Scandinavian Court Introductions

Congratulations to the ASFMA and Princess Committee for a successful Princess Introduction Tuesday evening. The festival will be represented by a talented and extremely verbal group of young people this year at promotional events around the community. Service groups wishing to invite the young women to come speak should message the princess committee on the festival website – click here. …

2024 Grand Marshal!

2024 Grand Marshal Coreen Bergholm has attended 55 of 57 Midsummer Festivals and been an entertainer since 1978. Bergholm immigrated from North Dakota to Astoria in 1965 and attended her first Midsummer Festival in 1968 when her daughter was part of the original children’s Nordic dance group lead by Carol Obie. Both daughter Lynnette and son Ronnie danced with the …

Thank You!

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 …

2023 Festival Raffle Winners

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.

2023 Scholarship Awards

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 2023 Grand Marshals!

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 …

The COATS Live!

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 …

Honoring Chuck Higgins

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 …

2022 Oregon Scandinavian of the Year

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. 

‘Tis the Season for Sankta Lucia!

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 …