Sweden - Becky Ohlsen [4]
MUSIC VID SILJAN early Jul
A midsummer music festival (www.musikvidsiljan.se), it takes place in the towns around Lake Siljan, and includes chamber, jazz and folk music; local tourist offices will have up-to-date schedules.
ARVIKA FESTIVALS mid-Jul
This large annual three-day summer rock festival (www.arvikafestivalen.se, in Swedish) is held in western Värmland near Glafsfjorden, and features mostly Scandinavian rock bands.
FALUN FOLKMUSIK FESTIVAL mid-Jul
Falun has a popular folk and world-music festival (www.falufolk.com), but funding has been troublesome in recent years and the festival’s future is uncertain; check online for the latest news.
RÄTTVIK FOLKLORE FESTIVAL late Jul
An annual celebration of international folk dance (www.folklore.se) on the shores of Lake Siljan.
CLASSIC CAR WEEK late Jul-early Aug
Rättvik hosts this gathering of motorheads and the objects of their devotion (www.classiccarweek.com, in Swedish); there are monster truck battles, drive-in movies, laid-back cruising and lots of chrome.
STORSJÖYRAN late Jul-early Aug
Östersjön hosts this annual three-day music festival (www.storsjoyran.se), which features international artists and crowds of up to 55,000 people.
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AUGUST
MEDIEVAL WEEK, VISBY early Aug
Find yourself an actual knight in shining armour at this immensely popular annual fest (www.medel tidsveckan.se), which puts Gotland’s medieval city to great use with a market, games, costumes and a huge banquet.
DALHALLA early Aug
The stunning Dalhalla venue in Rättvik hosts an opera festival (www.dalhalla.se), with the awesome acoustics of the venue allowing for mostly unamplified performances.
STOCKHOLM PRIDE 1st week in Aug
This annual parade and festival (www.stockholm pride.org/en/) is dedicated to creating an atmosphere of freedom and support for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people.
WAY OUT WEST mid-Aug
Göteborg hosts this music fest (www.wayoutwest.se) that features the likes of Broder Daniel, Sigur Rós, Grinderman and Franz Ferdinand.
TJEJMILEN 31 Aug
Sweden’s biggest sporting event for women (www.tjejmilen.se) features 24,000 runners of all ages in a race that begins from Gärdet in Stockholm.
KRÄFTSKIVOR (CRAYFISH PARTIES) late Aug
Swedes celebrate the end of summer by wearing bibs and party hats while eating lots of crayfish and drinking snaps (usually aquavit). In the north similar parties take place but with surströmming (strong-smelling fermented Baltic herring), while in the south similar gatherings in September feast on eels and snaps.
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SEPTEMBER
GÖTEBORG INTERNATIONAL BOOK FAIR late Sep
Scandinavia’s biggest book fair, this event (www.bok-bibliotek.se) brings together authors, readers, publishers, agents, teachers, librarians and the media.
ÖLAND’S HARVEST FESTIVAL late Sep
This celebration of the local harvest (www.skordefest.nu) takes place each autumn in Borgholm, Öland.
LIDINGÖLOPPET late Sep
Enshrined in the Guinness World Records as the world’s largest terrain race, this annual event (www.lidingoloppet.se) takes place on Lidingö, just northeast of Stockholm.
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OCTOBER
STOCKHOLM OPEN early Oct
A huge event among the international tennis crowd, this annual tournament (www.ifstockholmopen.se) draws its share of top-100 male players from all over the world.
HOME: INTERIOR DESIGN FAIR early Oct
‘Hem’ in Swedish, this is the country’s largest interior decor and design fair, drawing more than 60,000 visitors eager to check out new furniture trends, textiles, lighting schemes, and arts and crafts. The event (www.hemmassan.se), held in Stockholm, includes displays, lectures and of course shopping.
UPPSALA SHORT FILM FESTIVAL late Oct
Approaching its 30th anniversary, this annual film festival (www.shortfilmfestival.com) screens more than 300 short films at four cinemas in central Uppsala.