Summer Newsletter 2018
Check out our events in the most recent newsletter for Nordic Northwest!
Check out our events in the most recent newsletter for Nordic Northwest!
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"It was and still is about<br />
family, friends and the<br />
traditions brought here from<br />
Sweden. I now enjoy seeing<br />
the younger generations<br />
participating in their<br />
heritage as I have done and<br />
knowing it will continue on."<br />
Elsie Lovgren Nordby,<br />
Midsommar Queen 1941<br />
Interested in volunteering?<br />
Want to learn more? Visit us<br />
at www.nordicnorthwest.org/<br />
midsummer!<br />
S I N C E 1 9 2 8<br />
Our beloved Portland Scandinavian<br />
Midsummer Festival returns for its 90 TH year in<br />
<strong>2018</strong>, and is being recognized as an official<br />
Oregon Heritage Tradition! This esteemed title<br />
is only awarded to events with at least 50 years<br />
of continuous operation that are associated<br />
with Oregon, appeal to a broad spectrum of<br />
the public, and add to the livability and identity<br />
of the state. A big thank you to Dave Alford, our<br />
2017 Scandinavian of the Year, and the League<br />
of Swedish Societies, our Midsummer partner, for<br />
getting this annual festival the recognition it deserves<br />
after bringing laughter and joy to Oregonians for 90<br />
straight years. Based on lore gathered from local<br />
Nordic community members, Portland Midsummer<br />
celebrations date as far back as the late 19th<br />
century, with some even held at Oaks Park around<br />
1880. Back then the park was a forested area and<br />
guests had to cross the river by barge! In 1927, eight<br />
Swedish groups joined forces and formed the League<br />
of Swedish Societies, which hosted the first official<br />
Annual Scandinavian Midsummer Festival.<br />
Many of the traditions remain the same; we still raise<br />
a birch covered Midsummer Pole or "Majstång", make<br />
flower crowns, and involve crafters, performers, and<br />
organizations from the Portland Nordic community.<br />
Every year we add new vendors, have new crafts for<br />
kids, provide games for both kids and adults and offer<br />
classic Nordic flavors in the beer garden and food<br />
court. We welcome the entire community to enjoy a<br />
fun-filled day with us and celebrate Midsummer the<br />
Nordic way, and the Oregon way.<br />
Come join us on June 9, <strong>2018</strong> at Oaks Park for our 90 th<br />
annual Portland Scandinavian Midsummer Festival<br />
from 11:00 AM - 6:00 PM. Raising of the Midsummer<br />
Pole is at 2:00 PM on the main lawn.<br />
The Portland Scandinavian Midsummer Festival<br />
is made possible through the support of the<br />
Scan|Design Foundation and Nielsen’s Jewelers.<br />
Additional support comes from Allart, Inc., ePrint<br />
Services, Johan Vineyards, Laurelhurst Florist and<br />
pFriem Family Brewers. Photos by Alyssa Johnson. •
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