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 …

A Monument to Scandinavian Immigrants Takes Shape in Astoria

Reprinted from The Daily Astorian By Katie Frankowicz Published on October 26, 2018 8:22AM Last changed on October 26, 2018 8:42AM Complete with birch trees, river views, steamer trunks and trolls, the design for a park to celebrate Astoria’s Scandinavian roots is ready. The blueprint will be vetted by the Parks Advisory Board and the Historic Landmarks Commission and could …

2018 Santa Lucia Festival!

7 PM, Friday, November 23, 2018, at Astoria High School Auditorium 2018 Santa Lucia Festival! A Scandinavian Midsummer Festival Association Event In Scandinavia “Santa Lucia” is celebrated in December, but in Astoria, this winter festival of lights is celebrated the day after Thanksgiving to tie in with the opening of the Christmas season. This year’s event starts at 7 P.M. …

Astoria Sunday Market Supports Scandinavian Heritage Park

Photo: Astoria Scandinavian Heritage Park Chair Judi Lampi with Jack Ficken, Astoria Sunday Market Board of Directors President and Greg Cross, Astoria Sunday Market Treasurer The Astoria Sunday Market made a $2,000 grant to the Astoria Scandinavian Heritage Association to support the non-profit’s efforts to construct Astoria Scandinavian Heritage Park. Cyndi Mudge, Director of the Astoria Sunday Market, said that the …

Astoria Scandinavian Heritage Park Selects Architect

Photo: Audrey West, Owner of The West Studio and Principal-in-Charge for Astoria Scan Park project; Judi Lampi, Vice-President of Astoria Scandinavian Heritage Association and Chair of Astoria Scan Park committee; Kristi Park, Project Manager for The West Studio’s Astoria Scan Park design team. The Astoria Scandinavian Heritage Association announced that it has selected The West Studio of Seattle, Washington, as landscape …

Oregon Cultural Trust Supports Scandinavian Heritage Group

The Astoria Scandinavian Heritage Association has been awarded an organizational grant by the Oregon Cultural Trust to hire a consultant to conduct training to help the group organize  a fundraising campaign for Astoria Scandinavian Heritage Park. The Organizational & Professional Development Grant program was developed by Oregon Cultural Trust Partners to strengthen cultural non-profit leadership and organizational effectiveness to better …

2018 Scanfest Scholarships

Four scholarships were awarded in 2018! Megan Schacher and Aleks Matthews of Astoria High School (above,) and Kara Dowaliby and Nolan Mathews of Warrenton High School (below,) were awarded scholarships. See more about the Astoria Scandinavian Midsummer Festival Scholarship Program – click here.