Learn all about Midsummer in Stockholm in less than four minutes.
All photos by author
[Editor’s Note – This post will be updated every year to reflect current Midsummer celebrations – Last updated June 17, 2019]
No other celebration brings otherwise reserved Swedes out of their shells more than the summer solstice festival of Midsummer.
While its roots are traditionally pagan, Midsummer is celebrated by all classes of society and you’ll find people wearing handmade wildflower wreaths on their heads as they dance and hop around the maypole (maypole) decorated with flowers and greens singing traditional Swedish folk songs.
Along with dancing and singing, locals also dig into hearty smorgasbord which includes various flavors of pickled herring (herring), graved salmon (cured salmon), yellow almond-shaped potatoes, and a wide range of alcoholic snaps and aquavits to loosen up the nerves and get people into celebratory spirits.
The video below – Swedish Midsummer for Dummies – produced by Sweden.se humorously guides you through a typical Swedish Midsummer celebration in a nutshell.
Swedish Midsummer for Dummies from Sweden on Vimeo.
Ready to celebrate?
If you find yourself in Stockholm during Midsummer, head over to Skansen on Djurgården for the city’s most popular venue.
Other venues include Vasaparken, Tantolunden, Farsta Gård as well as the listing below provided by Gratis i Stockholm.
Adolfs Torg, Sandhamn
Akalla Village, Kista
Älta Gård, Necka
Björklund’s pasture, Norra Ängby, Bromma
Borgmästarängen, Sigtuna
The mill, Järfälla
Dance track, Årsta Havsbad, Haninge
Dance track, Årsta Havsbad, Haninge
Djursholm Castle Park, Djursholm
Domarudden, Åkersberga
Ekebyhov’s Castle Park, Ekerö
Färingsö Hembygdsgård, Ölstavägen 27, Färentuna
Farsta Gård
Gålö Sea Bath
Grödinge Bygdegård, Botkyrka
Höglundaängarna, Jordbro, Haninge
Jakobsberg Farm, Bredäng
Jakobsbergs Gård, Odd Fellowvägen 18-22, Bredäng
Kvarnparken, Danderyd
The camp, Waxholm
Lekparken, Råbergsvallen, Rosersberg
Lunda, Märsta
Överjärva Gård, Ulriksdalsfältet, Solna
In the meadow next to Ica in Djurö village
Sätunaparken, Märsta
Schweizerparken, Dalarö
Sjöängen, Trångsund
Sjödalsparken, Huddinge
Skälby Gård, Skälby gårds väg 20 by the dance floor, Järfälla
Skälbyparken, Järfälla
Solsäter, Långsjövägen 63, Trollbäcken
Spånga Church, Spånga
Stora Nyckelviken, Necka
Tempeludden, Riddersvik, Hässelby Villastad
Trädgårdstorp, Tullinge
Tyresö Castle, Castle Park
Tyresta Village, behind Dahlgrensgården, Vendelsö
Värmdö township, Värmdö
Vidbo, Märsta
Vitabergsparken, Södermalm
Additional Midsummer Concerts/Events
Midsummer concert: Jazz and folk chorales—Brännkyrka church, Götalandsvägen 193, 125 35 Älvsjö
Midsummer at Brännkyrka church—Brännkyrka church, Götalandsvägen 193, 125 35 Älvsjö
Music service in midsummer time—Sofia church, Klefbecks backe 1 (June 22, 2019)
