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Photo: Astoria Warrenton Area Chamber of Commerce
Make plans to celebrate summer this year in Astoria at the annual Scandinavian Midsummer Festival June 17-19, 2016. You’ll be transported to the lands of the Midnight Sun for three days of Scandinavian music, dance, food, and traditional Midsummer activities including the Midsummer pole, Viking encampment, a Kubb demonstration and tournament (Scandinavian lawn game), and more. Instrumental folk trios from Denmark, Sweden, and Finland as well as the Nordleik of Poulsbo fiddlers, the Leikarringen of Portland, and the Nordic Viking Dancers of Astoria will perform all three days of the festival.
Retail booths feature handcrafts, Scandinavian import items, and traditional Scandinavian foods such as Danish donuts (aebleskiver), meatballs and red cabbage (frikadeller and rødkål), Norwegian waffle cookies (krumkaker), Swedish pea soup (ärtsouppa), and Finnish pancakes (pannukakku). The festival honors the cultural heritage of the many Scandinavian immigrants who settled in the Astoria, Oregon area beginning in the late nineteenth century. In 2017 it will celebrate 50 years of tradition thanks to their many descendants.
Location: Clatsop County Fairgrounds
(just 4 miles away from our B&B, less than a 10 minute drive)
Admission for all three days is $8 for adults; parking $2 per day or $5 all weekend.
Hours:
Friday 2:00 pm – 11:00 pm
Saturday 9:00 am – 11:00 pm
Sunday 9:00 am – 4:00 pm
The complete schedule is available online.
Friday’s festivities include begin with live entertainment by trios Lydom, Bugge and Høirup from Denmark, Septentrio from Sweden, and Karuna from Finland and Sweden. You won’t want to miss the Torchlight Parade to the Bonfire and Hex Burning where throwing straw hexes into the fire will rid you of bad luck! Then you’ll be able to dance, whether a schottische, waltz or polka (or just listen) at the Queen’s Ball with music by Scandinavian Country of Astoria.
Booths open 2:00 – 6:30 pm
Beer Garden – Astoria Brewing Company’s microbrews, entertainment: 3:00 – 11 pm
Beef Dinner by Olney County Grange ($13): 4:30 pm until food runs out
Live entertainment 4:00 – 7:00 pm
Queen’s Coronation: 7:00 pm and Queen’s Ball: 8:00 – 10:30 pm
Torchlight Parade and Bonfire: 8:00 pm
Saturday can begin by joining the Trolls for a walk or run, or just linger over breakfast with us. Scandinavian-themed entertainment begins at 10 am and continues throughout most of the day. The Festival Parade leads to the ceremonial Midsummer Pole raising with ring dancing. Afterwards, you can try your hand at Krub, the Scandinavian game that dates back 1,000 years. While you’re transported back in time, don’t miss the Empire of Chivalry and Steel’s Viking encampment with demonstrations of medieval crafts, tournaments, armor making, and combat arts. You’ll be able to indulge in the Viking Dinner buffet served by Scandinavian Café of Vancouver, WA, since the Dancer’s Ball, with Skolkis of Seattle providing the music, will keep your feet dancing.
Running of the Trolls – 1.5, 3.0, or 5.75 mile run/walk: 8:30 am
($25 includes choice of t-shirt or 3 day festival pass and Saturday parking)
Booths: 9:00 am – 7:00 pm
Live entertainment: 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Empire of Chivalry and Steel’s Viking Encampment: 10:00 am – 6:00 pm
Festival Parade: 11:30 am and Midsummer Pole Raising: 12:00 pm
Beer Garden: 12:00 – 11 pm
Kubb Demonstration and Tournament: 1:00 – 3:00 pm
Costume Parade: 5:00 pm
Viking Dinner ($15): 4:00 – 7:00 pm
Dancer’s Ball: 6:30 – 10:00 pm
Sunday, there’s so much to see and do that you’ll be glad you can still visit the Viking Encampment, enjoy the live entertainment, and visit booths before the festival closing ceremony at 4:00 pm.
Booths: 9:00 am – 4:00 pm
Empire of Chivalry and Steel’s Viking Encampment: 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Non-denominational Church Service with Scandinavian music: 11:00 am
Live entertainment: 11:00 am – 4:00 pm
You’ll need all three days to take in the festival, so plan to spend the weekend with us for an unforgettable Scandinavian getaway with no airfare required!