American Scandinavian Association
Lutfisk and meatball dinner
The American Scandinavian Association at Augustana will host its annual lutfisk and meatball supper. Doors open at 5:30 p.m., and dinner will be served at 6 p.m.
The event will feature a presentation from Adam Bierstedt, Albert Ravenholt Curator of Danish-American Culture at the Museum of Danish America in Elk Horn, Iowa.
The meal will include lutfisk, Swedish meatballs, peas, parsley-buttered potatoes, pickled beets, pickled herring, coleslaw, cheese, assorted breads and lefse. Rice pudding with lingonberries and cookies will be served for dessert.
Reservations are due Oct. 30. To register, contact Kimberly La Palm with the names of guests who will attend, a phone number to contact and a check (payable to ASA) for the total amount.
Festival of Sankta Lucia
Augustana's annual celebration of the Festival of Sankta Lucia will commemorate the holiday with traditional Scandinavian Christmas carols, lessons and poetry.
The Sankta Lucia Festival is a cherished tradition of the Advent season in all the Nordic countries. A candlelight procession of singers is led by a young woman robed in white with a crown of candles on her head, to commemorate the martyred St. Lucy (d. 304 AD), whose feast day is Dec. 13.
Kräftskiva
Celebrate summer Swedish style for the American Scandinavian Association at Augustana's annual Kräftskiva (Crayfish Party) on Saturday, Aug. 15, 2026. Enjoy an evening of Swedish food, fellowship, and tradition as we celebrate the end of summer with family and friends, just like they do in Scandinavia!
The menu will feature traditional Swedish favorites, including crayfish, meatballs, shrimp, salad, and all the trimmings. Social hour begins at 5 p.m., and dinner is served at 5:30 p.m.
Whether you're a longtime ASA member or attending for the first time, we hope you'll join us for a lobster-ly good time with our favorite crustaceans!
Waffle Day (Våffeldagen)
The American Scandinavian Association will serve a Waffle Day meal of waffles, sausage, lingonberry and coffee. It is open to the public.
Cost is $11 for adults and $9 for students.
Reservations are due March 20 and can be made by contacting Loryann Eis, 2037 15th St., Moline, Ill., 309-762-8303. Checks should be payable to ASA.
March 25 is Annunciation Day on the Christian Liturgical Calendar. In Sweden, the holiday is called Vårfrudagen or Our Lady’s Day. "Våffeldagen" in Swedish (or "Waffle Day") is a fun mispronunciation of the original name a great excuse for Swedes to eat waffles, and call it a holiday! Let’s honor our Swedish friends by eating våfflor on våffeldagen.
Yellow pea soup and Swedish pancake dinner
Join the American Scandinavian Association for the Swedish tradition of pea soup and pancakes on Thursday evening, followed by a presentation by Norm and Janet Moline on their recent trip to Scandinavia — and their unforgettable reindeer adventures!
Dinner reservations are due Jan. 22. To reserve your spot, contact Loryann Eis by mail (2037 15th St, Moline, Ill. 61265), email (loryanneis@att.net) or phone (309-762-8303).
About the presentation
Reindeer and musk ox in Northern Sweden Reindeer are our special friends in photos, sketches and songs at Christmas, but great
numbers of them are in the northern Sweden landscape all year. The Molines have seen many on their trips. They will share information about their locations, behaviors, economic importance, and cultural significance in Sami culture. In that same area there no longer are many musk ox, but a research center is working to save and increase the understanding of this fascinating animal in Sweden. Norm and Janet have visited that center and will describe its efforts to save them.
Swenson Center Julbord Dinner
Enjoy traditional Swedish-American Christmas smörgåsbord fare and support the Swenson Center! The event runs from 5-6:30 p.m. Guests may arrive at any time.
Buffet items include salad, relishes, fruit, herring, bread, cheese, potatoes, salmon, potato sausage, meatballs, rice pudding, and Christmas goodies. RSVP by Monday, Nov. 24, at noon.
There will be a brief program at 6 p.m., where Dr. Ulf Jonas Björk will talk about Swedish Lucia traditions and lead us in singing a selection of Lucia and Christmas songs in a mix of Swedish and English.
Note: This year, our dinner will be held the day after Augustana’s Festival of Sankta Lucia.
Lutfisk and meatball dinner
The American Scandinavian Association at Augustana will host its annual lutfisk and meatball supper. Doors open at 5:30 p.m., and dinner will be served at 6 p.m.
The event will feature a traditional Nordic holiday meal followed by a presentation by Dr. Jon Hurty, Henry Veld Professor of Music and director of the Augustana Choir. Dr. Hurty, who is in his 30th year of directing the choir, will share his perspectives on the historical background of the choir's tours to Sweden and more recent connections with various Swedish musicians. He will be retiring at the end of this school year and after the choir's trip to Sweden in May.
The meal will include lutfisk, Swedish meatballs, peas, parsley buttered potatoes, pickled beets, pickled herring, coleslaw, cheese, assorted breads and lefse. Rice pudding with lingonberries and cookies will be served for dessert. (All menu options are gluten-free except for meatballs, bread and cookies.)
Reservations are due Nov. 7. To register, contact Loryann Eis with the names of guests who will attend, a phone number to contact and a check (payable to ASA) for the total amount.
- By mail: Loryann Eis, 2037 15th St., Moline, Ill., 61265
- Phone: 309-762-8303
- Email: loryanneis@att.net
Korgossarna male student choir concert
Korgossarna, or VGMK, a male student choir from the Västergötland student nation at Uppsala University, Sweden, will perform a concert.
Korgossarna is being excitedly welcomed by the Augustana Choir, the The Swenson Swedish Immigration Research Center and Augustana's Scandinavian Studies program. During their visit on September 20, they will spend time exploring the campus of Augustana College and rehearsing with the Augustana Choir. At 3 p.m. they will perform in Wallenberg Hall.
Doors to Wallenberg Hall will open at 2:30 p.m.
Tickets are not required.
Waffle Day (Våffeldagen/Vårfrudagen)
The American Scandinavian Association will serve a Waffle Day meal of waffles, sausage, juice and coffee from noon to 1 p.m. It is open to the public.
The overall event runs from 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Guests will have an opportunity to enjoy some Nordic games and crafts.
Cost is $11. Request reservations by March 22 by contacting Loryann Eis, 2037 15th St., Moline, Ill., 309-762-8303. Checks should be payable to ASA.
March 25 is Annunciation Day on the Christian Liturgical Calendar. In Sweden, the holiday is called Vårfrudagen or Our Lady’s Day. "Våffeldagen" in Swedish (or "Waffle Day") is a fun mispronunciation of the original name a great excuse for Swedes to eat waffles, and call it a holiday! Let’s honor our Swedish friends by eating våfflor on våffeldagen.
American Scandinavian Association smörgåsbord
The American Scandinavian Association will host its annual meeting and dinner with a program entitled "The Brick” at 90: The Story of the Lego Group, a Danish Toy Company."
The event starts at 5:30 p.m. with a period of social time and punch followed by a buffet dinner at 6 p.m.
The presentation tells the story of Lego founder and toymaker Ole Kirk Kristiansen, and the company that still today strives to inspire imaginative play and creative expression.
Those interested in attending should make reservations no later than Friday, May 27. Please mail check payable to ASA to Loryann Eis, 2037 15th St., Moline, Ill., 61265.
Access the Gerber Center from 7th Avenue and 34th Street. Park in Faculty/Staff lot J (parallel to 34th St.).