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Ten great don’t-miss events in Sweden this spring

Still cold where you are? All the more the reason to start planning the upcoming spring. We have picked ten events all around Sweden between March and May you should not miss.

Published: 2 March 2017 09:40 CET
Ten great don't-miss events in Sweden this spring
A Walpurgis bonfire on the Riddarholmen island in Stockholm. Photo: Johan Nilsson/TT

1. Mamma Mia! The Party

What better way to start the happiest season of the year than joining a phenomenal event based on the Abba experience? After the musical and the movie, there's now Mamma Mia! The Party. Come to the Greek tavern venue at “Tyrol”, eat and drink, and then enjoy music and dance like you've never danced before.

When: All through spring

Where: Tyrol, Djurgården, Stockholm

Tickets: 1340-1535 kronor


Abba music and party, what else do you need? Photo: Claudio Bresciani/TT

2. Walpurgis Night at Skansen

All over Sweden people celebrate on the night before May 1st to welcome the spring. Bonfires are lit in practically every town across the country, but one of the most spectacular venues to join this celebration is the outdoor museum Skansen in Stockholm, with a stunning view over the capital. The highlight is fireworks that will make the night unforgettable. There is usually a bonfire on the Riddarholmen island as well, which also has great views of the city. For even more eventful celebrations, try university towns Lund or Uppsala.

When: Sunday, April 30th

Where: Skansen, Stockholm

Tickets: Entry fee to Skansen


A magnificient bonfire in front of Stockholm scenery. Photo: Sven Nackstrand/TT

3. Umeå Open

You don't have to go to Stockholm to enjoy spring in Sweden. Northern city Umeå is putting on this music festival at the end of March. Enjoy three days of high quality rock and pop music by leading Swedish and international artists. Multiple stages and open venues turn the city centre into the place to be.

When: Thursday, March 30th – Saturday, April 1st

Where: City centre, Umeå

Tickets: 395 kronor for youths (13-17), 595 kronor for adults


Enjoy music in Umeå. Photo: Rodrigo RIvas Ruiz/imagebank.sweden.se

4. Toughest Malmö

Toughest was Sweden’s first great obstacle race in 2013 and now hosts events in five countries. In May it will return to its birthplace, Malmö, with a main run on Saturday and a family run on Sunday. Think you're tough enough?

When: Saturday, May 6th – Sunday, May 7th

Where: Ribersborgsstranden, Malmö

Tickets: 795 kronor for the Saturday run, 349 kronor for the family run


Are you tough enough to beat the water? Photo: Johan Nilsson/TT

5. Art Walk in Majorna

Gothenburg is offering a special treat for all fans of culture and arts. Start with a group exhibition at Röda Sten Konsthall where you can take a look at various pieces of art and pick your favorite artist. Then you can visit their open studios all around the Majorna district, a 'hipster' area featured in this article by The Local. Meet the artists in person and get some insights into visual arts, the making of sculptures and much more.

When: Friday, April 21st – Sunday, April 23rd

Where: Majorna district, Gothenburg


The Röda Sten Konsthall is known for its art exhibitions. Photo: Konstrundan i Majorna GBG

6. GöteborgsVarvet Half Marathon

Think you're fit for spring? Then put on your running shoes and attend the world's largest half marathon. If you don't think you are able to run the 21km and a bit with 64,000 other registered runners, then join over 200,000 supporters along the race course.

When: Saturday, May 20th

Where: All around Gothenburg


Ready to run into the spring? Photo: Adam Ihse/TT

7. The International Science Festival

Science festival? OK, maybe this doesn't sound like a don’t-miss event for everybody, but wait: this festival makes not only makes science accessible, but also exciting. At over 30 locations around Gothenburg you can visit workshops, exhibitions and enjoy music and theatre. Join over 70,000 visitors at one of Europe's leading popular science events between May 10th and May 14th.

When: Wednesday, May 10th – Sunday, May 14th

Where: City centre, Gothenburg


Around 70,000 people visit the the International Science Festival each year. Photo: Vetenskaps Festivalen

8. Melodifestivalen 2017

Who will represent Sweden in this year's Eurovision Song Contest? See the Melodifestivalen's semi-finals in Linköping and finals in Stockholm live, and be there when people all around Sweden decide which act will go to Kiev. A must for every Eurovision fan. You can either attend the televised semi-finals or the rehearsals.

When: Friday, March 3rd – Saturday, March 4th, and Friday, March 10th – Saturday, March 11th

Where: Saab Arena, Linköping; Friends Arena Stockholm

Tickets: from 375-1195 kronor


Melodifestivalen, a Swedish cult. Photo: Fredrik Sandberg/TT

9. Kiruna icefishing tournament

April, and you're already missing the snow and cold? Then we have a special tip for you. Visit the yearly icefishing tournament on Lake Luossajärvi in central Kiruna. If you need a break from blossoming flowers and rising temperatures, this event will give you the cold excitement you are craving.

When: Sunday, April 9th

Where: Lake Luossajärvi, Kiruna


If a warm spring is not your thing: go ice fishing! Photo: Tore Meek/TT

10. Actionrun

Talking of excitement: the Actionrun in the city centre of Örebro will make your adrenaline levels peak. Attend either as a participant or as a cheering spectator for this 7km run with 30 obstacles. A good reason to get outside after the long and dark winter in Sweden.

When: Saturday, April 29th

Where: City centre, Örebro


Probably the only obstacle you won't have to conquer in the race: Örebro Castle. Photo: Fredrik Sandberg/TT

READER INSIGHTS

‘Benny is always very kind’: Foreigners’ top encounters with Swedish celebrities

We asked The Local's readers to tell us of a time they met a Swedish celebrity. Here are their best stories.

Published: 16 April 2024 11:10 CEST
Updated: 16 April 2024 14:27 CEST
'Benny is always very kind': Foreigners' top encounters with Swedish celebrities

Some readers shared stories of encounters with Swedes who are also global stars, such as Abba or the King and Queen of Sweden, others spoke of meeting national celebrities who had helped them get to know their new home country.

Anne Foo from Malaysia is a fan of the Sällskapsresan movies by Lasse Åberg, who plays the kind but hapless Stig Helmer.

“It was one of the first Swedish films I watched when I first moved to Sweden that I could understand without needing to be fluent. It helped me understand the Swedish psyche and their humour and Swedish people in general,” she said.

Multi-talented artist Åberg is also known for his sketches of Mickey Mouse, as well as Trazan & Banarne, one of Sweden’s most famous children’s shows, and his band Electric Banana Band. Anne met him when she visited his museum, Åbergs Museum, outside of Stockholm.

“We were not expecting to see him there but we kind of heard he pops by the museum often to help out. We bought tickets for the guided tour and lucky us the guide fell sick (sorry guide!) and Lasse, who happened to pop by just then, took over and gave us a personal guided tour of his museum. He is just as he was as Stig Helmer. Has a down-to-earth humour, very intelligent and humble.”

Another reader, Doug, met Swedish singer Lisa Nilsson when she was performing the lead role in the musical Next to Normal at Stockholm’s Stadsteater, a performance she got rave reviews for.

“I have loved Lisa Nilsson for years, ever since Himlen runt hörnet was required listening in my Swedish class,” he wrote on The Local’s Facebook page.

“After the performance I waited by the stage door to see if I could meet her. Many people came out, but not her – until finally she exited, alone. I approached her and she was not just gracious – she seemed genuinely excited to meet an American fan. We stood (in the rain, no less) and spoke for a while. I came away feeling that my adoration was well-placed: talented, beautiful, and so down to earth. A wonderful entertainer and an extraordinary human being.”

Some readers also shared pictures of themselves running into a Swedish celebrity.

Benjamin Dyke met football coach Sven-Göran Eriksson in Torsby, where Eriksson grew up, at the opening ceremony of the Svennis Cup, a youth football competition held every year in his honour.

Eriksson, more known by his nickname Svennis in Sweden, during his long career coached teams such as Lazio in Italy and brought England, as coach, to the quarter-finals of the 2002 and 2006 World Cups. Earlier this year he disclosed he had been diagnosed with fatal pancreatic cancer.

Dyke’s encounter with Eriksson happened a few years ago, and he walked up to the Swede to thank him for his time as England manager and the two chatted for a while about that.

“He asked where I came from in England and I answered that all my family come from Liverpool. His eyes lit up (I now know he supported Liverpool all his life, as did his dad) but when I explained that I was an Everton fan (the other Liverpool team…) he quickly shut down the conversation and walked away,” said Dyke.

Sven-Göran Eriksson, left, and Benjamin Dyke in 2018. Photo: Private

Readers also shared their stories on The Local’s Facebook page. Lindelwa posted a picture of her chance meeting with Swedish Melodifestivalen winner John Lundvik at Stockholm’s Arlanda Airport, although she revealed they did not share a flight.

Lundvik represented Sweden in the 2019 Eurovision Song Contest with the song Too Late for Love (and co-wrote the UK’s entry, Bigger than Us, the same year), with which he came in fifth.

Lindelwa and John Lundvik. Photo: Private

Gerard met Abba legend Benny Andersson outside his studio in Stockholm.

“I had never seen Benny’s studio so I went to take a look with the ferry from Djurgården to Skeppsholmen. I was told that Benny was in so I waited for a little while and he came out to meet a few fans,” he said, revealing that it was in fact not the first time he ran into Andersson, a composer also known for co-writing hit musicals such as Chess and Kristina from Duvemåla.

“He’s always very kind and patient. I had met him before, last time in 2010 in London for the concert of Kristina at the Royal Albert Hall. Next stop will be May 27th, the second anniversary of Abba Voyage in London where Benny and Björn will do a Q&A before the show.”

Gerard and Benny Andersson back in 2010. Photo: Private

Several other readers also said they had met members of Abba.

“I was a child visiting my relatives in Sweden the year Voulez-Vous was released. My aunt took me to NK [Stockholm mall] to buy the LP. On our way back to her apartment, she spotted Frida on Hamngatan. My aunt was amazing at celeb-spotting, and she was usually very discreet, but in this case she insisted I go up and say hello! Frida was happy to autograph the album for a young fan; it’s still one of my prized possessions today,” said Sue Trowbridge.

Of course, it’s not always easy to recognise celebrities. You might spot a familiar face but not be able to place it, as happened to Linda on two separate occasions when she ran into a Swedish acting star and a member of the Nobel Prize-awarding Swedish Academy.

“I accidentally stared at Pernilla August in a local food shop. She looked familiar but I couldn’t recognise her. She stared back and I suddenly came to my senses and looked another way. Embarrassed. I’ve also stared at Horace Engdahl,” she said.

In The Local’s original survey call-out, we also included a story from Australian reader Jake Farrugia, who was on his lunch break in NK when he spotted a familiar face, Sweden’s Crown Princess Victoria. He walked up to her to ask for a selfie.

“She was very nice and we shared some small talk which truly made me feel like we were on the same level and that she had a strong sense of humanity, as I stood there, butchering her native language with my ‘work in progress’ level of Swedish. I can see why the Swedish people have a deep love and respect for her,” Farrugia said.

“It’s a very un-Swedish thing to do, that’s why I think it’s so fun! All of my encounters with celebrities in Sweden have been very positive so far. It’s all in the approach, you have to be respectful and be OK with others not wanting to give you their time of day, since we all have days where we are feeling less social and those can easily be interpreted as a part of our character, but they rarely are a fair representation.

“If I were to be a celebrity, Sweden would be the place to best blend in. It seems like celebrities can live a somewhat normal life as the construct of ‘celebrity’ isn’t viewed as a thing people go hysteric for as is the case in many other countries.”

The Local’s reader Jake Farrugia snapped this selfie with Sweden’s Crown Princess Victoria. Photo: Private
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