Food+Drink+More: Autumn Festivals in Stockholm
Neelam Varia rounds up some of the best autumn festivals in Stockholm to experience.
Photo by Lola A. Åkerström
Autumn time in Stockholm is just a constant reminder of how quickly we are descending into the winter – though with winter comes Glögg so not all is bad. Despite dropping temperatures, there are always various food/drink festivals going on – and what better way to forget about the looming winter than with plenty of food and drink!
Here are some of the best autumn festivals in Stockholm.
Bergianska Garden Autumn Fest
Learn about the diversity of plants during the Bergianska Garden Autumn Fest on September 1, 2019. The Victoria House offers a tasting of tropical plants like cucumbers and features giant lilies that seem impossibly huge. In the Edvard Anderson’s greenhouse, you can take an evolutionary walk from the origin of plants to present day. Kids ages 10+ can enjoy Plant Bingo as they explore.
For children, Naturens Hus has candy displays. And at the Italian terrace, older children can try tree climbing with the Tree Masters who are knowledgeable arborists.
Date: September 1, 2019
The Victoria House and the Victoria Pond at Bergianska by Eva Dalin
STHLM Street food
Be sure to sample the finest Stockholm’s food trucks have to offer with the 2019 Stockholm Street Food Truck Competition on Friday-Saturday, September 6-7, 2019 in Kungsträgården.
Every year, food trucks in Stockholm gather to compete, amd this year there will be a new Sweet Food Award 2019.
Last year, both Indian Street Food and Heaven Street Food were crowned winners, the trucks opened up for business, and doing so showcased some of the best and most exciting food in Stockholm.
The popularity of this event is clear since all trucks bar one (Heaven Street Food) ran out of ingredients. To sum up, clear skies, amazing street food and great music—we can’t wait for this year’s event.
Dates: September 6-7, 2019
The event is free of charge, so come and shop all of the food trucks.
Photo courtesy of Sthlm Street Food Festival
The Nordic Experience
Throughout autumn, Food Tours Stockholm put on this walking tour, which takes punters through Norrmalm, stopping at 10 different speciality shops and restaurants, who all offer up samples of their goods.
Stops include Fromageriat—the best cheese shop in Sweden, Tennstopet— one of the oldest restaurants in Sweden (here you’ll find traditional Swedish fare i.e. meatballs and lingonberry jam), and Bakery and Spice, where you can get your hands on a traditional Swedish cinnamon bun.
Cinnamon buns called kanelbullar
Apple Days at Djurgården
Only in Sweden will you find a weekend dedicated to apples. Wicanderska Villan’s garden showcases over 200 varieties of apples – both loved and rarer varieties, which are all on offer to taste. Experts are also on hand to help identify apple varieties guests bring with them.
The smell of freshly baked apple pastries fill the air as guests sip on freshly pressed apple juice and kids engage in apple-based games. At the Spirit Museum, there is a cider fair on Sept 29, 2019, as well as a lecture on cider production. Finally, at Oaxen, there’s usually an apple-focused menu and to accompany it, Magnus Ek’s mustard apple drink.
Dates: September 29, 2019
Tasting tickets are 4 for 100 kr.
Stockholm Beer and Whisky Festival
Now in its 27th year, Stockholm Beer and Whisky Festival is a reliably good festival. Because of Swedish alcohol laws, festivals are some of the best, if not the only, way brewers and distillers can get their names out there and Stockholm Beer and Whisky Festival happens to be the biggest and, dare I say it, the best of its kind.
There are usually two halls at the festival—the first sells beer, whisky, cider and calvados, while the second sells wine, champagne, tequila, rum, cognac, spirits and also nibbles. There are also special tasting experiences during which experts impart their knowledge on guests, focusing on specific drinks.
And of course, as is the case every year, there are competitions, with companies battling each other in a whole range of categories such as best Scottish malt whisky over 12 YO and best ale.
Dates: September 26-28 and October 3-5, 2019
Autumn Fair
As you may know, Skansen offers a window into the life of Swedes back in the olden days. Every September (the last weekend of the month), Skansen’s Village Institute throws a country fair, evoking the Michelmas fairs that used to run all over Sweden. As well as crafts and household items, the fair sees trading of vegetables, jams, breads, cheeses, and candies. Traditional Swedish music is performed as fair goers enjoy warm pea soup accompanied with warm schnapps, Swedish potato dumplings and fresh fish from the archipelago.
Dates: September 28-29, 2019
Stockholm Baking & Chocolate Festival
This one’s for the chocolate fans out there, which surely is everyone?
Once a year, The Nordic Museum becomes a chocolate wonderland – not quite Willy Wonka’s factory, but close. Since its inception in 2002, the Stockholm Baking & Chocolate Festival has been bringing the most beautifully sweet, artisan chocolate and baked goods to sweet-toothed fans from both near and far.
As well as sampling the treats from over 90 exhibitors, guests are invited to take part in masterclasses – so you too can perfect those tricky macarons, while the kids tackle marzipan. But if you’d rather just indulge, relax in the drinking area.
Dates: October 11-13, 2019
Be sure to check out Slow Travel Stockholm contributor, Alaine Handa’s book full of delicious recipes, In Search of the Best Swedish Chokladbollar.
