Saturday Events

Please Note: The following Events schedules have already passed. The next Festival will be held on June 21, 22, and 23, 2024. We will update next year's schedule later in the year. We hope to see you next year!

SATURDAY
June 22, 2024


MIDNIGHT SUN BREAKFAST
served by Scandinavian Café of Vancouver, WA
7am - 11am, Exhibit Hall
Buffet: Norwegian Jarlsberg egg cake, Finnish Pyttipannu (Scandinavian pan-fried scramble of potato, onions, sausage & egg), Cardamom Coffee Cake with Strawberries and Whipped Cream,, Norwegian Rommegrot (sour cream porridge/pudding with cinnamon and sugar), Lefse (fresh off the griddle), Scandinavian cheese, Shrimp and salmon lox, Fresh assorted breads, Fruit, Fresh baked Danish pastry, Coffee, OJ, water. $18.00 (Kids 6 and under: $8)
(Menus are subject to change depending on ingredient availability in June.)

RUNNING OF THE TROLLS
8:30am
Walluski area by Clatsop County Fairgrounds
Join us for a walk or run in the beautiful Walluski countryside. Proceeds from the race will benefit the Scandinavian Midsummer Festival Association Scholarship Fund. Registration is available online or at the festival. Check-in is from 7-8am on Saturday in the Main Entry Hall. The Race begins at 8:30am.
More Info

BOOTHS
9am - 6:30pm, Arena
Visit the midsummer vendors to find specialty Scandinavian items and handcrafted treasures.  Many booths offer Scandinavian food items for your dining and snacking pleasure.
More Info

RAFFLE TICKETS
9am - 7pm
Purchase raffle tickets for fine prizes donated by the Astoria Scandinavian Midsummer Festival Association and festival vendors. The Raffle Booth also sells CDs from feature performers.
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ICELANDIC HORSES
9am - 4pm, Horse Arena
Jackie and Larry Taylor of Yelm, Washington will show their Icelandic horses in the horse arena next to the Midsummer Pole. There will be bleacher seating after 1 PM.

ENTERTAINMENT
9am - 4:45pm, Arena
1:15pm - 6:30pm, Exhibit Hall
Enjoy live Scandinavian themed entertainment and dancing on arena and exhibit hall stages throughout most of the day.  Pick up a festival program at the admission table or view one of the posted schedules to find your favorite band, singer, or dance troupe.
More Info

EMPIRE OF CHIVALRY AND STEEL VIKING ENCAMPMENT
10am – 4pm, Outdoors
The Empire of Chivalry and Steel will hold an open house in their Viking encampment outdoors south of the Arena.  Costumed reenactors will demonstrate crafts, tournaments, armor making, and combat arts from the culture of the Middle Ages.

BEER GARDEN
11am - 11pm
Adult beverages and a limited menu of snacks will be offered.  Your host is the Astor Street Opry that will also provide 40 minutes of live entertainment every hour starting at 1 PM. Enjoy the Beer Babes’ accordion music Friday evening and Saturday late afternoon.

BARNEFEST
11am - 5pm, Arena (Saturday Only)
Young festival attendees can participate in children’s activities in the Barnefest area.  Children under 12 need to be accompanied by an adult.

OPTOG - FESTIVAL PARADE
11:30am, festival grounds
Miss Scandinavia and her court, costumed dancers and entertainers, representatives from the Scandinavian lodges, and family groups will parade through the arena and festival grounds to the outdoor stage for the Flag Raising and Midsummer Pole ceremony. Coreen Bergholm will be honored as 2024 Grand Marshal.

FLAG RAISING
12pm, Midsummer Pole
Come and hear the national songs of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden while Miss Scandinavia and her court assist in the pageantry of the raising of the flags of these Scandinavian countries. (In case of rain, flag raising will be moved to the Exhibit Hall.)

MIDSUMMER POLE RAISING & DANCING
12:30pm (Approx.) Midsummer Pole
Watch local men and sturdy women (and volunteers!) skillfully raise the Midsummer Pole. The Polka Dots will play live music for dancing around the Midsummer Pole led by Christine Smith and the VASA Youth Group Swedish Dancers. All are welcome to join in!

TUG OF WAR
1pm, Outdoors by Midsummer Pole
Teams of eight will vie to be champion. Participants must be in good health and sign a waiver.

KUBB DEMONSTRATION
1:30pm - 3:30 pm, in front of the Midsummer Pole
Kubb is a yard game of Scandinavian origins which has been played for about 1,000 years. No prior skills are required. Join Dave Alford and friends to play Kubb by the Midsummer Pole. All are welcome.

PARADE OF NATIONAL FOLK WEAR and AUTHENTIC SWEATERS
5pm, Exhibit Hall
Are you curious about the lovely folk wear worn by representatives of the Scandinavian countries?  Come and see and hear them explained in a fashion show with live models. Are you wearing an authentic Nordic sweater? Come and join in.

VIKING DINNER
served by Scandinavian Café of Vancouver, WA
4pm - 7pm, Exhibit Hall

Buffet: Danish pork roast with apricots and prunes, Icelandic Cod Soup (creamy tomato cream broth with hints of curry, with leaks, onion, potato and Icelandic cod. Swedish Meatballs in Mushroom Cream Gravy, Medister Polse (Norwegian Pork Sausage), Braised Red Cabbage, Janneson’s Temptation (a traditional Swedish casserole made of potatoes, onions, pickled sprats, bread crumbs and cream), Garden Salad, Danish Smørrebrød (Open-Faced Sandwiches), Shrimp and Herring Salad, Nordic Cheeses, Fresh Baked Bread and Crisps, Cream Filled Pastry Shells drizzled in Dark Chocolate, Cookies and Pastries, Soda, Coffee & Bottled Water.
$24.00 per person (Kids 6 and under: $10)
(Menu is subject to change depending on ingredient availability in June.)

MEATBALL EATING CONTEST
4:45pm, Exhibit Hall
How many Swedish meatballs can you eat in five minutes with your hands behind your back? The champion will win a prize. Participants must be in good health and sign a waiver. 18 or older.

ÆBLESKIVER EATING CONTEST
4:45pm, Exhibit Hall
How many Æbleskiver (Danish donuts) can you eat in five minutes with your hands behind your back? The champion will win an Æbleskiver’s pan and recipe. Participants must be in good health and sign a waiver. 18 or older.

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Saturday, June 22
7:30pm (Doors: 7:00pm)

First five rows: $40 ($45 at the door)
Rows F-P: $30 ($35 at the door)
General Admission: $20 ($25 at the door)

NOTE: Advance tickets will be available soon. Please check back!


GASLIGHTER Songs of the Chicks and ARRIVAL Canada’s Tribute to ABBA


“Gaslighter” is the name of the 8th album by the group formerly known as the Dixie Chicks and is also the name of the Canadian tribute band to the Chicks. The Chicks were one of the best performing all female groups of all times. GASLIGHTER will take the audience into the heart of the Chick’s adventurous spirit and musical artistry. Shannon Saunders on fiddle, mandolin, and backing vocals; Tracy Em on lead vocals and acoustic guitar; and Emily Ashcroft on guitar, banjo, dobro, and backing vocals will be joined by a four-piece back-up band. The talented women capture not only the look of the Chicks, but also their attitude, harmonies, and musical prowess. GASLIGHTER will perform the first half of the special concert on Saturday night of the Midsummer Festival.

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ARRIVAL, Canada’s Tribute to ABBA, will perform the second half of the concert on June 22. They return to the Midsummer Festival for the fourth time and there will be dancing in the aisles! This authentic sounding six-piece tribute band to ABBA includes seasoned professional musicians who will thrill us again with favorites like Dancing Queen; Money, Money, Money, The Winner Takes It All, and Mama Mia. The 2022 ARRIVAL concert was standing room only. You won’t want to miss the fun listening to Scandinavia’s all-time hit band’s tunes.

 GASLIGHTER and ARRIVAL will perform at 7:30 on Saturday, June 22. Doors open at 7 PM.  A separate ticket is required for this event. Advance tickets will be on sale soon. This event takes place INDOORS in the arena. Reserve seats are chairs. General Admission is bleachers.

A ticket to the ARRIVAL/GASLIGHTER concert includes FREE admission to the festival after 5 PM. The arena with the vendors closes at 6:30 PM and reopens at 7 PM for seating. The beer garden will be open with beverages and snacks and the Scandinavian Café of Vancouver, Washington, will cater a Scandinavian Buffet in the Exhibit Hall from 4 – 7 PM.

Friday Details!

Friday, the festival kicks off with vendors, food and live entertainment. Friday’s major evening events include Queen's Coronation, a Bonfire with Hex burning, and a public dance.

Friday!

Learn more about all of the fun Friday events!

Click Here!

Sunday Details!

Sunday’s activities include a Pannukakku Breakfast, non-denominational church service, shopping, food, and live entertainment. Festival concludes with the closing ceremonies.

Sunday!

Learn more about all of the fun Sunday events!

Click Here!
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3-day Wristband - Adult $10
3-day Wristband - Children (6-12 yrs.) $4
(5 and under free)


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Clatsop County Fairgrounds
92937 Walluski Loop
Astoria, OR 97103

Click for directions


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Clatsop County Fairgrounds
$5 for the weekend


No Pets Allowed
Only verifiable registered service animals will be permitted