Nordic culture and heritage is alive and well in Astoria, Oregon, as demonstrated by the recent success of the 56th annual Astoria Scandinavian Midsummer Festival. We were pleased to share this event with thousands of visitors from the local region and beyond. Huge thanks to all volunteers, sponsors, participants, and festival attendees who made our celebration memorable and meaningful. We will …
Congratulations to the 2023 Astoria Scandinavian Midsummer Festival Association $1000 Grand Prize Winner, Edie Craig! A big thank you goes out to everyone who purchased raffle tickets and to those businesses, local lodges/organizations, families and the Astoria Scandinavian Midsummer Festival Association who donated prizes. CONGRATULATIONS TO THE WINNERS! Click here to see the complete list of this year’s winners.
The Astoria Scandinavian Midsummer Festival Association awarded three scholarships at the 2023 Midsummer Festival. Olivia Esnard from Seaside High School was awarded a scholarship from the Scandinavian Benevolent Society. Oliva was Miss Finland and Miss Scandinavia in 2022. She will attend Oregon State University to study Marine Science. Kaylee Falleur from Astoria High School received a scholarship donated by Tony …
Father/daughter named Grand Marshals for Astoria Scanfest Kurt Hayrynen and his daughter Augusta Hayrynen have been chosen as Grand Marshals for the 2023 Astoria Scandinavian Midsummer Festival. Festival president Carla Oja said, “The Midsummer Festival is built on volunteers. All volunteers are important to us, especially the extreme ones like Kurt and Augusta who you see working everywhere and who …
Don’t miss out on this incredible experience! The COATS are an internationally acclaimed a cappella comedy group who amazes audiences with only their voices! Their intensely arranged yet hilarious, interactive performance blends music and comedy so seemlessly that there is no event, stage, or function of any size that they won’t be left stunned and wondering, “how did all of …
April 3, 1964 — Jan. 8, 2023 Charles “Chuck” Leroy Higgins, 58, of Astoria, passed away unexpectedly on Jan. 8 of cardiac arrest. Chuck was born on April 3, 1964, in Amarillo, Texas, to Larry Higgins and Marilyn (Rose) Blevins. His family moved to Union City, Indiana, in 1964, when Chuck was just 3 months old. He, along with his …
Nordic Northwest named Janet Lien Bowler Oregon Scandinavian of the Year at the 2022 Scan Fair held in Convention Center in Portland last December. Bowler was honored for “celebrating and communicating Nordic culture and community” via social media and her work with the websites for Astoria Nordic Heritage Park and Astoria Scan Fest.
The date for the 2022 Sankta Lucia Festival is Friday, November 25. We hope everyone is healthy and vaccinated and can join us then. The Sankta Lucia Festival, sponsored by the Scandinavian Midsummer Festival Association, is family fun at a great price. It’s held every November at 7 P.M. on Friday immediately following Thanksgiving. The Sankta Lucia Ceremony takes place …
Kardemimmit will be the feature group from Scandinavia to appear at the 2023 Astoria Scandinavian Midsummer Festival. Kardemimmit is an all-female band whose members sing and play kantele, the Finnish table harp. The group has been together for twenty years and recently released their sixth album. Kardemimmit will take listeners on a journey into the Finnish Midsummer’s magical night where …
Congratulations to all the winners of the Midsummer Raffle and thanks to all who purchased chances to aid with festival expenses. We appreciate all the donors of the prizes for this fun event. If your name is not on the list, better luck next year! Here are this year’s winners of the Astoria Scandinavian Midsummer Festival Raffles! GRAND PRIZE $1,000 …