2020 Optog in Downtown Astoria!

Scandinavian Midsummer Festival Plans Optog June 20 The 2020 Astoria Scandinavian Midsummer Festival has been cancelled but the festival committee has found a new way to publicly celebrate the solstice. Festival co-chair Carla Oja announced that members of the local Scandinavian community will hold a stationary Optog from 11:30 AM to 12:30 PM on Saturday, June 20, on both sides …

Awards Scholarships

Scandinavian Midsummer Festival Awards Scholarships Four graduating seniors from local high schools who have been active in the Scandinavian community received $1,000 scholarships from the Astoria Scandinavian Midsummer Festival Association. Isabella Morrill, Kaisa Liljenwall, and Mara Dowaliby from Warrenton High School and Leo Mathews from Astoria High School received the scholarships to assist with their higher education plans. Isabella plans …

Astoria Nordic Heritage Park Update

Astoria Nordic Heritage Park Project Moves Forward The Astoria Scandinavian Heritage Association’s plans to build Astoria Nordic Heritage Park in Astoria’s Downtown Historic District on the Columbia River waterfront are progressing despite the challenges of pandemic times. The Oregon Cultural Trust recently awarded ASHA an organizational development grant of $2,000 to hire a consultant to coach the non-profit on fundraising …

2020 Festival Cancelled Due to Covid 19

2020 ASTORIA SCANDINAVIAN MIDSUMMER FESTIVAL CANCELLED APRIL 15, 2020 – The Astoria Scandinavian Midsummer Festival Association and Astoria Scandinavian Heritage Association have made the difficult decision to cancel the 53rd annual Midsummer Festival scheduled for June 19-21 at the Clatsop County Fairgrounds. Large summer events like this are being canceled all over the region to protect the health of visitors …

Nordic Lights Benefit Dinner Postponed

UPDATE: Due to the Covid 19 crisis, the Nordic Lights Benefit Dinners has been postponed. The new date will be Saturday, September 26 from 5-8pm. Planning for our upcoming Nordic Lights Benefit Dinner is going well! Nordic Lights Benefit Dinner for the Astoria Nordic Heritage Park Capital Campaign Carruthers Restaurant 1198 Commercial, Astoria OR $150 per person; reservations required; tip is included. …

2020 Scanfest Princess Announcement

The 2020 Astoria Scandinavian Midsummer Festival Court will be introduced to the community at 7 PM on Tuesday, March 10, 2020, at Astoria High School. Please join us in welcoming our new ambassadors of the 53rd Annual Scandinavian Midsummer Festival. The Nordic Viking Scandia Dancers will perform and refreshments will be served. The presentation of the 2020 court is free …

Park Fundraising Tops $750,000!

Astoria Nordic Heritage Park committee members cheered as committee chair Judi Lampi gave Astoria Scandinavian Heritage Association president Loran Mathews $99.01 in cash bringing total funds raised for Astoria Nordic Heritage Park to $750,000 or three-quarters of a million dollars. Committee members have been working since 2015 on this project. The design and engineering phases of the project are finished, …

2020 Scanfest Entertainers!

Kardemimmit from Finland Ancient instruments and angelic vocals Kardemimmit takes you to a journey into the Finnish Midsummer’s magical night where the sun doesn’t set at all. The air is filled with the ancient mystery of time standing still and the nature is heartbreakingly beautiful at the peak of its bloom. Kardemimmit – sound of the Finnish forest Kardemimmit is …