Princess Committee
Our Court Would Love to Speak to You!
The Festival Court is available to speak to your lodge or service organization. This is an excellent opportunity for you to support these young women as they practice communication skills, and puts you directly in touch with our Nordic future! Please use the form below to schedule a date.
Click here to learn more about each member of this year's Astoria Scandinavian Midsummer Festival Court.
Mailing Address:
PO Box 34
Astoria, OR 97103
Phone: Marci Swenson - 503-298-7756
Members of the festival committee met online and in person tonight to work on logistics and details for the 57th Annual Astoria Scandinavian Midsummer Festival. There will be openings on the festival committee for next year. Let us know if you have time and talent to VOLUNTEER!
What's the difference between a May Pole and a Midsummer Pole? Both are traditionally decorated with flowers and greenery, symbolize nature and fertility, and have pagan roots. ![]()
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The May Pole probably originated in Roman Britain. It usually has ribbons that dancers weave into complex patterns. The May Pole is used to celebrate spring. ![]()
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The Midsummer Pole in the Nordic lands has a cross and two rings and is used to celebrate the longest day of summer. Dancers dance ring dances around the pole and the most well known dance is the frog dance from Sweden. ![]()
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You can see a Nordic Midsummer Pole at the Astoria Nordic Heritage Park any day of the year. Volunteers will raise an authentic Midsummer Pole at the 2024 Midsummer Festival and dance around it at 12 noon on Saturday, June 22, at the Clatsop County Fairgrounds. There will be live music and and a caller and you are all invited to participate.
The prune tart experts at Suomi Hall were joined by visitors from Finland today who showed them the authentic way to make our favorite pastries. There will be lots of prune tarts at the Midsummer Festival June 21-23 at the Clatsop County Fairgrounds. Save the date!
The tubinator Ken Presthus got a good send off when his partner Coreen Bergholm and her accordion band played for his celebration of life this weekend. Coreen and the band will play for the Queen’s Ball Friday evening at the Midsummer Festival, June 21. We will miss Ken in the band. He was a great guy and terrific musician.
Did you get your tickets yet for ARRIVAL's return to the Midsummer Festival on Saturday, June 22? The performance sold out in 2021 and we had the most FUN ever. Don't miss it! Scroll through the photos and see the QR code with a link to EventBrite link for tickets. GASLIGHTER Songs of the (Dixie) Chicks opens and ARRIVAL Canada's Tribute to ABBA finishes. We can't wait!