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Midsommarfest

Midsommar98

CELEBRATING MIDSOMMARFEST
IN THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST

SKANDIA FOLKDANCE SOCIETY
PRESENTS
MIDSOMMARFEST 2009

Sunday, June 28th
11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
St. Edward State Park
 Kenmore, Washington
parks

Midsommarfest, as presented by Skandia Folkdance Society, is a traditional Swedish celebration of the summer solstice, recreated in as authentic a manner as possible, complete with the 2:30 p.m. raising of a garlanded Midsommar pole, a serpentine dance around the pole, and hundreds of costumed musicians and dancers - traditions practiced in Sweden for centuries. Over the years since the 1959 inception of Skandia Midsommarfest, the festival has expand to include contributions from all the Nordic and Baltic countries so that the rich cultural diversity of all those lands can be experienced by Skandia Midsommarfest attendees.

Midsommarfest showcases a wealth of wonderful music and dancing by the Northwest's premier Nordic folk musicians and dancers (and this area boasts some of the best in the Western Hemisphere).

Allspel time is 3:20 pm, immediately following the ceremonies at the pole.

A special focus of Midsommarfest is the Hemslöjdsmarknad - an avenue of traditional crafts where carefully selected crafts people demonstrate their skills and sell their wares. Traditional midsommar food and other Scandinavian delicacies will be offered. And a flower crown -- the classic midsommarkrans -- ready to decorate to your own taste, will add the finishing touch to your midsommar celebration.


Midsommarfest activities, including music, dancing, food and crafts, all begin a 11:00 a.m. The grand parade and raising of the majstång (garlanded midsommar pole) are at 2:30 p.m. Spectators are invited to help hoist the 55-foot pole with their muscles or cheers, and then to join in the rousing långdans (serpentine running dance) around the pole, accompanied by the stirring music of massed musicians. Participation dancing follows on the main stage while entertainment, food, crafts activities and good times continue throughout the park grounds.

 


2009 Midsommarfest Admission Fees:
Entry to Midsommarfest FREE
Parking FREE

2009 Skandia Midsommarfest Program

2009 Skandia Midsommarfest Flyer

2009 Skandia Midsommarfest Flyettes

Looking for advice from the all wise Midsommar Guru?

2009 Skandia Midsommarfest Allspel Tunes

Midsommarfest vendor information and application
Vendor questions, Email: vendors@skandia-folkdance.org

2009 Midsommarfest park layout

Words and music for the Midsommarfest ringlekar

Directions to St. Edward State Park

Top ten ways to have the most fun at Midsommarfest

  • 10. Arrive early to make sure you can take advantage of the free parking on the grass. Carpool if at all possible so more people have a chance to attend. Unfortunately, once all the parking is full, the rangers will stop letting any more cars into the park.
     
  • 9. Wear a folk costume—regardless of whether or not you're in a performing group. Why? Because then you qualify to follow the garland in the Grand Midsommar Procession.
     
  • 8. Bring along whatever you might need to deal with Mother Nature—ideally, sunscreen to avoid getting burned or an umbrella as a back-up sunshade. (If Mother Nature decides to misbehave, there will be ponchos available for sale at the Skandia booth.)
     
  • 7. Bring a blanket, lawn chair, or whatever will allow you to be comfortable watching performances—and especially, the Pole Raising! By the way, Skandia is also renting chairs from the park to provide extra seating.
     
  • 6. Bring your camera to take advantage of a photo op with the signpost, or perhaps the trolls, the dancers, or...
     
  • 5. See what all the vendors have to offer so you don't miss that special item you might want.
     
  • 4. Volunteer to help in whatever way you can—the week before cutting greens and ivy, Saturday doing set up, Sunday morning final set up, Sunday during the event, clean up Sunday evening, and/or hauling everything out of the park on Monday. It would be great if you could sign up in advance by sending an email to volunteer@skandia-folkdance.org or calling Elaine Everitt at 206-915-9606. Remember there's a dance at the park on Saturday evening from 7:30-9:30 (also free) with wonderful live music provided by Mäd Fiddlu and Einar Eimhjellen with Nordic Spirit.
     
  • 3. Make a contribution to help cover expenses and keep the festival free in the future. A contribution of $2 (or more) will get you a special 50th Midsommarfest Button—that is until they're sold out. Being conscientious about expenses, only 1,000 were made and over 150 have already been sold. If you want one, get yours early in the day.
     
  • 2. Stop by the Skandia Booth to buy a ticket for a flower crown before you head over to the Kukka Kioski to either make your own or buy one.
     
  • 1. Most important, you just have to be there to take it all in—from the wonderful performances starting at 11:00 in the morning, to the Kids' Pole Raising at 1:30, to the Main Event from 2:30-3:30, to the participatory dancing and more performances in the afternoon, to watching kids (of all ages) enjoy all activities in the Kids' Area, to taking the pole down and enjoying the camaraderie of clean up at the end.
     

    • —Elaine Everitt
    Reprinted from the Skandia NewsLetter, July 2008