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 …

Official 2018 Court Photographs

We’ve just added this year’s Official Scandinavian Midsummer Festival court photos, taken by the talented Lisa Lamping! You can view all of these, and learn more about each of these young ladies on our 2018 Court page. Click here.    

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 …

2018 Scanfest Court!

Junior Miss Iceland Holly Bjaranson is from Hammond and has great-grandparents who are Norwegian, Icelandic and Swedish. She learned her heritage from her parents and grandparents and looks forward to the Midsummer Festival so she can dance, participate in the Barnefest (children’s activity area), and make more friends. Senior Miss Sweden is Madalyn Hellberg from Camas, Washington. Her grandparents are …