Våffeldagen – Waffle Day

During our weekly Kaffestugan we will be celebrating the Swedish tradition of Våffeldagen. Swedes have enjoyed waffles in some form since the 1600’s and they remain popular today. So much so they celebrate them every March! Often covered with cream and jam instead of syrup, these are sure to delight. Come on out for lunch and a waffle or just a waffle on it’s own! We won’t judge. The standard Kaffestugan menu will still be available. Saturday, March 21st | 10am-2pm **no reservations. There will be extra seating in the Nordic Hall**

Scandinavian Cultural Center & Library

Opening Reception: Animals Amongst Us by Magnus Snorrason

We’re pleased to welcome photographer and board member&nbsp;<a href="https://magnusphotos.format.com/">Magnus Snorrason</a>&nbsp;to Nordic Hall with his exhibition&nbsp;Animals Amongst Us, on view through April. Stop by and take a look. ARTIST STATEMENT: My decade-long daily photographic project has gradually shifted from a traditional exploration of street photography to a study of parallel worlds. 3,359 (so far!) consecutive days of observation have revealed a truth obscured by the city’s noise: We do not inhabit this space alone. Animals Amongst Us documents the non-human residents of our concrete landscape. From the domestic companions who mirror our routines to the wild opportunists who thrive in our shadows and in the air all around us, these creatures exist in a complex spectrum of symbiosis, apprehension, and indifference. Wednesday, March 25th | 6pm – 8pm | free | register&nbsp;<a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/opening-reception-for-animals-amongst-us-by-magnus-snorrason-tickets-1984484640982?aff=oddtdtcreator">here</a> On display through April

Takeshi Nagayasu presented by the Leroy Anderson Foundation

The Leroy Anderson Foundation is pleased to present pianist Takeshi Nagayasu in concert. Takeshi Nagayasu has performed in concert halls in New York, France, Spain, Italy, Germany, South Korea, China and Japan. He has received numerous awards and prizes in competitions including the Texas State International Piano Festival Concerto Competition, Concours International Long-Thibaud in Paris, France, International Robert Schumann Competition, Borderland Chopin International Competition, The Rosamond Haeberle Memorial Piano Award (Michigan), The Kosciuszko Foundation Chopin Piano Competition, Jacob Flier Competition (Piano Summer at New Paltz), and the Frederic Chopin International Piano Competition in Valldemossa, Spain. He received a B.M in 2021 from Juilliard School of Music, a M.M. in 2023 from Yale School of Music, and a D.M.A in 2026 from the University of Michigan School of Music. “Takeshi Nagayasu’s performance was remarkable for its passion, expression and dazzling virtuosity.” – Marc Chabot, Leroy Anderson Foundation, December 2025 PROGRAM: Norske Folkeviser og Folkedanse, Op.30 (Mov. 1, Brudeslått, Mov. 3, Bygdevise, Mov. 11, Fanitull) by Agathe Backer Grøndahl; Sonata in G major by Marianna Martines; 8 Etudes, Op.42 by Alexander Scriabin; Afro Peruvian Suite by Carlos Bernales; Piano Sonata by Samuel Barber. Saturday, March 28th | 1pm | <a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/takeshi-nagayasu-in-concert-tickets-1982685258982?aff=oddtdtcreator">Register here</a> | free, donations to support programming are welcome

Nordic Easter Crafts

Join us for a festive morning of Nordic Easter crafts and traditions! This event is open to all ages (and egg-painting skill levels) and will invite you to explore a variety of Scandinavian traditions to celebrate one of the region’s most beloved holidays.  Activities will include…<ul><li>Making påskris (Swedish Easter trees), twigs embellished with colorful ribbons and feathers, that symbolize the end of the cold season and the beginning of spring</li><li>Dressing up as Easter witches (påskkärringar/påskhäxor) a tradition where children (or children at heart) dress up as witches and exchange drawings and cards for treats</li><li>Creating yellow candles, which decorate Scandinavian homes during the season </li></ul>Bring your creativity, your friends, and maybe a smock or two—get ready to make some crafts to take home and relish in the påskestemning (a Norwegian word to describe the festive Easter atmosphere)! Ages: Recommended for ages 6 and up (younger kids welcome with adult help) Space is limited, so reserve your spot early! Saturday, April 4th | 10am – 12pm | $20pp; $10 for members | <a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/nordic-easter-crafts-2026-tickets-1983375397204">Tickets </a>

Nordic Knit & Craft Gathering

Calling all crafters! Are you…<ul><li>Looking to meet others with similar interests?</li><li>Excited to spend a morning with your current craft project,</li><li>Or need inspiration for a new one?</li></ul>If the answer to any of the above is YES, head to the Scandinavian Cultural Center &amp; Library for our Nordic Knit &amp; Craft Gathering! This event is hosted in our Nordic Hall on the 2nd Saturday of every month from 10am to noon. Bring some supplies, whether it’s something you’ve been working on or something brand new, and be ready to show off your project to other curious crafters! Feel free to take a break and head to the Kaffestugan for a coffee, pastry or sandwich to enjoy while you work and chat. This event is open to all, whether you’re a beginner or an experienced artist–you might learn something new! Saturday, April 11 | 10am-12pm | <a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/nordic-knit-craft-gathering-tickets-1984779500916">free with registration</a> | donations to support free programming are welcome

Screening: Never Alone

Join us for a moving and powerful afternoon of cinema as we present Never Alone (Finland, 2025), a gripping historical drama based on true events. Set during World War II, Never Alone tells the remarkable story of Jewish refugees seeking safety in Finland as Nazi influence spreads across Europe. At the center is Finnish-Jewish businessman Abraham Stiller (Ville Virtanen, Bordertown), who risks everything to protect the refugee community. This deeply human film explores courage, moral conviction, and the enduring fight for hope in the face of overwhelming adversity. From acclaimed director Klaus Härö — known for the Oscar-shortlisted The Fencer and Golden Globe-nominated My Sailor, My Love — comes a powerful and timely story of resilience, compassion, and quiet heroism. Saturday, April 11, 2026 | 1pm | $10; $5 for members |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/screening-never-alone-2025-tickets-1983462730420?aff=oddtdtcreator">tickets</a> Finland · 2025 | Drama · Finnish with English subtitles | Running time: 85 minutes Food available for purchase in our&nbsp;<a href="https://scandicenter.org/event/kaffestugan/">Kaffestugan</a>&nbsp;from 10am-2pm

Break Away – A Concert by Analog By Choice

We are proud to host&nbsp;<a href="https://www.analogbychoice.com/">Analog By Choice</a>&nbsp;for a presentation of their concert Break Away. All of us have traditions, customs, and values that we’ve grown up with. How do we decide as we grow and change which ones we hold on to and which ones we change? Just like our personal growth, composers must often balance a respect for music traditions of the past while adding their own voice and creating something new. In this concert, we have three composers who have taken different approaches to this balance and managed to come up with really incredible results. Musicians: Peter Paetkau and Thomson Wang – Violins, Maureen Sheehan – Viola, Nicholas Johnson – Cello <a href="https://scandicenter.org/event/break-away-a-concert-by-analog-by-choice/">Visit our website for more information.</a> Saturday, April 25th | 1pm – 2:30pm | $25, $15 for members |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/break-away-a-concert-by-analog-by-choice-tickets-1985285836379">Tickets</a> EBT, WIC, and ConnectorCare cardholders receive free admission. To reserve free tickets, email caroline@scandicenter.org

Screening: The Kiss (2022)

Join us for a compelling afternoon of Danish cinema with The Kiss, directed by acclaimed filmmaker Bille August. Set in the early 20th century, the film follows Anton, a young cavalry cadet, who becomes entangled in a complicated relationship with Edith, the disabled daughter of a wealthy baron. As Anton struggles to distinguish love from pity, honor from desire, he is drawn into a moral dilemma that tests his sense of duty, class expectations, and the emotional cost of compassion. Loosely based on Stefan Zweig’s novel Beware of Pity, The Kiss is a nuanced and beautifully crafted drama that explores the fragile line between kindness and harm. In Danish with English subtitles | 100 minutes Saturday, March 14th | 1 PM | $10; $5 for SCC&amp;L members | <a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/screening-the-kiss-tickets-1983886732622?aff=oddtdtcreator">Tickets</a>

Calling all crafters! Are you…<ul><li>Looking to meet others with similar interests?</li><li>Excited to spend a morning with your current craft project,</li><li>Or need inspiration for a new one?</li></ul>If the answer to any of the above is YES, head to the Scandinavian Cultural Center &amp; Library on Saturday, March 7th&nbsp;from 10am to noon for our <a href="https://scandicenter.org/event/nordic-knit-crafts-gathering/">Nordic Knit &amp; Craft Gathering</a>! Bring some supplies, whether it’s something you’ve been working on or something brand new. If you’re looking for ideas, we will have available some knitting patterns for hats, socks, and mittens with traditional Norwegian designs. Feel free to chat with other crafters, or turn your attention to the screen: we will be playing “National Knitting Eve,” a Norwegian speed-knitting competition that begins with shearing the sheep to create the yarn that will become sweaters! This event is free to attend, but if you would like to provide a donation to&nbsp;support free programming&nbsp;like this at the SCC&amp;L, you may do so&nbsp;via our ticketing link. Wednesday, March 7 | 10am-12pm | <a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/nordic-knit-craft-gathering-tickets-1983790571000">free, optional donation</a>

Screening: Lewerentz – Divine Darkness with Director Sven Blume 

Special Screening:&nbsp;Lewerentz – Divine Darkness With Director Sven Blume in Attendance Join us for a special screening of&nbsp;Lewerentz – Divine Darkness, an evocative documentary that explores the life and legacy of Swedish architect Sigurd Lewerentz—one of the most enigmatic figures in modern architecture. The evening will begin with an introduction by the film’s director, Sven Blume, whose deep personal connection to Lewerentz’s work brings rare insight into the architect’s creative process and spiritual vision. Following the screening, Sven will join us for a&nbsp;Q&amp;A session, offering audiences a chance to discuss the film, Lewerentz’s architectural philosophy, and his enduring impact on Nordic design. Synopsis: A treasure trove of film and sound recordings of the ageing Sigurd Lewerentz was discovered in a cellar in Lund, and these previously unseen materials form the basis of this documentary.&nbsp;Through this rare archival footage—combined with interviews and a deep dive into his built works—the film offers a unique portrait of a man who shunned the spotlight yet produced architecture of haunting power. Classicism and modernism converge in his designs, and the documentary reveals how his aesthetic of “darkness” and material subtlety still resonates in Nordic architecture today. Saturday, February 28th | 1pm | $15; $7 for members |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/screening-lewerentz-divine-darkness-with-director-sven-blume-tickets-1970435039245?aff=oddtdtcreator">tickets</a>

Screening: The Painter and The Thief (2020)

Join us at the Scandinavian Cultural Center &amp; Library for a screening of the extraordinary and deeply moving documentary The Painter and the Thief. When two of Czech artist Barbora Kysilkova’s paintings are stolen from a gallery in Oslo, she seeks out one of the thieves—not for revenge, but for understanding. What unfolds is an unexpected, tender, and profoundly human friendship that explores art, trauma, forgiveness, and connection in ways that linger long after the credits roll. An unforgettable story of empathy and transformation, this award-winning film invites us to consider how we see one another—and what it truly means to be seen. Saturday, February 21st | 1 PM| Provided by the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.norway.no/en/usa/norway-usa/new-york/">Norwegian Consulate General</a>&nbsp;–&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/screening-the-painter-and-the-thief-tickets-1766500373169?aff=oddtdtcreator">Suggested donation of $10</a>

Screening: Let the River Flow (2023)

In honor of National Sami Day: Screening: Let the River Flow (2023) A young teacher, Ester, hides her Sami identity to avoid being exposed to racism. After finding herself drawn to demonstrations against a big dam development in Alta, a personal journey out of the shame she has carried for so long begins. Saturday, February 14th | 1 PM | Provided by the <a href="https://www.norway.no/en/usa/norway-usa/new-york/">Norwegian Consulate General</a> – Suggested <a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/screening-let-the-river-flow-2023-tickets-1765785274289?aff=oddtdtcreator">donation </a>of $10

Screening: Sentimental Value (2024)

Join us for a special screening of Sentimental Value, a critically acclaimed Norwegian drama from director Joachim Trier (The Worst Person in the World). Selected for Official Competition at the Cannes Film Festival, Sentimental Value explores the complicated emotional terrain of family, memory, and artistic inheritance. The film centers on a fractured family brought back together through the legacy of a long-abandoned family home, where old wounds, unspoken truths, and competing desires surface with both tenderness and sharp insight. With its quiet intensity, nuanced performances, and Trier’s signature blend of intimacy and restraint, Sentimental Value offers a deeply human portrait of love, resentment, and the stories we tell ourselves about the past. This screening is part of SCC&amp;L’s ongoing commitment to showcasing contemporary Nordic cinema and bringing award-recognized international films to our local community. Content note: Adult themes; recommended for mature audiences. Friday, February 13th, 2026 | 7pm | $12; $5 for members | <a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/screening-sentimental-value-2024-tickets-1980202480926?aff=oddtdtcreator">tickets</a> Norwegian with English subtitles | 135 minutes

Oskar Stenmark – in my grandmother’s footsteps

Oskar invites you into a world of music and stories, spanning over decades. Dating back to 1762, Oskar’s family has been active in the traditional folk music scene for a long time. Melodies have been passed onto him from his grandmother, Elsie, who came to the U.S. on a tour with a group of fiddlers back in 1956. 70 years later, join us for an afternoon of music and footage from the tour, mixed with Oskar’s modern approach to folk, jazz and improvisation. Saturday, February 7, 2025 | 1pm | $20; $10 for members of the SCC&amp;L | <a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/oskar-stenmark-in-my-grandmothers-footsteps-tickets-1977947336729?aff=oddtdtcreator">tickets</a>

The Yule Cat Gives Back - A Nordic Holiday Event

The Yule Cat Gives Back: A Nordic Holiday Event This December, the SCC&amp;L welcomes a very special (and slightly mischievous!) holiday guest—the Salem Yule Cat—for a festive afternoon celebrating Icelandic folklore and giving back. The Salem Yule Cat will be visiting Nordic Hall to collect donations for a cat food drive, helping support cats in need this winter. Admission to this event is a donation of cat food or a monetary contribution per person. All donations will benefit local animals and shelters. Saturday, Decmber 13th | 10am-2pm | <a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-yule-cat-gives-back-a-nordic-holiday-event-tickets-1977301959388?aff=oddtdtcreator">let us know you’re coming</a> What to Expect<ul><li>Meet &amp; greet with the Salem Yule Cat</li><li></li><li>Learn about the legend of the Icelandic Yule Cat (Jólakötturinn) </li><li></li><li>Family-friendly fun and photo opportunities</li><li></li><li>Warm holiday vibes in a Nordic setting</li><li></li><li>The chance to do some real winter good</li></ul>About the Icelandic Yule Cat The Jólakötturinn, or Yule Cat, comes from Icelandic folklore and is said to roam the countryside during Christmastime. Long ago, the Yule Cat was known to eat anyone who didn’t receive new clothes for Yule—a tale meant to encourage hard work and kindness during the long winter months. Today, the Yule Cat has become a beloved (and symbolic) figure of generosity, reminding us to care for one another—humans and animals alike. How to Participate<ul><li>Let us know you’re coming </li><li>Bring cat food (dry or wet), or </li><li>Make a monetary donation at the door</li><li>Entry donation requested per person </li></ul>This is a drop-in event—come anytime between 10am and 2pm! Perfect for families, cat lovers, folklore fans, and anyone looking to add a little Nordic magic to the holiday season while supporting a great cause.

S22: conversations

Wondering what to do in Boston? Places to eat? Free activities? Good for a group? Date night spot? Girls night out? The best things to do? Ask Joyraft!

Best places to go in Boston? Things to do? Places to eat?

Questions & answers about things to do in Boston

Recs 💬

Community recs 💬

S4: top picks

The most fun, cool and unique things to do in Boston. Can’t miss events, shows and experiences. Concerts, restaurants, bars, free things in Boston and beyond.

The most fun and cool events happening around Boston

Hot and new things to do in Boston

Hot & new

Hot & new 🔥

S11: happening this weekend

What to do in Boston this weekend? From festivals, concerts, performances, free events, screenings and more, Joyraft has the best things to do in Boston.

25+ things to do in Boston/Cambridge/Somerville this weekend

Things to do in Boston this weekend

This wknd

This weekend for you

S21: roundups

Our top picks: outdoor dining, free events, spring festivals, best bars, upcoming concerts, museum parties - the latest in and around Boston.  Slug: joyraft-top-picks-best-things-to-do-boston-ma

Top picks of the best things to do in and around Boston

Joyraft picks: Boston’s best things to do

Roundups ⭐️

Curated by Joyraft ⭐️

S28: calendar experiences

This week in Boston

This week in Boston 📆

This week 📆

S20: c+d experiences

Discover new, unique events and experiences happening in and around Boston. Perfect for date night, good for a group or with a friend. Be the first to know.

The newest events happening in and around Boston

The newest events on Joyraft

Just added

Just added to Joyraft

S16: editor picks

The most unique and can’t miss things coming up in Boston / Cambridge / Somerville and beyond. Festivals, food, drinks, fairs, concerts, art and free activities.

Unique and Can’t Miss Things to Do in Boston

Can’t-miss things to do in Boston 🚨

Can't-miss things to do 🚨

S2 (A): top experiences

The most popular things to do on Joyraft. Concerts, restaurants, bars, events, parties, openings, kid friendly, date ideas, free things in Boston and beyond.

Top 20 things to do in Boston

Top 20: Joyraft’s most popular

Top 20

Top 20 on Joyraft

S3 (A): trending experiences

Discover can’t miss events and things to do in Boston. The most fun, unique and cool events coming to the Boston area this spring and summer.

The hottest events happening in Boston

Trending events on Joyraft

Trending 📈

S17: interest based

Your guide to everything free in and around Boston. From events, to fairs, to festivals, to outdoors. Joyraft has all the free events happening near you.

100+ free things to do in Boston and beyond

Free things to do in Boston

Free things to do

S19: interest based

Kid-friendly events in Boston

S18: interest based

Where to eat and drink in Boston? Joyraft has Boston’s newest bars, restaurants and specials. Drinks and pre fixe dinner menus. Cambridge & Somerville too.

Where

joyraft.host11722

Experiences

Våffeldagen – Waffle Day

Opening Reception: Animals Amongst Us by Magnus Snorrason

Takeshi Nagayasu presented by the Leroy Anderson Foundation

Nordic Easter Crafts

Nordic Knit & Craft Gathering

Screening: Never Alone

Break Away – A Concert by Analog By Choice

Screening: The Kiss (2022)

Nordic Knit & Craft Gathering

Screening: Lewerentz – Divine Darkness with Director Sven Blume

Screening: The Painter and The Thief (2020)

Screening: Let the River Flow (2023)

Screening: Sentimental Value (2024)

Oskar Stenmark – in my grandmother’s footsteps

The Yule Cat Gives Back - A Nordic Holiday Event