Monday, Nov 9: Allt För Sverige Watch Party

Posted on October 29, 2026 by webmaster

An “Allt för Sverige” Watch Party — Featuring One of the Participants!

Emily Anderson, a local Swedish-American, was selected as one of only eight Americans to compete in the upcoming season of Allt för Sverige (also known as The Great Swedish Adventure). Allt för Sverige is a popular Swedish reality TV show that brings together Americans with Swedish ancestry who travel to Sweden to discover their family history, explore their ancestral homeland, and learn about Swedish culture and traditions.

This past May, Emily traveled to Sweden to immerse herself in rugged cultural challenges, intensive language trials, and traditional customs. One by one, contestants are eliminated until the ultimate winner receives the life-changing grand prize: meeting their long-lost living relatives who still reside in the homeland.

After months of keeping her incredible journey under wraps, the highly anticipated season is officially about to premiere on Swedish television next week. We welcome anyone who would like to join us for a watch party together with Emily and her family here in Viking Hall.

For Emily and her family, this journey carries an incredibly deep, emotional weight. Both sides of her family possess proud Swedish roots, but all of their elder relatives—including parents—have sadly passed away. Thirteen years ago, Emily and her sister packed up their lives on the East coast and embarked on a grueling cross-country road trip to California on a total wing and a prayer, navigating a lifetime of intense trials and tribulations. Emily’s selection for the show has been a lifelong dream come true for them, bringing a powerful sense of healing, closure, and ancestral reconnection back to their family line.

Our first Watch Party will take place on Monday, November 9, where we will watch the first two episodes.

  • 5:00 pm – Doors open for a potluck dinner och social time
  • 5:30 pm – Introduction by Emily on how she came to be on “Allt för Sverige”
  • 6:00 pm – Watch episode 1
  • 6:45 pm – Fika and a quick Q&A
  • 7:00 pm – Watch episode 2

Please come join us!

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Friday, Nov 13: Annual Scandinavian Jul Dinner

Posted on October 25, 2026 by webmaster

Celebrate the magic of a Scandinavian Christmas with us!

Join us for our annual Jul Dinner, an evening filled with traditional Scandinavian holiday flavors, festive drinks, songs, and good company. Enjoy a delicious Scandinavian-style Christmas dinner, and help us welcome and introduce our 2026 Lucia, dressed in her beautiful traditional folk attire.

When
Friday, November 13, 2026
5:30 pm – Social Hour & Appetizers
6:30 pm – Catered Scandinavian Christmas Dinner & Dessert


Where
Viking Hall
240 Plymouth Street, Santa Cruz


Tickets
Adults: $40
Children ages 2–7: $15
Children under 2: Free
Purchase your tickets here


Advance registration and payment are required. Unfortunately, we cannot accommodate walk-ins or offer refunds. Ticket sales close November 9, 2026.


On the Menu


Appetizers
Cheeseboard
Ginger snaps with blue cheese
Housemade pickled herring
Gravlax with mustard & dill sauce


Dinner
Scandinavian meatballs
Christmas ham
Boiled potatoes with parsley and dill
Remoulade on the side
Cucumber salad
Braised red cabbage
Kale salad with oranges and pomegranate seeds
Lingonberry sauce
Dinner rolls, vörtlimpa, and butter


Dessert & Coffee
Apple cardamom cake with vanilla sauce
Coffee


Drinks at the Bar
Glögg, wine, beer, aquavit, and sodas can be purchased at the bar.


Be Part of the Festivities!
Many hands make light work! We’d love your help making this special evening a success. Click here to volunteer for our Jul Dinner team and be part of the fun behind the scenes.

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Sunday, Dec 13: Lucia Celebration

Posted on October 27, 2025 by Jane

Save the date:

The Jul season will be ushered in by our Lucia, followed by her attendants and star boys.  The youth will sing Swedish songs, and the well loved Swedish chorus, the Zaida Singers, will perform Scandinavian music in four-part harmony.  After the program, everyone is invited for cookies, punch, coffee, glögg, dancing around the Christmas tree, and shopping at the Julbutik.

Sunday, December 13, 2026

Messiah Lutheran Church, 801 High St, Santa Cruz, CA


4 pm: Lucia Procession and Zaida Singers

4:45 PM: Refreshments and dancing

Christmas shopping at the Julbutik before and after the program

$10 Adults, $5 Children (6-12 yr)

Prepurchase your tickets for a shorter wait at the door. There is a separate line for prepurchased ticket holders. Or you can pay at the door with credit card , cash, or check. Online sales will open late November.

Free admission for participants in Lucia procession and children under 6 years.

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Monday, November 2: Board Meetings

Posted on May 5, 2025 by Jane

The next board meetings for Viking Hall Cultural Center and Scandinavian Cultural Center of Santa Cruz will take place on:

Monday, November 2, 5-7 pm

Viking Hall, 240 Plymouth St., Santa Cruz

These meetings are open to the public and we invite anyone with an interest in our Scandinavian organizations to join. Please contact chairperson@scscandi.com if you’d like to receive a copy of the agendas.

Welcome!

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