Molly is a junior at Astoria High School and is sponsored by the Sons of Norway Nidaros Lodge. She enjoys watching the bonfire and dancing around the Midsummer Pole. Molly looks forward to making her speech at coronation and will be sure to mention that her grandmother taught her how to make krumkake. Molly’s heritage is both Norwegian and Swedish. She’s a volunteer at the Flavel House and is interested in historical preservation.

Sofia lives in Beaverton and is a senior at Mountainside High School. She is sponsored by VASA Swedish Lodge #215. Her grandparents were very active in the Midsummer Festival for many years and Sofia has attended the festival since she was little. Her grandfather Sven immigrated from Sweden. As a child Sofia liked getting her face painted in the Barnefest and now she likes shopping in the vendor booths. Sofia is helping to create her school’s yearbook and plants to attend a community college and take health classes next year.

Sophie is a junior at Warrenton High School and is sponsored by the Lower Columbia Danish Society. She was Junior Miss Denmark in 2015 and has worked in the Danish aebelskiver and frikadeller booth at past festivals. Sophie’s Danish heritage comes from her grandmother. She looks forward to meeting new people at the 2023 festival and learning to put herself forward.

Isla is a student at Astor School and is sponsored by the Lower Columbia Danish Society. She likes wearing authentic folk wear at the festival and helping in the Danish booth. She’s been to Scandinavia to visit Norway, Denmark, and Sweden. Isla prefers cartwheels to walking.

Maci attends Astoria schools and is sponsored by Friends of Suomi Hall. Her grandmother is 100% Finnish. Maci attended Suomi Summer School in 2022 and learned some Finnish songs. She likes to dance and eat Nordic food at the festival.

Violet is a student at Lewis and Clark Elementary and is sponsored by VASA Swedish Lodge. She has attended the Midsummer Festival with her parents and grandparents since she was a baby. She loves to travel and has visited Denmark and plans to visit Iceland and Sweden next year. Violet’s family likes to prepare a huge Scandinavian smorgasbord brunch for family, friends, and neighbors on Christmas morning. Violet joined the Nordic Viking Dancers when she was five years old. Violet has 2 brothers, 44 first cousins, and is a fourth-generation Astorian.

Liam attends Lewis and Clark Elementary and is sponsored by VASA Swedish Lodge #215. Liam is a true Scandinavian: not only is he Swedish, but he is also Finnish, Norwegian, and Danish. His great-great-grandmother left Finland at age 18 and traveled alone to Astoria where she met her Swedish husband at a dance where the Josephson’s Smoke House now stands. Liam loves celebrating Swedish Christmas traditions with the local VASA Swedish Lodge.

Tami Stelzig is a kindergarten teacher for the Astoria School District. As a child she was a Scandinavian dancer and went to the festival with her family. Now she helps with setting up the festival and liked seeing her daughter as Junior Miss Finland in 2019. Tami assisted with Suomi Summer School last summer, bakes traditional Scandinavian foods, and is part of the Scandinavian Dance group. Both sides of her family have Finnish heritage and her mom is also Norwegian. Tami has traveled to Finland and is known for her polished skills at crafting, baking, and canning.