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 …

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 …

Santa Lucia 2019!

The Astoria Scandinavian Midsummer Festival Association presents the annual Sankta Lucia Festival of Lights at 7 PM on Friday, November 29th, at the Astoria High School Auditorium and Commons. In the Nordic countries, Lucia is traditionally celebrated on December 13th, the shortest day of the year in older calendars. Lucia was honored with sainthood for carrying food and drink to the hungry …

Miss Scandinavia 2018!

Miss Finland Kourtney Tischer from Knappa was crowned Miss Scandinavia 2018 at the Queen’s Coronation on June 15, 2018. She was sponsored by the Finnish Brotherhood and proudly wore the same Finnish costume her mother wore in 1994 when she was Senior Miss Finland. Kourtney’s ancestors came from the Swedish part of Finland and some also lived in Norway and …

Celebrating Swedish by Marriage in Astoria, Oregon

By Janet Bowler The lack of Swedish ancestry never stopped Gerry Swenson or her daughter-in-law Marci Swenson from actively promoting their husbands’ and children’s Swedish heritage in the Scandinavian community of Astoria, Oregon. Gerry’s husband Bob Swenson’s uncle Ragnar emigrated from Sweden (Örsjö in Småland) in 1910. Bob and Gerry are members of Astor Lodge #215 of VASA, and in …

Scandinavian Midsummer Festival Announces Leadership

The Astoria Scandinavian Midsummer Festival Association announces a change in leadership. Leila Collier, who lead the festival committee for the past three years, is stepping down. The two new co-chairs are Tony Larson and Carla Oja. Larson has a law degree from Willamette University and is of Danish descent.  He’s a professional mediator, Chairman of the Scan Oregon Lodge, Life …

Tributes to ABBA and Fleetwood Mac at 2018 Festival

By popular demand, ARRIVAL, Canada’s tribute to ABBA, will return to the 2018 Astoria Scandinavian Midsummer Festival accompanied by DREAMS, Canada’s Fleetwood Mac Tribute Band. ARRIVAL performed their ABBA show to a large and enthusiastic audience at last year’s 50th anniversary festival and people who saw the show and people who missed the show have requested that we bring this …