Join us for a screening of The Bridgeplayers, a contemplative documentary about friendship and perseverance. The film centers on four women who survived Auschwitz as teenagers then emigrated to Sweden, where their enduring friendship began. Over the past 80 years, they have seen war and change, but through it all still gathered to play bridge. As the rise of far-right politics and war bring back harrowing memories of their youth, the four friends have different ways of reckoning their past with the present. This thoughtful and moving documentary provides a meaningful perspective on today’s global climate through the eyes of holocaust survivors.
English and Swedish with English subtitles | runtime 82 minutes | 2025
Saturday, October 17th | 1pm | $10, $5 for members | tickets
*Free admission for anyone who qualifies for WIC, EBT, or ConnectorCare. Email caroline@scandicenter.org to reserve a ticket free of charge or request tickets in person at the event.
Sharpen your axes and gather your clan—BERSERK, our epic Viking festival, is storming back into town on Saturday, September 26th!
TWO Rival Viking Encampments will take over the front lawn—witness warriors crafting tools of the past, playing traditional Viking games, and clashing in combat demonstrations throughout the day. It all leads up to an all-out battle to the “death” at 2PM—you won’t want to miss it!
WHEN: 11am – 3pm TICKETS: Adults $20 in advance ($25 day of), Kids 12 & under $10 ($15 day of) get your tickets here!
Want to be part of the raid? We’re still welcoming Volunteers, Vendors, and Food Trucks to join our mighty village. Fill out the form here.
ON THE LAWN:
⚔️ Viking Encampments Step into the world of Norse warriors—explore daily life, tools, and traditions in our rival camps.
🛡️ Crafts, Games & Warrior Training Fun for all ages—test your skills, train like a Viking, and unleash your inner shield-maiden or berserker!
🪨 Stone Lifting with the New England Stone Lifters Think you’ve got Viking strength? Step up and try your hand at lifting legendary stones—glory (and bragging rights) await!
🔥 Climactic Battle at 2PM The rival camps collide in an epic showdown—don’t miss the action!
🧸 KIDS’ CORNER:
ᚱ Rune-Making Station
Create your own Viking message in ancient runes—mystical, magical, and yours to take home!
🧶 Weaving Station
Try your hand at traditional weaving and craft something colorful, cozy, and uniquely yours.
⚔️ Viking Interaction Zone
Meet the Vikings! Ask questions, explore gear, and step right into the world of Norse legends.
🍽️ FEAST-LIKE FJORD-FOLK:
🧇 Waffle Samples from our beloved Kaffestugan (inside) Warm, golden, and impossible to resist—come taste a Scandinavian favorite.
🥖 Nordic Breads, Prepared Foods, Candies & Scandi Goods (inside Kaffestugan) Stock up on sweet, savory, and everything in between—your Nordic pantry starts here.
🌭 Icelandic Hot Dogs from Gunner’s Icelandic Hot Dogs A true Reykjavík street food classic—juicy hot dogs piled high with crispy onions, sweet brown mustard, remoulade, and more. One bite and you’ll understand the hype.
Prepare your shield, don your cloak, and get ready to go BERSERK! Skål!
Saturday, September 26th | 11am – 3pm | $20 for adults, $10 for kids | tickets
Meet us at Boston City Hall Plaza for a ceremonial flag raising to celebrate Sweden’s National Day. Hosted by the Honorary Consul of Sweden in New York, Ann-Kristin Lund, this free event will feature remarks and a musical performance in addition to the flag raising.
We are thrilled to host a screening of Kings of Kubb, featuring a personalized recorded introduction from directors Steve Dayton and B.J. Hollars. If you’re already a kubb pro, we know you’ll want to see this exciting documentary and join us for some games of kubb (also called “viking chess”) on the lawn afterwards. If you’re confused and wondering what kubb is, come find out! The Swedish lawn game has taken hold over the small city of Eau Claire, Wisconsin–with a population of just 70,000, it hosts the largest weekly kubb league in the world, with 144 teams competing. Filmmakers Dayton and Hollars illuminate the formation of the U.S. National Kubb Championship and what the sport means to its players, four in particular who are vying for the championship.
“It’s not quite bowling. It’s not quite bags. And it’s far more than “throwing sticks at blocks.” When the Nordic lawn game arrived in the United States, American players quickly discovered that—even with skill, strategy, and mental toughness—kubb can break your heart… or heal it.
KINGS OF KUBB follows four elite competitors, each willing to risk everything for a shot at the U.S. National Kubb Championship, held in the Kubb Capital of North America (Eau Claire, WI). As the stakes rise on the pitch, real-world pressures beyond it reveal a powerful story of legacy, rivalry, and the fragile line between friendship and ambition. What does it cost to be the best? And how high a price will one pay to be crowned the King of Kubb?”
Saturday, June 6th | 1pm | $10, $5 for members | tickets
EBT, WIC, and ConnectorCare cardholders receive free admission. To reserve free tickets, email caroline@scandicenter.org
Excited to spend a morning with your current craft project,
Or need inspiration for a new one?
If the answer to any of the above is YES, head to the Scandinavian Cultural Center & Library for our Nordic Knit & Craft Gathering! This event is hosted in our Nordic Hall on the 2nd Saturday of every month from 10am to noon. Bring some supplies, whether it’s something you’ve been working on or something brand new, and be ready to show off your project to other curious crafters! Feel free to take a break and head to the Kaffestugan for a coffee, pastry or sandwich to enjoy while you work and chat. This event is open to all, whether you’re a beginner or an experienced artist–you might learn something new!
Saturday, June 13th | 10am-12pm | free with registration | donations to support free programming are welcome
Repeats on the 2nd Saturday every month through June
*This will be our last craft gathering of the season!
Celebrate the arrival of summer by making a pajaki with us!
Hosting a fun Midsummer craft mashup! Pajakis are a traditional Polish craft–and here we marry it with a Swedish maypole!
They can be small mobiles hung in your home, massive chandeliers displayed in museums, or anything in between! We will decorate ours with midsummer felted flower and strawberries. Leave with your own charming summer decoration.
All materials will be provided. Make sure to reserve your spot early, as space is limited!
Saturday, May 30th | 10am-12pm | $50 per person, $40 for members | tickets
Join us at Boston City Hall Plaza to commemorate the 201st anniversary of the first organized Norwegian emigration to the United States. On July 4, 1825, the sloop Restauration set sail from Stavanger, Norway, carrying 52 hopeful emigrants seeking a new life in America. This voyage marked the beginning of a significant chapter in Norwegian-American history, leading to nearly 900,000 Norwegians immigrating to North America over the next century.
The flag-raising ceremony will honor this historic journey and celebrate the enduring ties between Norway and the United States. The event will feature the hoisting of the Norwegian flag, remarks, and a performance by children from Eliot K-8 Innovation School, who will sing the American and Norwegian National Anthems.
This event is free and open to the public. All are welcome to attend and celebrate this milestone in our shared history.
Thursday, May 14th | 12pm | free | Boston City Hall Plaza
Saturday, May 16th
17. mai family picnic
Scandinavian Cultural Center – 206 Waltham Street – West Newton, MA 02465
Schedule of Events
12:30pm – Gather for 17. mai parade at the entrance to the SCC
12:45 pm – Step-off time for the parade
1pm – Welcome and tale for dagen
1:30pm – Lunch
2:15pm – Games for the children
Tickets for lunch will be sold as people arrive.
Adults: $15 (smørbrød, beverage, and dessert)
Children: $5 (pølser m/lompe, beverage, and dessert)
(Additional smørbrød may be purchased for $10 each.)
Welcome to celebrate Vappu (Finnish May Day) with Suomi-koulu and Finlandia Foundation Boston Chapter.
We are hosting a Vappu picnic at the Scandinavian Cultural Center on May 2, 2026 from 12.30 to 3 pm! We have traditional Vappu-munkki (donuts) made by Sweet Finnish bakery, Rindge NH. We are also crafting Vappu-masks with children.
You can bring your own picnic blanket and drinks or enjoy Kaffestugan’s baked goods and drinks. (If it rains, we will be inside). This event is free of charge.
We’re pleased to welcome photographer and board member Magnus Snorrason to Nordic Hall with his exhibition Animals Amongst Us, on view through April. Stop by and take a look.
ARTIST STATEMENT: My decade-long daily photographic project has gradually shifted from a traditional exploration of street photography to a study of parallel worlds. 3,359 (so far!) consecutive days of observation have revealed a truth obscured by the city’s noise: We do not inhabit this space alone.
Animals Amongst Us documents the non-human residents of our concrete landscape. From the domestic companions who mirror our routines to the wild opportunists who thrive in our shadows and in the air all around us, these creatures exist in a complex spectrum of symbiosis, apprehension, and indifference.
My images capture moments of unforeseen symbiosis and resilience:
• a swan navigating a flooded parking lot as if it were a natural lake
• a pug mirroring the stoic patience of its owner
• a three-legged cat staring back with uncanny awareness
This visual census of the urban wild invites the viewer to look closer at the other citizens whose lives are woven into the fabric of our cities.
ABOUT: Magnus started photography at an early age. Growing up in Iceland, he bought his first SLR camera at age 12. At 13, one of his photos won him a year’s supply of Ilford black and white photo paper and chemicals. Later in life, he moved on to digital, but his approach has never wavered: Shoot what you see. Focus on composition, wit, and beauty. Treat your subject with honesty and don’t force it into becoming a statement (all art is definitely not political).
He is now on year ten of a photo-a-day project. Carrying a camera everywhere and ending each day by editing the day’s photos has become a way of life, and a unique way to show followers glimpses of daily rhythms of life. The world is endlessly inspiring, if you keep your eyes open and your mind tuned to visual opportunities.
BERSERK RETURNS! 
TWO Rival Viking Encampments will take over the front lawn—witness warriors crafting tools of the past, playing traditional Viking games, and clashing in combat demonstrations throughout the day. It all leads up to an all-out battle to the “death” at 2PM—you won’t want to miss it!
WHEN: 11am – 3pm
TICKETS: Adults $20 in advance ($25 day of), Kids 12 & under $10 ($15 day of) 
Want to be part of the raid?
