Midsummer in Stockholm
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 (majstång) decorated with flowers and greens singing traditional Swedish folk songs.
Along with dancing and singing, locals also dig into hearty smörgåsbord which include various flavors of pickled herring (sill), gravad lax (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 By, Kista
Älta Gård, Nacka
Björklunds hage, Norra Ängby, Bromma
Borgmästarängen, Sigtuna
Bruket, Järfälla
Dansbanan, Årsta Havsbad, Haninge
Dansbanan, Årsta Havsbad, Haninge
Djursholms Slottspark, Djursholm
Domarudden, Åkersberga
Ekebyhovs Slottpark, Ekerö
Färingsö Hembygdsgård, Ölstavägen 27, Färentuna
Farsta Gård
Gålö Havsbad
Grödinge Bygdegård, Botkyrka
Höglundaängarna, Jordbro, Haninge
Jakobsbergs Gård, Bredäng
Jakobsbergs Gård, Odd Fellowvägen 18-22, Bredäng
Kvarnparken, Danderyd
Lägret, Waxholm
Lekparken, Råbergsvallen, Rosersberg
Lunda, Märsta
Överjärva Gård, Ulriksdalsfältet, Solna
På ängen bredvid Ica i Djurö by
Sätunaparken, Märsta
Schweizerparken, Dalarö
Sjöängen, Trångsund
Sjödalsparken, Huddinge
Skälby Gård, Skälby gårds väg 20 vid dansbanan, Järfälla
Skälbyparken, Järfälla
Solsäter, Långsjövägen 63, Trollbäcken
Spånga Kyrka, Spånga
Stora Nyckelviken, Nacka
Tempeludden, Riddersvik, Hässelby Villastad
Trädgårdstorp, Tullinge
Tyresö Slott, Slottsparken
Tyresta By, bakom Dahlgrensgården, Vendelsö
Värmdö bygdegård, Värmdö
Vidbo, Märsta
Vitabergsparken, Södermalm
Additional Midsummer Concerts/Events
Midsommarkonsert: Jazz och folkliga koraler—Brännkyrka kyrka, Götalandsvägen 193, 125 35 Älvsjö
