The Astoria Nordic community kicks off the Christmas holiday season with a community Santa Lucia Festival. Held at the Astoria High School Auditorium, this is a traditional winter festival of lights that blended pre-Christian Nordic traditions with honoring St. Lucia, whom custom says brought succor to early Christians hiding from persecution in the catacombs (underground tombs) by wearing a wreath of candles on her head so her hands were free to carry food.

This year the Lower Columbia Danish Society is hosting snacks and punch after the evening program of singing Christmas carols, Nordic dancing, presenting the 2020 Astoria Scandinavian Festival Midsummer Court, and the traditional Lucia procession.

Admission is $1 per person or $5 per family; all admission monies go to the Scandinavian Festival Scholarship Fund to provide college scholarships for young adults.