Scandinavian summer celebrations: The most comprehensive listing of where you can celebrate a 'Svensk Midsommar' in the United States.
Midsummer is celebrated in Sweden on the Friday (and weekend) closest to June 21, the summer solstice, when the sun doesn't set and people dance with abandon as friends and family gather for this celebration of summer. In the U.S., we celebrate on various dates in June, mimicking the authentic Swedish festivities, flowers, food and fun as much as possible (and we’ve heard reports of some American celebrations being even more Swedish than some in Sweden) - they are all here in our comprehensive listing of Midsommar celebrations throughout Swedish America.
CALIFORNIA
Agoura
06.23, 8:30 AM –6 PM
The Swedish American Central Association Annual Midsummer Festival at Vasa Park. Maypole, dancing, singing, youth activities, Spelmanslag and folk dancing. www.vasapark.org / 562.923.5828
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Alameda
06.15, 10 AM - 2 PM
Midsummer celebration with SWEA San Francisco, wreaths and dancing around the maypole, www.sanfrancisco.swea.org / program@sweasanfrancisco.org
Los Angeles
06.29 5-9 PM
Annual Midsummer Shrimp Feast at Nansen Field in Rolling Hills Estates. Dancing around the maypole and all-you-can-eat you-peel shrimp, RSPV anitabergsten@yahoo.com / 310.831.9936
Morgan Hill
06.22, 10 AM–11 PM
Swedish American Patriotic League 125th Midsummer Celebration at - Sveadal. Maypole, dancing, parade, music and dinner. Tickets and info www.sveadal.org/midsummer
San Diego
06.23
House of Sweden's midsummer celebration, www.houseofsweden.us / houseofswedensandiego@gmail.com
COLORADO
Estes Park
06.22-23, 9:30 AM - 4 PM
Scandinavian Midsummer Festival with with Scandinavian music, folk dancers, Maypole, crafts, Scandinavian market and Viking village, 303.947.7627 / www.estesmidsummer.com
CONNECTICUT
Fairfield
06.22, 12-3 PM
Annual Midsummer Fest at The Scandinavian Club. Maypole, music and dance, www.thescandinavianclub.com / scanclubnews@hotmail.com
South Meriden
06.23 , 11:30 AM
Traditional Swedish Midsommarfest at Vasa Park with Maypole, music, dance, entertainment, games and food. Reservations 203.281.1260 / ppsfualum@gmail.com
FLORIDA
Davie
06.01, 2-7 PM
Sommarfest: Celebration of Sweden's National Day, Midsummer and skolavslutning with a big festival! Tickets: www.svenskakyrkan.se/florida / florida@svenskakyrkan.se
GEORGIA
Gwinnett County
06.22, 11 AM - 5 PM
Midsummer Celebration with Nordic Lodge of Atlanta and local Scandinavian groups: Celebrate with a traditional potluck, singing and dancing around the Maypole. Pavilion No. 1 at Jones Bridge Park, 708. 678.294.6486 / www.vasalodge708.org
ILLINOIS
Bishop Hill
06.22, 11 AM – 7 PM
Midsommar Music Festival. Free concerts in the park, decorate the Maypole, procession to the Colony School. Cool off with fika at the Vasa National Archives. 309.927.3899 / bhha@mymctc.net / www.bishophillheritage.org
Chicago
06.07 – 06.09
Andersonville’s annual summer street festival: dancing, kids’ entertainment, delicious food and ABBA Salute. Swedish American Museum, 773.728.8111 / www.swedishamericanmuseum.org
Chicago
06.07
SACC Chicago Annual Golf Outing with a midsummer buffet. www.sacc-chicago.org
Chicago
06.08
Midsommar with the Swedish American Museum: Traditional Swedish music and dancing around the Maypole! www.swedishamericanmuseum.org / museum@samac.org
Geneva
06.16, 9 AM – 3 PM
Swedish Days, Geneva’s 109th Midsommar Festival. Maypole raising and dancing, Scandinavian food and family fun at Good Templar Park, 630.232.4208 / www.swedishday.net
Geneva
06.18 – 06.23
Geneva Swedish Days Swedish Days is celebrating 70 swede years! Enjoy fabulous food, carnival rides live music & entertainment, plus Sweden Väst for six days. Geneva Chamber of Commerce, 630.232.6060 / www.genevachamber.com
Rockford
06.15, 10 AM - 9 PM
Midsommar Fest 2019: Main Stage entertainment, Viking encampment, vendors, children’s area, Pancake Eating Contest, parade and raising of the Majstång, ABBA Salute Concert at Veterans Memorial Hall, $15. 815.963.5559 / www.swedishhistorical.org
IOWA
Iowa City
06.23, 4-7 PM
Swedish Club Midsommar Fest with Majstång, games and potluck dinner at Willow Creek Park, ww.iowacityswedishclub.com / joannemadsenic@gmail.com
Sioux City
06.08, 12-2 PM
Midsummer: Välkommen! Celebrate an early Midsummer with the Vasa Lodge in Sioux City. 605.253.2575 / ron@dalesburg.org
Swedesburg
06.25, 6:30 PM
Midsummer with the JÄRV quintet from Sweden. The Swedish Heritage Society, 319.254.2317 / swedish@iowatelecom.net
KANSAS
Lindsborg
06.15, 8 AM - 11 PM
Midsummer Festival: Midsommarstång, music, dancing, art, games, Swedish food, folk dancers, kubb tournament and 5K/2 mile walk, 785.227.8687 / www.midsummersfestival.com
MAINE
New Sweden
06.21 – 06.23
New Sweden Historical Society Midsommar Celebration. Maypole, dancing, fun and food, www.facebook.com/NewSwedenHistoricalSociety
MARYLAND
Bethesda
06.29, 3-6 PM
Midsommar Celebration in Carderock Park: Enjoy the potluck (see details online), children’s games, maypole decoration and procession, dancing and live music. adunhem@gmail.com / www.drott-lodge.org
MASSACHUSETTS
Erving
06.23, 2-5 PM
Midsummer Celebration with Maypole, decorations and dancing. Bring flowers and a dish for potluck. VOA Viking Lodge, estherjohnson4@comcast.net
Shrewsbury
06.22, 11 AM - 4 PM
Scandinavian Midsummer Festival at SAC Park, www.facebook.com/SwedishNationalFederationOfWorcester
MICHIGAN
Farmington Hills
6.23, 6 PM
Sons of Norway Midsummer celebration, www.DetroitNorwegians.com
Grand Rapids
06.22, 11 AM – 4 PM
SAHS/WM Swedish Midsummer celebration in Alaska. Dancing around the maypole, music, food, games and more. www.sahswm.org / info@sahswm.org
MINNESOTA
Battle Lake
06.20, 4 PM
Leif Erikson, Sons of Norways Midsommar celebration with music, games and potluck dinner at Glendalough State Park, 218.769.4296
Duluth
06.30, 2-5 PM
Swedish Cultural Society of Duluth’s Midsommar Fest! www.facebook.com/Swedishculturalsociety
Fargo
06.20, 6-8 PM
Midsommar celebration with potluck and dancing around the Maypole. Swedish Cultural Heritage Society of the Red River Valley, valleyinc@msn.com / 701.293.3417
Minneapolis
06.15, 10 AM-5 PM
Midsommar at ASI: Dance around the midsommarstång, Scandinavian folk music, make a midsommarkrans, family activities, crafts and more. 612.871.4907 / www.asimn.org
Minneapolis
06.23, 9 AM – 5 PM
Scandinavian Summer Fest at Minnehaha Falls Park: Music, dancing handicrafts, music and crowning of Miss Svenskarnas Dag. www.facebook.com/SvenskarnasDag
Moorhead
06.21-06.22, 10 AM – 4 PM
Annual Scandinavian Hjemkomst & Midwest Viking Festival at Hjemkomst Center. Dancing, entertainment, food, Viking-age crafts, demonstrations, seminars, children's area. www.NordicCultureClubs.org
Scandia
06.22, 10 AM – 4 PM
Gammelgården's Midsommar Dag: Majstång, Swedish music, dances, flower crowns & smörgåsbord. 651.433.5053 / www.gammelgardenmuseum.org
NEBRASKA
Oakland
06.02
Swedish Heritage festival, www.facebook.com/pages/Swedish-Heritage-Center-Oakland-Nebraska/316494311871854
Omaha
06.23, 11–4 PM
10th Annual Scandinavian Midsummer Festival at Elmwood Park Pavilion. Games, Vikings, Maypole, products and handicrafts, cultural booths, ice cream social. 402.830.6679 / www.omahamidsummer.wordpress.com
Stromsburg
06.14 – 06.15
Midsummer Festival: Maypole, dancing, Swedish food, dancing, crafts, games and entertainment. www.theswedishfestival.com / 402.764.5265
NEW JERSEY
Budd Lake
06.22, 10 AM – 6 PM
Midsummer Celebration: Maypole, folk dancing, musical entertainment, Scandinavian food and children’s activities at Vasa Park, 973.985.8190 / korywarner@gmail.com
NEW YORK
Bronx, Throgs Neck
06.15, 11 AM
79th Annual Sweden Day – Midsommar celebration at Manhem Club. Majstång, Smörgåsbandet, Elsa Rix and more. www.swedendayny.com / SwedenDayNina@outlook.com
Jamestown
06.22
American Scandinavian Heritage Foundation Midsummer celebration at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church: Maypole with folk dancing, music by Svenska Spelman, strawberry cake. www.scandinavianjamestown.org / 716.665.5046
Manhattan
06.21 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Swedish Midsummer Festival in Battery Park. Swedish delicacies, traditional music, folk dancing, decorating the Maypole and wreath making. www.bpcparks.org / www.swedenabroad.com
NORTH DAKOTA
Fargo
06.20, 6-8 PM
Midsommar Celebration: Potluck supper and dancing around the Maypole. Swedish Cultural Heritage Society of the Red River Valley, 701.293.3417 / valleyinc@msn.com
OHIO
Cortland
06.21-06.23
Ohio Viking Festival & Midsummer: Come for great entertainment, food, torch lighting ceremony and more. www.vikingfestohio.com
Lewis Center
06.29
Scandinavian Club of Columbus Nordic Midsummer Celebration at Alum Creek. www.scandiclub.com / ScandiClubInfo@gmail.com
OREGON
Astoria
06.21-06.23
Scandinavian Midsummer Festival: Music, dance and theater groups, handicrafts, Scandinavian import items and food. Astoria Scandinavian Heritage Association, 503.791.9156 / www.astoriascanfest.org
Portland
06.08, 11 AM – 6 PM
Portland Midsummer Festival at Oaks Park. Maypole, flower wreath making, food, music, dancing and children’s activities. www.nordicnorthwest.org / 503.977.0275
PENNSYLVANIA
Philadelphia
06.22, 4-7 PM
Annual Midsommarfest: Maypole dancing, food, drinks, music, crafts and games for kids. American Swedish Historical Museum, www.americanswedish.org / 215.389.1776
RHODE ISLAND
Foster
06.22, 12-6 PM
Mid Summer Celebration at Little Rhody Vasa Park. Dancing around the Maypole, children's games & smörgåsbord. RSVP to Pioneer Lodge 401.529.8119
SOUTH DAKOTA
Dalesburg
06.21, 1-8 PM
Dalesburg Midsummer Festival: A celebration of Scandinavian and rural heritage. Smörgåsbord, children's activities, crafts, Midsummer pole. 605.253.2575/ www.dalesburg.org
TEXAS
Dallas
06.22, 5-9 PM
SWEA Dallas Midsummer Celebration at Shawnee Park. Dancing around the Maypole; bring your own picnic. www.dallas.swea.org / sweadallas.program@gmail.com
UTAH
Salt Lake City
06.22, 3-8 PM
Midsommar Fest: Music, dancing, maypole and smörgåsbord with Swedish Heritage Society of Utah. www.swedishheritagesociety.com / swedishheritage2@aol.com
VERMONT
Landgrove
06.23, 2 PM
Nordic Harmoni’s annual Midsummer Festival at the Landgrove Inn. Wreath making, decorating of Maypole, songs by the chorus. vartland@comcast.net / 802.824.6578
WASHINGTON
Bellevue
06.16, 9 AM– 8 PM
Midsummer Festival with Swedish music, dancing and old fashioned recreation, Swedish food at Vasa Park resort. Free, www.vasaparkresort.com / 425.746.3260
Kenmore
06.30, 11 AM– 6 PM
Skandia Midsommarfest at Saint Edward State Park: Majstång, dancing, music, food, kids activities. Skandia Folkdance Society, www.skandia-folkdance.org / publicity@skandia-folkdance.org
Seattle
06.21, 4-10 PM
Midsommar: Dancing 'round the Midsommar pole and a traditional smörgåsbord at 6 p.m. (rsvp@swedishclubnw.org or 206.283.1090) Music by Skandia Kapell at 7:30 p.m. Swedish Club Seattle, www.swedishclubnw.org
WASHINGTON, DC
Bethesda - Carderock Park MD
06.29 3:00 – 6:00 PM
Midsummer Celebration hosted by Drott Lodge and ASA. Maypole, dancing, activities and Potluck dinner dancing and live music. For more info www.scandinavian-dc.org/events/
WISCONSIN
Amery
06.29, 5-9 PM
Midsommar with Amery Swedish Club at DD Kennedy Park. Music and dancing around the midsommar stång. www.foreverswedish.net / ristarbuck@centurytel.net
Milwaukee / Glendale
06.23, 1 - 4 PM
Midsummer: Dancing around the Maypole, wreath making, dancers, kubb, games and music. Food available for purchase. Swedish American Historical Society of Wisconsin, 262.781.6113 / www.sahswi.org