible—is not something you’ll find in just any town. It’s an idea, spearheaded by a passionate elementary school teacher, and embraced by a community because around here, creative kindness is welcome.
A Parks Department brimming with ideas, that make living in NoDak unbelievably enjoyable.
Trainers with therapy dogs that show up at events, schools, and even the university finals week—because petting a calm dog is soothing, and happiness inducing.
The good ideas don’t stop there. There are too many to name in one location, and new ideas are taking shape all the time. I can’t keep up with them all. We’ve got free story times, sensory-friendly movie screenings, a diaper pantry, a free shower program, free pregnancy ultrasounds, and community lunch offered nearly every day of the week.
This is a place that lets good ideas grow. This is a place that gets behind creative ways to make life nicer, more bearable, kinder.
Friends, candy-colored vans are passing out ice cream and books to children on hot, summer evenings. What a time to be alive!
Whether you are in North Dakota, or just wish you were—don’t let the goodness around you go unnoticed. Support good ideas when you see them. If you’ve got a good idea of your own, be brave enough to try it out.
To connect with me, see how I spend my days in Minot, or get a little more positivity for your day, find me on Instagram @amy_allender or on Facebook @amyallenderblog.
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