Westside Stories

Before moving to the area, I would often visit and make several trips to see family while attending the Finnish American Folk Festival (FAFF) in late July. When we finally decided to relocate here, one of the things I looked forward to the most was getting involved in the festival. Now, four years later, I have completed a festival in 2022 as the chair of the Tori (the marketplace). In January 2023, I also took on the role of treasurer.

Since 1982, the festival has been held every other year during even-numbered years. The festival and other activities have grown and evolved over time. Still, the mission remains consistent: to preserve, promote and present the historic customs and cultures of the Finnish American and the broader Lower Columbia communities. The festival aims to connect generations and cultivate community values through various events, activities and its biennial celebration.

In early 2019, the Naselle Congregational Church generously donated its building to the organization with the intention of helping to fund festivals for years to come. For six years, members of FAFF have volunteered countless hours to support the success of the Naselle Community Center. Although the festival was canceled in 2020 due to the pandemic and events were limited, the organization persevered through those challenges.

In July 2022, the festival saw significant success, attracting a large number of attendees. The organization gained momentum as younger generations took on leadership roles, offering much-needed support to older generations. The outlook seemed optimistic for future festivals. Unfortunately, a crucial construction project at Naselle School required the cancellation of the 2024 festival. The new plan was to hold the festival in odd-numbered years, but it was canceled again in 2025 due to delays in the construction process.

Despite not hosting a large festival in the summer of 2024, the members organized a series of concerts and events to promote Finnish American heritage. Unfortunately, by the end of the summer, it was disheartening to find that attendance was low, and the hours and effort invested in the events had not yielded the desired results. It also became evident that the building was costing more than the organization could sustain, leading to the difficult decision to sell it.

The building is currently under contract with a buyer, and I look forward to sharing more about them soon. In the meantime, items that the organization no longer needs are being sold, while those that will be kept are being moved into storage.

As FAFF moves forward, the goal is to refocus efforts on the festival. Over the past few years, membership has dwindled. By returning to its original purpose, FAFF aims to recruit both new and returning members to help plan and host the next festival, scheduled for July 24-26, 2026. An event will take place in August for anyone interested in getting involved. More details and the location are forthcoming.

Events like the Christmas concert at the Historic Deep River Church, the Tour of Homes, the Soup Supper, and the Lighted Christmas Parade will continue to be planned and sponsored by FAFF.

Over the last 43 years since the festival began, the organization has experienced the loss of many founding members. Recently, the most significant loss was Darlene Bjornsgard, who passed away in December of 2023. Her wisdom, energy, humor, and vitality are greatly missed. Last year, Chair Jennifer Boggs and I were cleaning out the storage room when we discovered a notebook belonging to Darlene. Inside, we found a list of insights she had compiled about the festival. Some of her thoughts included "We are not responsible for everybody's good time," "Something will always go wrong," "There will always be critics," "Seeing everyone - the community, Finns - as one big family," and "The opportunities we have are more important than the ones we wish we had."

The theme for the 2026 festival is "Footprints of the Past." In the artwork created by talented local artist and FAFF Secretary Amber Duncan, Darlene is beautifully honored and remembered for her contributions and dedication to the festival.

Westside Happenings

June

19 – Farm & Kitchen Barter Night at Grays

River Grange, 5 – 8 p.m.

20-22 – Astoria Scandinavian

Midsummer Festival

21 – Moving Sale at Naselle Community

Center, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

21 – Finnish Midsummer Tea at Appelo

Archives Center, 1 p.m.

21 – Bazaar, Art, and Garage Sale Summer

Kickoff at Johnson Park - CANCELED

25 – Design-A-Duck at Naselle Timberland

Library, 1 p.m.

July

2 – Jeff Evans Reading Magic Show at

Naselle Timberland Library, 1 p.m.

2 – Play Day at the Library at Naselle

Timberland Library, 1 p.m.

9 – Tie Dye Party at Naselle Timberland

Library, 1 p.m.

16 – Build a Terrarium at Naselle

Timberland Library, 1 p.m.