Scandinavian Events in SoCal

For a list of in-person and virtual Nordic events happening this month, visit November 2023: Nordic Events in SoCal and Virtually.


JANUARY

Scandinavian Film Festival LA
January 14 & 15 and 21 & 22, 2023
Writers Guild Theater, Beverly Hills

Scandinavian Film FestivalThe Scandinavian Film Festival LA with BalticFilmExpo@SFFLA returns in person this winter season. After two virtual years, the festival is back at the Writers Guild Theater in Beverly Hills for two weekends in January 2023 (14th & 15th and 21st & 22nd) with films from Scandinavia and their Nordic neighbors. Become a donor to help make it all possible. More information is available on the website and at their Facebook page.


MAY

17th of May Celebration
Wednesday, May 17, 2023
Norwegian Church, San Pedro

17mai Sjømannskirken

A true, traditional Norwegian 17th of May celebration returns to the church on Wednesday, May 17, 2023. There will be a parade around the neighborhood, traditional Norwegian food (pølser, rundstykker, brus, bløtkaker, marsipankaker, og kaffe), songs and speeches, and of course, games and ice cream for the kids. View details here!

Norwegian Constitution Day Parade and Festivities
TBD
Nansen Field, Rolling Hills Estates

Normally, this celebration is held the Sunday closest to May 17. It includes a parade around the soccer field; foods such as hot dogs, hamburgers, Solo, and ice cream for sale; stalls with Norwegian goods; and games for the kids. Read about my latest visit to the Nansen Field festivities here. Status for 2023 unknown at this moment.


JUNE

Scandinavian Festival
California Lutheran University, Thousand Oaks

Unfortunately, there will be no Scandinavian Festival in 2023. Sign up here to receive news about the 2024 festival.


SEPTEMBER

Rekefest og Bryggedans / Shrimp and Dance Party
Saturday, September 16, 2023
Norwegian Church, San Pedro

In the past, this unique event has taken place in March, but now it is scheduled for Saturday, September 16, 2023. Details to follow!

Vista Viking Festival
September 16 & 17, 2023
Vista (Northern San Diego)

Hours — Saturday 10am to 8pm, Sunday 10am to 6pm
Antique Gas & Steam Engine Museum
2040 North Santa Fe Avenue, Vista, CA 92083


NOVEMBER

Julebasar / Norwegian Christmas Market
Friday, November 10 – Sunday, November 19, 2023
Norwegian Church, San Pedro

Once again the annual Norwegian Christmas Fair, or Julebasar, at the Norwegian Church will be a multi-day event. Mark your calendars for Friday, November 10, – Sunday, November 19, 2023. The church will be turned into a huge Christmas shop with baked goods, Norwegian groceries, Christmas goods, and much more. They guarantee a true Christmas atmosphere and a great experience!


DECEMBER

SWEA Los Angeles Christmas Fair
Saturday, December 2, 2023
The Santa Monica Bay Women’s Club, Santa Monica

Unraveling tombola tickets

SWEA Los Angeles is once again hosting a Christmas Fair after a long intermission! It will be held on Saturday, December 2, 2023, at The Santa Monica Bay Women’s Club in Santa Monica. With the Christmas Fair, SWEA celebrates Swedish heritage and Swedish food.

Christmas Festivities
Norwegian Church, San Pedro

During Christmas time, the Norwegian Church hosts many events to help celebrate the season. See the latest newsletter for details on a Christmas sing-along, Christmas concert, Christmas services, and more. Visit their Facebook page for updates on Christmas events.


Are you familiar with any other events in the Los Angeles area that highlight Norwegian or Scandinavian culture? Please let me know so I can check it out. Thank you!

13 thoughts on “Scandinavian Events in SoCal

  1. There is a Nordic Symposium in Thousand Oaks about Scandinavian Design Feb 10 & 11. If interested go to Eventbrite and type in Nordic Symposium. It is also listed on Facebook. Thank you, Karen

    • Hi Karen. The Nordic Symposium looks great this year! I’ve included it on the most recent monthly posts about Nordic events.

  2. Was very interested to see your site! My wife and I have been taking part in SoCal events and its always nice to see what is happening. My wife and I volunteer at the CalLutheran event in April and Danish days in Solvang. We don’t sell anything but I bring stuff that I have carved, made, drawn or purchased, Things that might catch a adult or childs interest in relation to Ancient Scandinavia!

    • That’s wonderful to hear! I’ll have to keep an eye out for your items the next time I’m at the Scandinavian Festival at CalLutheran, hopefully this year. I admire Solvang’s Danish Days from afar. It’s little too far for us.

  3. Hello my name is Arianna and I’m working for Welocalize.
    We are looking for Norwegian speaker. I’ve been looking everywhere and haven’t been lucky. I just came across your blog. I’m sorry I’m using this platform for this, but I was wondering if you might know somebody for Music content reviewer.
    Please let me know.

    Thanks,
    Arianna
    arianna.ciccu@welocalize.com

  4. Hi, my name is Jessica and I work for an interpreting agency in Los Angeles. We’re looking for a Norwegian male speaker for a voice over, and I just came across your blog. I’m sorry I’m using this platform for this, but honestly I’ve been looking everywhere and haven’t been lucky. I was wondering if you might know somebody who could it? We don’t need professional voice over artists, we just need a male Norwegian speaker. If you could help me, it would be great. My email address is info5@alsglobal.net. Thank you!

    • Hi Jessica. I realize this post is good and ripe now, however, I’m Norwegian and I live in Riverside. I’d be happy to help if you ever needed anything like this is en future.

  5. Scandinavian Film Festival L.A. “Surfs the Celluloid Sea”
    15th Scandinavian Film Festival L.A. – Jan 18, 19, 25, 26 at WGA Theater in Beverly Hills

    Where Nordic Film ‘Winters’ in Southern California
    Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) January 05, 2014

    The 15th Anniversary Scandinavian Film Festival L.A.(SFFLA) “Surfs the Celluloid Sea” with cinema from across North Atlantic and Baltic waters Jan 18, 19, 25, 26 at the Writers Guild Theater 135 S. Doheny in Beverly Hills. The annual immersion into Nordic films from Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden adds “Hanseatic happenings” to the mix with a Norwegian/German co-production, and “Baltic Film Expo@ SFFLA” offering a film from each of the Baltic neighbors– Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia.

    “Northern European countries have often taken to the seas with a cargo of culture, commerce, and collaboration,” says festival founder/director James Koenig. “And we have an exciting program that follows old routes to new worlds and around the North Atlantic/Baltic neighborhood. We are pleased to be ‘nosey neighbors’ and see what’s going on next door!”…

    Complete schedule and ticket ordering information available at http://www.sffla.net.

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