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settled in the area during the late 19th and
early 20th centuries.
Now, a new park along Astoria’s river-
front, seven years in the making, will pay
permanent tribute to those ancestors. On
Friday morning, the Astoria Scandinavian
Heritage Association will officially dedi-
cate the Astoria Nordic Heritage Park with
a ceremony.
Among the event’s speakers will be Karl
Marlantes, author of “Deep River,” which
chronicles immigrant life in the region
during the early 20th century. The cere-
mony will also include the lur, an ancient
horn, as well as dancers in authentic folk
costumes.
“The park is really a neat thing that
sprung from an idea that Carol Lyngstad
had a few years ago,” Sundstrom said of
another association member. “She men-
tioned how great it would be to have some
sort of monument to the Nordic commu-
nity. (The association) and the community
stepped up,” Sundstrom said.
Much of the organizational and fundrais-
ing efforts for the park were led by Janet
Bowler, Judi Lampi and Loran Mathews.
For Sundstrom, the festival is not only a
local tradition but a family one. “I’ve been
involved in the festival since I was a baby,”
Sundstrom said. “My Swedish father, Sven
Sundstrom, who immigrated here in the
1950s, became a fixture at the festival.”
Though Sven Sundstrom won’t be perform-
ing this year, his friend, Danish immigrant
Jorgen Madsen, will still be greeting visi-
tors with lively tunes.
Though Sundstrom’s late mother was
not of Scandinavian descent, she was fasci-
nated with traditional costumes. “The first
one she bought was Finnish, even though
dad was a Swede,” Sundstrom said. “He
didn’t care. ‘We’re all neighbors,’ he said.”
Countries, regions, and even individual
villages each bring specific traditions and
ceremonial folk wear. ”Mom tried to find
authentic costumes wherever she could.
She couldn’t stop. She just kept shopping,”
Sundstrom said. She promoted the wearing
of costumes at the festival and helped orga-
nize the first Optog, or parade of costumes.
Sundstrom’s mother proved to think
ahead about acquiring the costumes. “They
are hard to come by now and very expen-
sive,” Sundstrom said. Unique qualities of
the costumes, details as simple as why one
has an apron or doesn’t, or color variations,
speak to their region.
At the festival, children and teenagers
don traditional folk wear to represent each
Nordic country. A court with ambassadors
visits civic groups and lodges throughout
the year, promoting and enlightening others
about the different cultures.
Lloyd Bowler
ABOVE: The first night of lights at the Astoria Nordic Heritage Park. A dedication ceremony for
the park will be held on Friday morning. RIGHT: Joan Paddock, a professor of music at Linfield
University, will play the lur, a traditional instrument, at the festival.
Astoria Nordic Heritage Park
dedication ceremony
Astoria Nordic Heritage Park, Marine Drive
and 16th St., Astoria
10:30 a.m. on Friday
www.astorianordicpark.org
“I was Miss Sweden at the festival in
1986,” Sundstrom said. “Now, all these
years later, as our parents age, all of us
involved in the festival as children are tak-
ing the reigns to assure that our special cus-
toms and heritage continues,” Sundstrom
said. In addition to an ongoing series of
live music and other entertainment at the
fairgrounds, the festival will feature plenty
of retail booths displaying handcrafted
goods, imported items, and, yes, traditional
Scandinavian foods.
“Oh, the food,” Sundstrom said. ”It’s
such an important part of the Midsummer
celebration. You’ll get to taste traditional
dishes you can’t find anywhere else, except
in private homes,” she added. The festival
will play host to a set of breakfast and din-
ner events, with participants eager to share
traditional foods like lefse, gjetøst, pytti-
pannu and rommegrot.
Sundstrom emphasizes that people of all
cultures and backgrounds are welcome to
volunteer and partake in the festival. ”Just
join us for the fun,” she said.
THURSDAY, JUNE 16, 2022 // 9