7 PM, Friday, November 23, 2018, at Astoria High School Auditorium
2018 Santa Lucia Festival!
A Scandinavian Midsummer Festival Association Event
In Scandinavia “Santa Lucia” is celebrated in December, but in Astoria, this winter festival of lights is celebrated the day after Thanksgiving to tie in with the opening of the Christmas season. This year’s event starts at 7 P.M. on Friday, November 23,th at the Astoria High School Auditorium, 1001 West Marine Drive in Astoria and is open to the public. Madalyn Hellberg, who was runner-up to Miss Scandinavia at the 2018 Midsummer Festival, will be the Lucia Bride and wear a crown of candles on her head. Other members of the court will be Lucia attendants and a few young men will be “Star Boys”. After the brief Lucia procession and ceremony, the Nordic-Viking-Scandia dancers will perform several choreographed dances and Faith Swanson will accompany a carol sing-along on the piano. 2019 Festival Co-Chair Carla Oja will be MC. The new Scandinavian Midsummer Festival Court for 2019 will be introduced. The evening will continue with refreshments provided by VASA Swedish Lodge and public dancing in the Commons. Coreen Bergholm and friends will entertain on accordion and tuba.
You do not have to be Scandinavian to participate and enjoy this fun evening. Everyone is invited to leave the Thanksgiving left-overs and shopping and come listen to good music, sing some Christmas Carols, mingle with friends and dance.
Admission is $1 or $5 per family with all admission funds going to the Scandinavian Festival Scholarship Fund administered by the Astoria High School Scholarships, Inc. Nordic-Viking Dancer parents will sell krumkake and there will be an informational table about Scandinavian Heritage Park.