Traditional Swedish Midsummer Celebration in New York City

On the Friday closest to the actual summer solstice, Swedes celebrate Midsummer's Eve, rejoicing in the light of the sun and the arrival of summer with traditional midsummer festivities throughout the weekend. This major holiday is usually celebrated in the heart of nature, as Swedes head out to the countryside to enjoy food, drink, games, dancing and general revelry.

This year Midsummer's Eve falls on June 23 and the holiday will be celebrated in Battery Park City in lower Manhattan, as families and children of all ages help decorate the midsummer pole, make flower wreaths, play traditional games, and dance to the authentic fiddle music of Äkta Spelmän led by Paul Dahlin.  The folk dancing will be led by Jeanne Eriksson Widman.  A number of food stands will offer traditional delicacies from New York's finest Swedish restaurants.

A welcoming speech will be held by H.E. Mr. Jan Eliasson, Foreign Minister of Sweden and President of the General Assembly of the United Nations.

Swedish Midsummer Celebration
Robert F. Wagner, Jr. Park
Battery Park City
New York, NY
Friday, June 23, 2006
5-8 pm

> Get maps and directions to Wagner Park

The Swedish Midsummer Festival is presented by Battery Park City Parks Conservancy and co-sponsored by the Consulate General of Sweden in New York and the following contributors:

Ambassador and Mrs. Lyndon L. Olson Jr.
Handelsbanken
H&M
Investor AB
Nordea
Nordic Reach Magazine
SEB
Skanska
SwedBank
Swedish Match North America
The Heimbold Foundation
Volvo Group North America, Inc.

NOTE: The Consulate General of Sweden in New York does not organize or sponsor any midsummer event other than the celebration in Battery Park City.

Photo: Fredrik Sweger / Lou B.
© Fredrik Sweger / Swedish Institute