This last weekend, I got to go photograph the 58th annual Junction City Oregon Scandinavian Festival. Growing up in Junction City, I danced in the festival with other friends and family from the age of 3 until 14. The festival typically runs the second Thursday through Sunday in August, and begins with a parade that starts at Washburne park and continues down the street into the festival entrance where the mayor cuts the ribbon. The parade then continues down through the festival grounds and onto the main festival stage where they have opening ceremonies and recognize the festival committee.
Photos below: 1) photo of me as a child dancing 2) Mayor cutting the ribbon 3) Opening ceremony speeches by Matthew Nelsen 4) Parade
Each of the 4 days of the festival has a theme celebrating the different Scandinavia regions: Norwegian, Danish, Danish and Finnish. Throughout the festival, the streets are filled with vikings, trolls, as well as every type of vendors you can imagine. There are 3 stages that hold dancing, demonstrations, singers, and instrumental performers. One of my favorite things to at the festival is watching the dancing. There are several local dance groups from Junction City, both children as well as adults, and also dance groups that come from all over Oregon and even from other countries to perform. Some of my favorites are the aebelskivers (basically a pancake ball), Swedish pancakes, as well as all of the handmade crafts.
So, if you are looking for something fun to do next summer, check out the Scandinavian Festival! Below are a few of my favorite dancing photos from this year.
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