Revels Salon: A Conversation with Gregory Maguire
Moderated by Jared Bowen, host of The Culture Show, GBH
Thursday, October 9th
Join Revels for a reception and a conversation with Wicked author Gregory Maguire, who will reflect on how fairy tales have inspired his writing, and in particular his novella Matchless – an “illumination” of a Hans Christian Anderson tale, and the inspiration for the 2025 Midwinter Revels. Gregory will also talk about his experience as a member of the Revels Chorus and his friendship with Revels founder Jack Langstaff.
The Scandinavian Library’s October film: 100 Litres of Gold (2024)
In a small village in southern Finland, the middle-aged sisters Taina and Pirkko promised to spend weeks making 100 litres of their famous strong self-brewed beer, sahti, for a family wedding. But their batch is so tasty, they drink it all themselves. While struggling with their massive hangovers, they have a series of hilarious misadventures racing the clock to more beer to save the wedding and win back their reputation as the best sahti-brewers in the village.
Saturday, October 11th, 2025 | 1pm | $10; $5 for members of the SCC&L | tickets
In Finnish with English subtitles | 88 minutes
*come early and enjoy lunch in our Swedish coffee house — the Kaffestugan
Join us for a playful day of giving inspired by everyone’s favorite freckle-faced heroine, Pippi Longstocking!
True to Pippi’s spirit of kindness, courage, and joyful rebellion, we’re inviting families to wear their most mismatched socks and take part in a community sock drive to support local shelters. Bring a new pair (or two!) to donate — and come ready for laughter, crafts, and a bit of Pippi-style fun.
Enjoy sock-puppet making, storytime from Astrid Lindgren’s tales, snacks, and a Pippi on the big screen in the Nordic Hall. Together we’ll celebrate creativity, generosity, and the magic of being delightfully different.
👧💫 Be brave. Be kind. Be mismatched — for good!
Saturday, November 15th | 10am- noon | FREE with sock donation
Take a little break for some “me time” amid the holiday hustle and bustle. Come sit a spell this joyous Yule! ✨ Reflect on 2025’s lessons, set intentions for 2026, and open yourself to messages meant just for you.
Each booking includes a special holiday pouch filled with a little magick to carry you through the season of giving.
Saturday, December 20th | 12pm-4pm | $35 for a 20 minutes session | advanced registration required | claim your spot here
Meet Michi — Witch, Reader, Energy Weaver. Michi is a Reiki-certified energy worker, witchcraft practitioner, and professional card and rune reader with a cozy tarot room tucked inside an artist collaborative in Westport, MA. With thousands of readings under her belt, her sessions radiate empowerment, positivity, and just the right dash of magick and intuitive mischief.
Holding a Master’s degree in Education, Michi brings heart and thoughtfulness to every session — creating safe, sacred spaces where symbolic messages unfold and personal goals align with each seeker’s unique story.
We’re thrilled to welcome back Bob Ellertsen, who returns to share stories from a powerful book he translated from Norwegian to English: Farsund’s Occupation History by Johannes Seland.
Get ready to dive into the gripping true story of life in the Norwegian seaport town of Farsund and the nearby farms of Lista during the German occupation of Norway (1940–1945). Seland, the book’s author, wasn’t just a witness—he was an active member of the Norwegian resistance, making this account both deeply personal and historically rich.
Come hear about bravery, resilience, and the fight for freedom—told through the lens of a small coastal town with a big story to tell.
You’ve heard of fairy walks, right? This year, step into the world of Iceland’s hidden people with a seasonal twist. Join us for an enchanting adventure through the four seasons of the Huldufólk, discovering how these elusive beings live in harmony with nature all year round.
🌟 Event Highlights 🌲
🍃 Self-Guided Huldufólk Journey: Meander the magical dwellings, each inspired by one of the seasons—spring’s rebirth, summer’s brightness, autumn’s harvest, and winter’s quiet magic— and vote for your favorite creations!
🧙♂️ Interactive Stations: Encounter whimsical stations, where you can partake in Icelandic inspired activities, and craft unique Huldufólk trinkets.
🌸 Offering Station: Choose a handful of natural gifts like nuts, flowers, or moss to leave at your favorite dwellings—just as Icelanders have long left offerings for the hidden folk to bring luck and goodwill.
🎶 Ethereal Music: Be transported by haunting melodies of Icelandic music, echoing the cycles of the seasons and the spirit of the hidden folk.
🎭 Folklore Costume: Not required, but come dressed in seasonal magic—floral crowns for spring, firefly sparkle for summer, harvest colors for fall, or frost-kissed winter cloaks.
🛠️🏆 Create and Win: Design your own Huldufólk house, inspired by your favorite season. Prizes will be awarded in special seasonal categories:
Most Blossoming Abode (Spring)
Brightest Summer Glow (Summer)
Harvest Haven (Fall)
Most Magical Winter Dwelling (Winter)
Plus, the Huldufólk’s Favorite chosen by audience vote.
🛍️ Hidden Market: Visit our carefully selected vendors to bring home a special treasure or two. Want to be one of our magical vendors? Please fill out an application here.
Join us and experience the talent of piano prodigy Rui Gong!
At only eleven years old, Rui has an exceptional aptitude for the piano, studying the instrument since the age of six. His ability flourished at the Li Fang Piano studio, where he would go on to win multiple international awards in the span of three years. Starting in 2024, Rui began working with Dr. Paul-André Bempéchat, and only continued to expand his skill set. He has explored complex works in Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, and Chopin.
In this program, Rui will be representing the five Scandinavian countries with pieces from their most revered composers, respectively. Dr. Bempéchat will be introducing their historical backgrounds and impact on the history of music.
Motivated by Kiana’s first North Atlantic crossing in 2019, where she witnessed a plastic-littered ocean, Mara Noka and Kiana, joined by filmmaker Alizé Jireh and environmentalist Lærke Heilmann, set off across the North Atlantic again in 2022 to follow plastic pollution on its ride to Europe via the Gulf Stream. Throughout the entirety of the voyage, larger floating debris including fishing nets, buckets, bottles, plastic bags, and nylon ropes were constant companions.
Though the initial intention of the film was to focus mainly on telling this story of plastic, the voyage took on a much more personal tone as the days progressed. The women were then faced with the reality of life at sea aboard a boat, for 30 days, with no space from each other or themselves. Calms and tempests reflected their own inner workings, and an entire moon’s cycle on the ocean brought their femininity to the forefront. They experienced their fragility and their strengths with an intensity that is unmatched, transforming this film into an intimate portrayal of woman and nature.
Saturday, September 13th | 1pm | $10; $5 for members of the SCC&L | tickets
Join us for a special screening of Greetings from New England, a documentary exploring tradition, identity, and the quiet strength found in place, landscape, and heritage. Filmmaker Jarrett McPhee will be with us to introduce the film and share insight into his creative process and inspiration.
Following the screening, Jarrett will give a talk on one of Iceland’s most unique cultural traditions: stone lifting—a historic test of strength that once determined fishing rights, community standing, and personal resilience. Today, stone lifting continues as a symbolic connection to Iceland’s past.
Come for the film, stay for the conversation, and enjoy the chance to connect with others who share an appreciation for Nordic culture, storytelling, and history.
Join us for a rich and resonant afternoon of music featuring three extraordinary artists—Bruno Råberg on bass, Oskar Stenmark on flugelhorn, and Timothy Johnson on guitar. Each brings their own voice and story to the stage, weaving together jazz, Nordic influences, and deep musical chemistry.
Sunday, September 14th | 1pm | $20; $10 for members | tickets
