Overwhelming Attendance at Second Annual Scandinavian Christmas Market

Finnish-American Village and the Midnight Sun Festival are proud to announce the overwhelming success of the 2nd Annual Scandinavian Christmas Market, held last month in November. The community response was extraordinary, with families, friends, and holiday shoppers of all ages enjoying a celebration that was even more vibrant and joyful than the event’s inaugural year.

With over 30 vendors set up both inside and outside Finnish-American Village’s Annan Maja Heritage Hall, this year’s market offered an even wider array of unique treasures, cultural and seasonal delights, local artisans, and an abundance of festive Christmas décor.  Welcoming an enthusiastic, record-setting crowd—including visitors who traveled from as far as Tampa to attend—the market drew many proud Scandinavians eager to reconnect with their heritage and enjoy such a one-of-a-kind experience.

Shoppers excitedly explored an impressive variety of local artisan creations, Scandinavian candies, handcrafted décor, handmade jewelry and knitted items, and even traditional European specialty imports like Advent Calendars and vintage Marimekko items—making it the perfect place to find something special for everyone on their holiday lists. The air was filled with the delightful aromas of fresh Finnish baked goods, as the St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church volunteers served fan favorites that had guests patiently lining up.

Saturday brought The Finnish Long Drink who hosted a lively booth, offering tastings and adding a refreshing touch of Finnish tradition. Throughout all three days, visitors sampled Finnish and Swedish candies, savored Salmon toast and buttery baked goods, and soaked in the joyful atmosphere that made the entire market feel like a winter paradise—even under the Florida sun. Children enjoyed the bounce houses sponsored by the Midnight Sun Festival outside, where vendors offered items such as custom t-shirts, hot sauces, and even Christmas poinsettias.

“It was truly heartwarming to see so many happy people all smiling ear to ear and enjoy everything the market had to offer. Watching families, neighbors, and guests from near and far discover new treats, support our vendors and volunteers, and celebrate Scandinavian traditions filled us all with so much joy,” said Tiina Rogers, Festival President and Director of HR for Finnish-American Village. Daniel Benson, Executive Director of Finnish-American Village agreed, “Moments like these remind us why we host these events—it brings our community together in the best possible way to experience culture, heritage, and unity.”

Attendees and even vendors posted numerous comments on Facebook during the weekend, extolling the two not-for-profits for such a great event. Comments include: “This is such a lovely place! I am hoping at some point my Mom can live here!” “Seeing friends in a joyous holiday environment was wonderful. I picked up several Christmas presents for my family.” “Hey! This was great!” “It truly was quite a crowd. Kudos” “Kiitos to you!” “This was my first Christmas Market. It was such an amazing event and won’t be my last. The weather couldn’t have been better, the smells coming out of the delicious bakery drew people in all weekend. Finnish-American Village really knocked this out of the park! I feel blessed and grateful to have been a part of it all.” “We loved being with you all weekend! Everyone was wonderful and the fresh baked goods were perfect!” “The baked goods are all amazing!” “Today was great! Standing room only. Great vendors and of course the food!! Everyone at midnight Sun needs to be commended! I expect tomorrow will be just as busy!”

Finnish-American Village and the Midnight Sun Festival extend heartfelt thanks to all the vendors, volunteers, and attendees who helped make this year’s market such a resounding success. The organizations remain committed to sharing Finnish culture with the broader community and looks forward to welcoming everyone back next year for an even more magical celebration! Save the dates for November 20-22, 2026, at Finnish-American Village’s Annan Maja!

For more information about Finnish-American Village, please visit https://www.FARH.org or contact: info@farh.org or call (561) 588-4333.

For more information about the Midnight Sun Festival, held each year at Bryant Park in Lake Worth Beach, please visit https://www.midnightsunfest.org or contact: tiinar@midnightsunfest.org or call (561) 324-0782.