Dave Knows Portland

Dave Goes: Astoria Scandinavian Midsummer Festival 2010

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For the second year in a row Heather and I descended upon Astoria, Oregon for the Scandinavian Midsummer Festival.

Optog

We arrived in town Friday evening, so we missed the Coronation of Miss Scandinavia, the bonfire, and the queen’s ball. But Saturday we took in the Optog (aka the walking parade through downtown Astoria) and then made our way to Clatsop County Fairgrounds for the whole tamale. Here’s a quick, illustrated, recap (read a more thorough and better written re-cap at Mile73.com!):

At the fair entrance I made sure my allegiances were clear.

Swedes Boo

I tested out new axes for Timbers. This one wasn’t cartoony enough.

New Axe

The band playing in the beer garden Saturday afternoon had this guy, on bass and oxygen.

Oxygen

And of course we had some beer.

Beer guy

Sunday after we checked out of our hotel, we wandered around the Astoria Sunday Market.

You knew Clark Gable began his acting career in Astoria, Oregon, right? Yup, just before the theater (and much of the town) burnt down. And right before he sold ties at Meier and Frank in Portland. This plaque is adjacent to the public restroom.

Clark Gable

Finally, at noon, Fort George Brewery opened. We had a beer and headed home. Here’s Heather enjoying a crisp and hoppy oatmeal pale ale:

Heather beer!

That’s all I got, but go visit Heather’s Mile73.com for more!

June 26: Scandinavian Midsummer Festival 2010

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The 82nd annual Scandinavian Heritage Foundation Midsummer Festival takes place this Saturday, June 26th at the German American Cultural Center (7901 SE Division).

Scandinavians have a long tradition of celebrating the Summer Solstice with bonfires or raising of the Maypole (Majstång). Here in Portland that tradition has been celebrated for 82 continuous years at the Scandinavian Midsummer Festival.

Midsummer in Scandinavia’s northern climate is the biggest coming out celebration of the year and everyone is invited. At Portland’s Scandinavian Midsummer Festival, it is a celebration of fertile fields, warmer and longer days with games, dancing, food, Scandinavian crafts and of course the raising of the Maypole.

However, Scandinavian roots are not required to celebrate at this summer solstice festival. As all people of Nordic descent know, it’s always a fun, family friendly and important day with century old traditions.

And there’s a beer garden, Scandinavian food, and vendors! Also Viking re-enactors and music, dance, and games for the kiddies. Admission is only $6 for adults, $3 for kids 6-12 years old. Visit the event website for the entertainment schedule. Sigtuna Brass Band (Sweden), Pekka & Perttu Accordianists (Finland), and the Karelian Folk Ensemble will all be there (after all just appearing at the Astoria Scanfest last weekend).

June 18-20: Pride Week, Offbeat Belly Dance, Chinatown Walking Tours, and the Timbers

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It’s shaping up to be a great weekend here in Portland, Oregon. Behold below a list of select events I’m going to miss because, of course, Heather and I are off to the 43rd Annual Astoria Scandinavian Midsummer Festival!

And don’t forget, it’s Pride Week in Portland! Visit qPDX‘s special Portland Pride 2010 page for all the events, and follow @qPDX on Twitter for real time updates all weekend.

Friday

Offbeat Belly DanceOffbeat Belly Dance

Every third Friday of the month, from 7 to 9pm, the Blue Monk (3341 SE Belmont) hosts the Offbeat Belly Dance collective, a club rocking, good timing, genre-defying gang of badass belly dancers.

This third Friday, June 18th 2010, is no different [more]

Saturday-Sunday

China Town GateSweet Cakes, Long Journey: A Walking Tour of Portland’s Chinatown

The tours offer a unique opportunity to learn about the neighborhood through its architecture, oral history and little-known cultural heritage. A rare lecture by visiting scholar Dr. Marie Rose Wong offers a broader sociological and historical view of the area. [more]

Sunday

TimbersYou Are Timbers History Open Studio #2

You have another chance to make Portland Timbers history, this Sunday, June 20th, at FC Media’s second Open Studio event.

The first Open Studio, earlier this month, was a success. Fans brought Timbers memorabilia of all kinds to the event to be photographed and cataloged for the Timbers visual history project. [more]

June 18-20: Astoria Scandinavian Midsummer Festival 2010

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Coffee and Viking HatThe 43rd annual Astoria Scandinavian Midsummer Festival (aka Astoria Scanfest 2010) takes place this weekend, June 18-20.

Heather and I attended the Scanfest for our first time last summer, [that’s me pictured, preparing for the 2009 fest with strong coffee and appropriate head gear] and we had a blast. Read her account of our adventure:

This year’s festivities begin Friday with the Coronation of Miss Scandinavia, the torchlight procession to the bonfire to burn hexes representing bad luck, and the queen’s ball. And also very importlantly, on Friday from 9-11pm Beer-drinking Music is scheduled for the Beer Garden.

Saturday‘s events include the Optog, a walking parade through downtown Astoria. And the raising of the midsummer pole followed by ring dancing, and an evening open dance.

Music and dancing take place throughout the festival, all days. Entertainers include the Sigtuna Brass Sextet from Sweden, the Karelian Folk Music Ensemble from Finland and Russia, Pekka and Perttu from Finland, and the Ultima Thule Choir from Norway. Vendors will be on hand selling handcrafts and imported items from Scandinavia. And don’t forget the Aebelskiver (Scandinavian donut), Krumkakke (crisp flat cookie rolled into cone shape), Lefse (flat bread with butter, cinnamon and sugar), Riisipuuro (rice pudding with fruit soup), and more!

Sunday the festival wraps up with a Pannukaku Breakfast and more music and fun.

And I’ll leave you with one of the highlights of last year’s festival: Kerry Christensen, Master Yodeler performing the The Norwegian Cow Song!

Kerry Christensen, Master Yodeler, The Norwegian Cow Song from Mile73 on Vimeo.

May 17: Norwegian Constitution Day Celebration and Parade

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2011 Details Here!

Celebrate Norway’s Constitution Day today with the Portland’s Grieg Lodge Sons of Norway at the Norse Hall (111 NE 11th).

May Seventeenth, “Syttende Mai” (set-na-my), is Norway’s most important holiday. On this date in 1814, with the signing of the Norwegian Constitution, Norway was declared an independent country.

Admission to the celebration is free. Before and after the parade visit the Oslo Lounge, inside the Norse Hall, for authentic Norwegian food, music and dance performances, other activities. Visit the Norse Hall website for more information.