The holiday season kicked into high gear at Eimskip’s second annual Scandinavian Northern Lights Christmas Charity event on Dec. 9 at Ocean Gateway in Portland.

“We do this every year in Iceland,” said Larus Isfeld, managing director of Eimskip USA and the evening’s host. “We bring all of our customers in for a party for charity.”

Guests decked out in their most festive attire were treated to Scandinavian Christmas food prepared by Portland Hunt & Alpine Club, free-flowing spirits and the much-anticipated DJ Hermigervill, who turned the formal cocktail party into a European-style dance club, raising the roof.

Sean Sullivan, executive director of the Maine Brewers Guild, was joined by David Carlson of Marshall Wharf Brewing Co. and Nolan and Molly Stewart of Portland; Lyndsay Kittredge of Cumberland attended with friends Matt and Meghan Bureau of Scarborough and Mason and Rachel Sears of Portland; and couples Danyelle and Ryan Tierney and Kevin and Stephanie Ferrie of Scarborough also enjoyed the festivities.

“I love this event because you get to see everyone you know in one place,” said Gretchen Johnson of Verrill Dana, who attended with her colleague, Sara Vanderwood.

“This is an incredible benefit to us,” said Leah McDonald, director of community partnerships for Rippleffect, the beneficiary of this year’s fundraising event. “We receive 100 percent of the proceeds, and we are so grateful!”

“There is no safer way to introduce your child to a wilderness experience than sending them to Rippleffect,” said Toby Arnold, director of wilderness education at the nonprofit. “Every kid feels safe, heard and welcome to be the person they want to be, and every time a participant returns to the mainland, another ripple has been dropped into the Portland community.”

“We love to be here,” said Isfeld, smiling as he enjoyed the company of his wife, Kristin, and childhood friend, Hallgrimur Fridgeirsson, and his wife, Thorbjorg Arnadottir of Reykjavik, Iceland. “It’s a wonderful community.”

Margaret Logan is a freelance writer who lives in Scarborough. She can be reached at margaret08logan@gmail.com.