Friday, June 21, 2019

BOOTHS OPEN 2-6:30 p.m. – 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.

RAFFLE 2-7 p.m. – Arena Be sure to buy raffle tickets for the $1,000 cash prize and many other fine prizes donated by the Astoria Scandinavian Midsummer Festival Association and festival vendors.

FEATURED ENTERTAINMENT 5-7 p.m. – Arena Stage The Harald Haugaard / Helene Blum Band from Denmark and Bjørn Odde and Ole Nilssen from Norway will perform their modern interpretation of traditional music from their homelands along with their own compositions and arrangements.

BEER GARDEN OPEN 3-11 p.m. Astoria Brewing Company will present a selection of award-winning handcrafted microbrews and a limited menu.

BEEF POT ROAST DINNER hosted by Olney Grange

4:30-7 p.m. – Exhibit Hall Beef pot roast, baked potato, green beans, roll, salad, pie, beverage. $14; children under 11 $8.

QUEEN’S CORONATION 7 p.m. – Arena Princesses sponsored by the Danish Society, Finnish Brotherhood, Sons of Norway and VASA Swedish Lodge will speak about their Scandinavian heritage. A panel of judges will select one to reign as Miss Scandinavia 2019.

TORCHLIGHT PARADE TO BONFIRE AND HEX BURNING 8 p.m. – Parking Area Scandia men with flaming torches will lead the newly crowned Miss Scandinavia and audience members to the bonfire to throw straw hexes into the flames. This tradition symbolizes ridding oneself of bad luck for the year.

QUEEN’S FAMILY BALL with Scandinavian Country 8-11 p.m. – Exhibit Hall Miss Scandinavia and her father or special partner will lead the first dance of the 2019 Midsummer Festival. Join the dancing or watch the dancers and listen to great music.

Saturday, June 22, 2019

MIDNIGHT SUN BREAKFAST served by Scandinavian Café of Vancouver, Wash. 7-11 a.m. – Exhibit Hall Buffet: Norwegian Jarlsberg egg cake, Finnish Pyttipannu (Scandinavian pan-fried scramble of potato, onions, sausage & egg), Swedish pancakes with whipped cream and strawberries, 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, orange juice and water. $12; children 6 and under $5.

RUNNING OF THE TROLLS Thanks to our primary sponsor — Columbia Memorial Hospital 8:30 a.m. – Walluski area 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 7-8 A.M. on Saturday in the Main Entry Hall.

BOOTHS 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. – 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.

RAFFLE 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. – Arena Be sure to buy raffle tickets for the $1,000 cash prize and many other fine prizes donated by the Astoria Scandinavian Midsummer Festival Association and festival vendors.

ICELANDIC HORSES 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. – Horse Arena Jackie and Larry Taylor of Yelm, Wash., will show their Icelandic horses in the horse arena next to the Midsummer Pole.

ENTERTAINMENT 10 a.m. to 6:15 p.m. – Arena 12:45-6 p.m. – Exhibit Hall Noon to 6 p.m. – Beer Garden There will be live Scandinavian themed entertainment and dancing on three 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.

EMPIRE OF CHIVALRY AND STEEL VIKING ENCAMPMENT 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. – 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 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Astoria Brewing Company will present a selection of award-winning handcrafted microbrews and a limited menu. The Astor Street Opry will present its standing-room only show of olio acts from “Shanghaied in Astoria” at 1, 3 and 5 p.m. The Squeezer and Geezer and friends will entertain at 2 and 4 p.m.

BARNEFEST 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. – Arena Young festival attendees can participate in children’s activities in the Barnefest area. Children under 12 need to be accompanied by an adult. At 1:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. a skit will be presented titled “Sister Bear” by Jane Yolen.

OPTOG — FESTIVAL PARADE 11:30 a.m. – 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. Grand Marshal is Jorgen Madsen.

FLAG RAISING Noon – Outdoor Stage 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 AND DANCING 12:30 p.m. – Midsummer Pole After Flag Raising, follow the Queen and her court to the Midsummer Pole to watch local men (and volunteers!) skillfully raise the Midsummer Pole. The Polka Dots will play live music for dancing around the Midsummer Pole led by Eva Moore and demonstrated by Astoria’s own Lisa Sundstrom. All are welcome to join in!

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

KUBB EXHIBITION AND TOURNAMENT 1:30-3:30 p.m. – in front of the MIDSUMMER POLE Here’s your chance to participate in a sport activity at the Midsummer Festival! Kubb is a yard game of Scandinavian origins which has been played for about 1,000 years. No prior skills are required. All are welcome.

CHILDREN’S PLAY 1:30 and 3:30 P.M. – Barnefest Area “Sister Bear: A Norse Tale.” Adapted by Jane Yolen from the story written by Peter Christen Asbjornsen and Jorgen Moe. Adapted by Katherine Lacaze, Director. Clatsop Children’s Theater Company.

MEATBALL EATING CONTEST 3:30 p.m. – 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 3:45 p.m. – 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 and older.

NORDIC VIKING DANCERS REUNION 4-5 p.m. – Exhibit Hall Did you dance with the Nordic, Viking or Scandia groups in the past? Can you remember Dudlepska and Little Man in a Fix? If not, it doesn’t matter. Come to the Dancers Reunion and socialize with your former dance partners. Kevin will call, in case you forgot.

PARADE OF NATIONAL FOLK WEAR 5 p.m. – Exhibit Hall Are you curious about the lovely costumes worn by representatives of the Scandinavian countries? Come see and hear them explained in a fashion show with live models.

VIKING DINNER served by Scandinavian Café of Vancouver, Wash. 4-7 p.m. – Exhibit Hall Buffet: Danish Pork Roulade (Danish style pork roast rolled with apricots and prunes), Banke Kød (Danish roast beef in bay leaf brown gravy), Swedish meatballs in brown 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 and bottled water. $16; children 6 and under $7.

SCANDINAVIAN BALL with SCANDINAVIAN COUNTRY 9-11 p.m. – Exhibit Hall Local favorite Coreen Bergholm will return with her band Scandinavian Country to provide music for dancing. Join the dancing or watch the dancers and listen to this great music.

Sunday, June 23, 2019

SISU BREAKFAST served by Scandinavian Cafe of Vancouver, Wash. 7-11 a.m. – Exhibit Hall Pannukakku (Finnish pancake), ham, Nordic sausage, breakfast potatoes, fresh fruit, Scandinavian cheese selection, fresh pastry, breads and crisps, water, orange juice and coffee. $10.

BOOTHS OPEN 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. – 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.

RAFFLE 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Today’s your last chance to buy raffle tickets for the $1,000 cash prize and many other fine prizes donated by the Astoria Scandinavian Midsummer Festival Association and festival vendors.

ENTERTAINMENT 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. – Arena There will be live Scandinavian themed entertainment 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.

EMPIRE OF CHIVALRY AND STEEL VIKING ENCAMPMENT 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. – 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.

BARNEFEST 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. – Arena Young festival attendees can participate in children’s activities in the Barnefest area. This area is staffed by volunteers from Tongue Point Job Corps Center, the Nordic Viking Dancers and parents. Children under 12 need to be accompanied by an adult.

NON-DENOMINATIONAL CHURCH SERVICE 11 a.m. – Dairy Barn Chapel Join us for a non-denominational church service.

SCANDINAVIAN SPELLING BEE 1:45 p.m. – Exhibit Hall Scandinavian lodges have submitted a list of words they think everyone should know. There will be a brief pencil and paper quiz to determine semi-finalists who will stand up and face the quizzes for an oral spell down. Prizes will be awarded.

ÆBLESKIVER EATING CONTEST 2:45 p.m. – 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 and older.

BARNEFEST RAFFLE 3:30 p.m. – Exhibit Hall Who will win the great prizes donated by community members and businesses to support the children’s activity area?

FESTIVAL RAFFLE 3:45 p.m. – Exhibit Hall Who will win the raffle grand prize of $1,000 and the other beautiful prizes donated by the Scandinavian Festival Association and lodges and businesses? Did you buy your tickets? Join us on Sunday to learn who the winners are. You need not be present to win.

FLAG CEREMONY AND FESTIVAL CLOSING 4 p.m. – Exhibit Hall The 2019 Scandinavian Midsummer Festival ends as the national songs of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden are sung one more time and the flags leave the hall. Say goodbye to your friends and family and make plans to join us again in 2020 for our 53rd anniversary festival.

See you again on June 19, 20 and 21 in 2020!