2024 ScanFair: Nordic Christmas Market

Photo courtesy of Nordic Northwest

Enjoy the sights, sounds, tastes and traditions of a Nordic Christmas market at ScanFair. 

For 40 years, Nordic Northwest has brought Scandinavia to Portland through traditional food, entertainment, goods and activities. 

Here’s what you can enjoy at this year’s ScanFair. 

2024 ScanFair: Nordic Christmas Market

ScanFair is Saturday, December 7, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, December 8, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The event features 100 Nordic-inspired local vendors and organizations, a kids’ craft area, live entertainment, activities and food and drinks.

The fair has a complete schedule of performances and entertainment each day. There’s always a great line-up of dancing groups, musicians, historic talks, kids acting troupes, contests and more.

Here’s the schedule:

Saturday, December 8

10 a.m. Doors

10:15 a.m. Portland Finnish School

11:15 a.m. Revontuli (Finnish strings and woodwinds)

​12:15 p.m. Liam Barnes and friends (Traditional Nordic folk dance tunes/songs)​

​1 p.m. Scandinavian of the Year Award (Winner Announced)

​1:15 p.m. Pickled Herring Eating Contest (sponsored by Broder Söder)​

​1:30 p.m. Adams, Martin & Linahon (Ballads and more)

​2:45 p.m. Susse Fusse International Youth Dance Group

​3:45 p.m. Adams, Martin & Linahon (Ballads and more)

5 p.m. Show ends

Sunday, December 9

10 a.m. Doors

​10 a.m. Skandi Leikarringen from Junction City​

​11 a.m. Vasa Youth Dancers (Swedish folk dance youth group)

​​11:45 a.m. Meatball Eating Contest (sponsored by Scandinavian Cafe)

​12:15 p.m. Portland Nordic Chorus & Lucia Court of Oregon

​2 p.m. Jimmy Granstrom & Brent Rogers w/ Gunilla (Contemporary music from Sweden and Oregon)

​3 p.m. Tulehoidjad (Estonian traditional dance/music)​

​3:45 Raffle Drawing

​4 p.m. Show ends

You’ll also have access to a full spread of Nordic cuisine ranging from Danish aebleskiver, Swedish meatballs, gløgg, aquavits, and vegan baked goods. 

As for activities, there are lots of fun things to do for all ages. Take a photo with Finnish Santa, Joulapukki, and his reindeer, Oskar. View a 20-foot replica Viking ship and learn how Vikings lived with an historical exhibit featuring reenactors.

At the kids’ area, create ornaments and other crafts and draw in coloring books.

Participate the scavenger hunt and win a prize. There are gnomes hidden throughout the event space. Sign up at the Nordic Northwest table, find the gnomes and collect a prize.

There’s also a raffle, eating contests, Viking chess, and the Oregon Lucia Court.

Tickets

Tickets can be purchased online and are valid for both days. Prices are $15 for adults and $10 for kids 6-12 years. Kids 5 and under attend for free. 

This event is taking place at the Oregon Convention Center, 777 NE Martin Luther King Jr Blvd. in Portland.

For more information and to buy tickets, visit Nordic Northwest’s website.

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Looking for more Portland holiday markets? Here’s a full list: