The 57th annual Astoria Scandinavian Midsummer Festival Court was introduced at the Astoria High School Commons on Feb. 27. The members of the court are as follows:

The reigning Miss Scandinavia 2023 is Molly Oien Lindstrom, a senior at Astoria High School. After graduation, she will head to college to major in musical theater or public history.

Eleanor Pearson is Junior Miss Denmark, and is sponsored by the Lower Columbia Danish Society. She attends school in Astoria, and claims Danish, Finnish, Norwegian and Swedish heritage through her paternal and maternal grandparents.

Aspen Barendse is Junior Miss Finland. She attends school in Knappa, and is sponsored by the Finnish Brotherhood. She attended Suomi School for the last two years, and looks forward to learning more about her Finnish heritage at festival events.

Cassie Fabela is Junior Miss Norway. She lives in Astoria and is sponsored by the Nidaros Lodge No. 16 of the Sons of Norway. She dances with the Nordic Viking Dancers, and her Norwegian heritage comes from her maternal grandparents.

Crown Bearer Thor Lacy attends Astoria schools and is sponsored by the Lower Columbia Danish Society. In addition to being Danish, he’s also a bit Swedish. He dances with the Nordic Viking Dancers.

Junior Miss Sweden is Kairina Nerenberg, who attends Astoria schools and is sponsored by VASA Swedish Lodge No. 215. She dances with the Nordic Viking dancers, and is involved in Scandinavian activities. Two of her aunts and a cousin have been on the midsummer court.

Senior Miss Denmark Ash Lacy attends Astoria High School and is sponsored by the Lower Columbia Danish Society. She was Junior Miss Denmark in second grade, and dances with the Nordic Viking Dancers. She hopes to attend college to become a teacher.

Riley Phillips is Senior Miss Finland and is sponsored by Friends of Suomi Hall. She was Junior Miss Finland in 2014. Both sides of Riley’s family have Finnish ancestry, and it was Riley’s grandmother who encouraged Riley to join the festival court. She plans on attending college and majoring in anthropology and music.

Senior Miss Iceland is Maia Fay, who attends Astoria High School. In addition to her Icelandic heritage, she also has Norwegian and Swedish ancestors. Maia is active in high school theater and plans to attend college to study psychology.

Sarah Fabela is Senior Miss Norway, and she is sponsored by the Nidaros Lodge No. 16 of the Sons of Norway. Sarah attends Astoria High School and has been part of the Nordic Viking Dancers since fifth grade. Her maternal grandmother is Norwegian. She plans to attend college to study accounting.

Senior Miss Sweden is Audrey Cereghino, who attends Astoria High School and is sponsored by VASA Swedish Lodge No. 215. She was a Nordic Viking dancer, and has played the violin for 13 years. She has Swedish, Norwegian and Danish heritage from both sides of her family, and maintains contact with cousins who live in Sweden.

Kathryn Lacy is the Junior Court Chaperone. She’s attended the Midsummer Festival since 2000, and her daughter was Senior Miss Denmark and the Lucia Bride in 2022. Her children danced with the Nordic Viking Dancers. She also danced with the group for a few years. She claims Swedish and Danish heritage, and has spent time in Scandinavia.

The Senior Court Chaperone is Lindy Hartvigson, of Astoria, who is employed by Astoria schools as a librarian. Her parents are both half-Danish, and her husband is Norwegian.

The Astoria Scandinavian Midsummer Festival started in 1968, and is sponsored by the nonprofit Astoria Scandinavian Heritage Association. For information about the festival, go to astoriascanfest.com.