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Scandinavian New Year’s Eve

Cannery Pier Hotel sponsors 2nd Annual Scandinavian New Year’s Eve Celebration with first of 2011 Astoria Bicentennial Birthday Cake at The Loft in The Red Building

Cannery Pier Hotel owner Robert “Jake” Jacob, is part Finn and has personal family history with the Finnish cannery which once occupied the site where his luxury boutique hotel now sits, 600 feet out into the Columbia River on hundred year old pilings. To honor Astoria’s cultural diversity and Scandinavian traditions, Jacob is offering an authentic Scandinavian New Year’s Eve at the Loft in The Red Building with award-winning musicians, dancers, vocalists, performers and traditional holiday foods. “We’re in the business of history here in Astoria, and the hotel design pays homage to that. The Cannery Pier Hotel exists here today in part because of a bunch of stubborn Finns who created the original Union Fish cannery we are built on. It’s appropriate for us to celebrate that heritage, as well as launch Astoria’s 200th birthday party throughout 2011 on this New Year’s Eve with a first of 2011Astoria Birthday Cake too.”

There will be Scandinavian music, dance, entertainment, hors d’oeuvres, birthday cake and audience participation with unique door prizes and a chance to recharge “sisu” for the New Year. (Sisu means “fortitude” in Finnish) . International Folk Dance Instructor Drew Herzig will teach the basics of the Humppa, the Mazurka, and several Scandinavian mixer dances. Folk Voice will play music for dancing, including the Hambo and even the Finnish Tango! Costumed dancing and the festive sounds of accordion, guitar, mandolin and percussion with Birgit and Phil Ages of Folk Voice Band, joined by Chris Luquette on guitar, will provide a lively atmosphere for fun. Wilho Saari of Naselle, a National Endowment for the Arts Heritage Fellow, will play Finnish folk tunes and original compositions on the Finnish Kantele (lap-harp). Beth Kolle, Harpist and Scandinavian folktune singer, will also perform. A troupe of Scandinavian Festival Dancers will wear their traditional Scandinavian costumes and demonstrate Scandinavian family dancing. Members of the “Shanghaied in Astoria” cast from the Astor Street Opry Company will perform olios and impromptu entertainment throughout the evening. Baked Alaska will cater Swedish, Norwegian, Danish and Finnish delights. Both Home Bakery and Danish Maid will provide special treats, including Astoria’s first-ever of 2011 “Happy 200th Birthday Astoria” Bicentennial Birthday Cake, which will be shared with everyone at a stroke past midnight.

The festivities will start at 9 pm with music and culinary small bites. At 9:30 pm, Wilho will offer an original Kantele performance. At 10 pm the Scandinavian Festival Dancers will perform – and guests are invited to join in afterwards for a Polka or Schottische, if they wish, with charming dancing instructors. Throughout the evening “Shanghaied” cast members will provide surprises and door prizes and at midnight there will be champagne and party favors (along with Astoria’s first Bicentennial Birthday Cake!) as participants listen to Columbia River ships sounding their horns to welcome in the New Year. Here’s an opportunity to celebrate a momentous new year for Astoria in a quirky Astoria-centric international way!

Tickets may be purchased at the door for $25.00 per person or $45.00 per couple. Tickets for children 12 and older (accompanied by adults please) are $10. Tickets include the music, food, entertainment, party favors, Astoria Bicentennial Birthday Cake and Champagne toast at midnight. Please call Cannery Pier Hotel at 503-325-4996 or 888-325-4996 for more information. Tervetuloa!

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