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
Join the new Finnish Book Club for our inaugural book club gathering on May 9th as we dive into the classic The Summer Book by Tove Jansson. Set against a serene island backdrop, this beautiful story invites reflection, connection, and conversation.
All are welcome — we’d love to have you! RSVPs are helpful, but walk-ins are also welcome. If you can, try to RSVP by May 5th using this link.
“An elderly artist and her six-year-old granddaughter while away a summer together on a tiny island in the gulf of Finland. Gradually, the two learn to adjust to each other’s fears, whims and yearnings for independence, and a fierce yet understated love emerges—one that encompasses not only the summer inhabitants but the island itself, with its mossy rocks, windswept firs and unpredictable seas.
Full of brusque humour and wisdom, The Summer Book is a profoundly life-affirming story. Tove Jansson captured much of her own experience and spirit in the book, which was her favourite of the novels she wrote for adults. This new edition sees the return of a European literary gem—fresh, authentic and deeply humane.” – Goodreads summary
SWEA Boston 40 years – A Tapestry of Friendship and Cultural Exchange
Since 1985, SWEA Boston, a vibrant non-profit organization, has been the heartbeat of Swedish-American friendship and cultural preservation in the New England region.
This special photographic tribute celebrates four decades of unity, shared experiences, and the unyielding spirit of the Swedish women who have woven this tapestry of camaraderie and community.
This timeline of SWEA Boston’s history shows the faces of those who have shaped and been shaped by the organization and captures the essence of what SWEA Boston represents: the enduring warmth of Swedish “fika,” the vibrant hues of midsummer celebrations, the unmistakable joy of Christmas celebration along with the many other significant traditions and the pride in sharing them all.
We invite you to join us in this celebration of friendship, tradition, and the unyielding spirit that has carried SWEA Boston through four decades of growth and achievement.
Join us for the opening reception. Light refreshments served.
SWEA Boston is part of a larger network, SWEA International, with 70 chapters in more than 30 countries and a total membership of around 6 000 Swedish-speaking women. SWEA stands for Swedish Women’s Educational Association. It is a global non-profit organization that aims to promote Swedish culture, traditions, and language among Swedish-speaking women living outside of Sweden.
Celebrate Kalevala Day with an immersive afternoon exploring Finnish culture, mythology, and creativity with Finlandia Foundation Boston.
This engaging, hands-on workshop introduces participants to the rich origin stories of the Kalevala, Finland’s national epic, through storytelling, cultural context, and creative making. Led by Finnish-American artist Kristine Holohan, the program blends folklore, design, and traditional printmaking techniques in an accessible and playful way.
Participants will learn about the cultural significance of the Kalevala while creating their own printed designs using provided tools and materials. No prior art or printmaking experience is required—just curiosity and a willingness to explore.
We’re so excited that two Scandinavian teams, Sweden and Norway, are playing in the World Cup! We’ve compiled a small list of places you can watch the games for free with other fans.
Upcoming games:
Sweden v. Japan – Thursday, June 25th at 7pm
Norway v. France – Friday, June 26th at 3pm
The Greatest Bar (Boston)
The Swedish Consulate’s recommendation! This four-floor bar offering food and drink will be the place for fans of Sweden to meet up!
6/26 onlyCambridge Citywide Dance Party
Enjoy face painting, soccer activities, and dancing along with Norway and France’s matchup on Friday!
Come and see the work of emerging local artists in our Nordic Hall through May and June. Each year, the Newton Art Association welcomes submissions from members who have joined the association within the past year for their New Members Show. There is a wide variety of work from a diverse array of artists using different mediums, exploring different subject matter, and using different techniques. Visit and see what your talented neighbors have been working on!
Show on display through May and June | visit on Saturdays during Kaffestugan/library hours, or e-mail Kerry kerry@scandicenter.org for more viewing times
The Newton Art Association seeks to encourage the appreciation and expression of fine arts to our membership and the Newton community. We are an organization of over 200 active artists and art enthusiasts, representing all branches of the visual arts, from drawing to sculpture. The majority of members live in Newton, nearby cities, and elsewhere in New England. The Newton Art Association was founded in 1949 by the late James King Bonnar and a small group of artists who felt that artists needed the support of each other to share ideas, techniques and opportunities to paint together.
“An elderly artist and her six-year-old granddaughter while away a summer together on a tiny island in the gulf of Finland. Gradually, the two learn to adjust to each other’s fears, whims and yearnings for independence, and a fierce yet understated love emerges—one that encompasses not only the summer inhabitants but the island itself, with its mossy rocks, windswept firs and unpredictable seas.
The Newton Art Association seeks to encourage the appreciation and expression of fine arts to our membership and the Newton community. We are an organization of over 200 active artists and art enthusiasts, representing all branches of the visual arts, from drawing to sculpture. The majority of members live in Newton, nearby cities, and elsewhere in New England. The Newton Art Association was founded in 1949 by the late James King Bonnar and a small group of artists who felt that artists needed the support of each other to share ideas, techniques and opportunities to paint together.