2021 Modified Festival Events

Carla Oja, president of the Astoria Scandinavian Midsummer Festival Association, has announced that the 2021 Scandinavian Midsummer Festival will be modified due to the Covid pandemic and state health regulations. Several events will still take place with a few changes.  Coronation of Miss Scandinavia 2021 will take place virtually at 7 PM on Friday, June 18. Senior princesses sponsored by the …

2020 Optog in Downtown Astoria!

Scandinavian Midsummer Festival Plans Optog June 20 The 2020 Astoria Scandinavian Midsummer Festival has been cancelled but the festival committee has found a new way to publicly celebrate the solstice. Festival co-chair Carla Oja announced that members of the local Scandinavian community will hold a stationary Optog from 11:30 AM to 12:30 PM on Saturday, June 20, on both sides …

Astoria Nordic Heritage Park Update

Astoria Nordic Heritage Park Project Moves Forward The Astoria Scandinavian Heritage Association’s plans to build Astoria Nordic Heritage Park in Astoria’s Downtown Historic District on the Columbia River waterfront are progressing despite the challenges of pandemic times. The Oregon Cultural Trust recently awarded ASHA an organizational development grant of $2,000 to hire a consultant to coach the non-profit on fundraising …

2020 Festival Cancelled Due to Covid 19

2020 ASTORIA SCANDINAVIAN MIDSUMMER FESTIVAL CANCELLED APRIL 15, 2020 – The Astoria Scandinavian Midsummer Festival Association and Astoria Scandinavian Heritage Association have made the difficult decision to cancel the 53rd annual Midsummer Festival scheduled for June 19-21 at the Clatsop County Fairgrounds. Large summer events like this are being canceled all over the region to protect the health of visitors …

Nordic Lights Benefit Dinner Postponed

UPDATE: Due to the Covid 19 crisis, the Nordic Lights Benefit Dinners has been postponed. The new date will be Saturday, September 26 from 5-8pm. Planning for our upcoming Nordic Lights Benefit Dinner is going well! Nordic Lights Benefit Dinner for the Astoria Nordic Heritage Park Capital Campaign Carruthers Restaurant 1198 Commercial, Astoria OR $150 per person; reservations required; tip is included. …

2020 Scanfest Princess Announcement

The 2020 Astoria Scandinavian Midsummer Festival Court will be introduced to the community at 7 PM on Tuesday, March 10, 2020, at Astoria High School. Please join us in welcoming our new ambassadors of the 53rd Annual Scandinavian Midsummer Festival. The Nordic Viking Scandia Dancers will perform and refreshments will be served. The presentation of the 2020 court is free …

2019 Festival Photos Are Here!

We have just added to our already huge collection of festival photographs, with 26 brand new galleries! Please visit our newly updated Photo Galleries page and enjoy a trip back through most of the events of the 2019 Astoria Scandinavian Midsummer Festival, as well as our Court and Nordic Dancers at Long Beach’s Loyalty Days and the Warrenton 4th of …

And We Have a Winner…

The 2019 Astoria Scandinavian Midsummer Festival was another huge success! We crowned our newest Miss Scandinavia, Sofia Morrill, who was this year’s Miss Finland, and have our 2019 Santa Lucia Bride, Miss Denmark, Isabel Talley. And there we lots of other winners at this year’s festival: The Running of the Trolls winners for fastest adult male, adult female, and kid, …

Tradition is king at 52nd Annual Scandinavian Midsummer Festival

By Patty Hardin For Coast Weekend Jun 20, 2019 Tradition links us to the past and unites us in the present. Now, with more than 50 festivals under its belt, the Astoria Scandinavian Midsummer Festival is a showcase for the depth of traditions. This year’s 52nd Annual festival is held at the Clatsop County Fairgrounds Friday, June 21-Sunday, June 23, …

Nordic Park in Astoria Halfway to Funding Goal

Nordic Park in Astoria Halfway to Funding Goal Project planned for Peoples Park By Katie Frankowicz, The Daily Astorian As a man dressed as a mountain troll waylays the unsuspecting in a time-honored tradition at the 52nd Astoria Scandinavian Midsummer Festival this weekend, a park celebrating the region’s Nordic heritage is about halfway to its funding goal. The committee behind …