Sweden — Events
Walpurgis Night
Similar to Halloween in other western countries, Walpurgis Night (also called Valborg) is a festival historically associated with witches and goblins, along with a more modern reputation as a celebration of spring. Huge bonfires are erected throughout Sweden; however Uppsala has the biggest party, when students at Uppsala University construct humorously-decorated rafts to ride through town on the Fyris River, and hold Champagne Races. Others celebrate the holiday more sedately, with strawberry and champagne picnics or barbecues in the parks.
Stockholm Jazz Festival
After more than 20 years the Stockholm Jazz Festival has earned a reputation for becoming one of the biggest and best events of its kind in Europe. Top international and local jazz, blues, soul, funk and Latin stars perform over the five-day festival on the island of Skeppsholmen.
Midsummers Eve
Sweden’s most beloved of festivals, Midsummer’s Eve is a national holiday celebrated around the country with great gusto. In Stockholm, thousands enjoy the festivities laid on at the Skansen open-air museum, which center around the raising of a garlanded maypole. Dancing and singing around the maypole is spurred on by the consumption of plenty of schnapps and beer. The festival has its roots in ancient pagan fertility rituals but for modern Swedes it is an excuse to enjoy a wild party as they emerge from the long, dark winter.
Stockholm Pride
The largest Pride celebration in Scandinavia is the week-long rainbow carnival that turns Stockholm into a free zone for the gay and lesbian community. The action is centerd on the largest island, Södermalm, where the Pride Park arena is set up at Tantolunden featuring a stage, restaurants, shops and varied attractions. Highlight of the festival week is the spectacular, colorful parade through the city starting at 3pm on the Saturday.
Polar Music Prize Days
Each year the world’s most prestigious music award is made in Stockholm, preceded by several days of activities such as live performances, workshops, seminars, film shows and exhibitions at various locations around the city. The city comes alive with the celebration of music in this event founded in 1989 by the late Stig Anderson, manager of Scandinavian supergroup, ABBA. The prize is administered by the Royal Swedish Academy of Music and has been won over the years by the likes of Sir Paul McCartney, Bruce Springsteen, Ray Charles, Bob Dylan and B.B. King.
Skansen Christmas Market
The ideal place to do your Christmas shopping and imbibe some true traditional Scandinavian Christmas spirit is the huge Skansen Christmas market, which draws about 25,000 visitors every weekend in the run-up to the festive season. The historic houses and homesteads that make up the outdoor museum radiate music and warmth while revelers admire craft products, sample the traditional Swedish Christmas brew called ‘glõgg’, and dance around the Christmas tree. Shops and stores are packed with gift ideas, ornaments, tempting sweets and Christmas fare.
Nobel Prize Day
Although it is not open to the general public, Nobel Prize Day in Stockholm has the eyes of the world on this northern city when the highly prestigious awards for medicine, literature, physics, chemistry and economics (the coveted Peace Prize is presented in Oslo, Norway) are presented each year by the King at the Stockholm Concert Hall, followed by the lavish Nobel Prize Banquet at the City Hall.
