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What is midsummer?
Scandinavians celebrate the summer solstice, the longest day of the year, with a festival of light, flowers, food, and music. The summer solstice celebration has its roots in pre-Christian practices and is a day when the spirits of nature join the human community to rejoice in the long days of summer. Midsummer was originally a fertility festival with many customs and rituals associated with nature and with the hope for a good harvest in autumn. People gather to sing and dance around the festive maypole, women wear flower wreaths on their heads, and some people dress in traditional folk costume. It is a time to escape to the country to spend a relaxing time in nature - a time to connect with friends and family and exuberantly honor the joys of life. |
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When is midsummer?
While the traditional day for Midsummer is June 21, the summer solstice,
Estes Park will hold its celebration on the weekend of June 27 and June 28.
Events will run from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM each day. Admission is
free.
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Where is midsummer?
The Festival takes place in Bond Park, in downtown Estes Park at the
intersection of Elkhorn (the main street) and MacGregor Ave.
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What to expect?
This is a wonderful family event with something to interest people of every age. Entertainment runs continuously throughout the day, with dancing by various folk groups and live Scandinavian music performances. There will be opportunities to join in and and dance along. You'll find Scandinavian food and craft vendors, a Viking encampment, a silent auction, and a raffle booth to win two round-trip tickets to Scandinavia, donated by Icelandair . |
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Lindsborg Swedish Folkdanslag
One of the long-standing traditions of the Estes Park Midsummer Festival, the Lindsborg Dancers, return again with their wonderful dancing and audience leadership. This group of Swedish folk dancers and musicians is based in Lindsborg, Kansas, a town nicknamed "Little Sweden, USA". These traditional folk dances come primarily from Sweden, with a few from Denmark, Norway, and Finland. Most dances are choreographed variations of the polska, waltz, schottis, hambo, polka, and engelska. They are danced in lines, circles, and couples. Dances and games for the whole family are a major part of a Swedish Midsummer. Lindsborg Folkdanslag will lead and teach traditional Swedish "around the maypole" dances, just as you'd find in Sweden today. Lindsborg Folkdanslag has become a frequent performer at folk festivals and special events - both Swedish and American - throughout Kansas and the region. In addition to performing here in Estes Park annually, they have danced in nearly every county in Kansas, plus states throughout the Midwest. They were in Sweden in 1994, the only year they did not come to Estes Park. |
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Colorado's Fjellborg Vikings
In the tradition of educational re-enactors, Fjellborg Vikings presents a Viking tent village with demonstrations of various skills including textile arts, blacksmithing, and carpenter work. This year a replica of the 27 foot, 6 oared deck ship found on the Gokstad burial ship will be at the camp, and sailed all day Friday on Lake Estes. Throughout the event our warriers will be giving demonstrations of live combat using sword, axe, spear, and shield. When you visit our village, you will have a truly hands-on experience by studying museum quality reproductions of Viking chests, tools, carvings, weapons, and armor. Viking age re-enactors will provide insights of the home life, merchant trade routes, and conquests of the greatest expansion of European culture, unequaled until the time of Columbus. Fjellborg Vikings campsite and warrier competitions provide great family fun and educational experience of historical Scandinavian culture of the classic Viking age. |
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Rory Foresman
Rory Foresman and his wife Rosanne have been teaching traditional Scandinavian dances for the last seven years in Colorado Springs. They will be teaching for open dancing both days of the festival. |
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Ron Tomocik
Ron Tomocik from Denver is a versatile accordionist who specializes in Icelandic music. He taught Scandinavian music and dance across the country at various events and schools. He leads each of the national anthems for the opening ceremonies, and can be found strolling the fairgrounds with his accordion when he's not on stage. |
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Mikko Koski
Mikko is a Finnish musician from Denver who has been entertaining folks for 25 years with his storytelling, accordion, guitar, harmonica, and birdhead flute. |
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Boulder Scandinavian Dancers
Boulder Scandinavian Dancers have been performing dances from Scandinavia for over 35 years. Their dances are primarily from Norway and Sweden, with a smaller number from Denmark and Finland. The dancers enjoy performing both lively set dances (circles and squares) and Scandinavian couple dances characterized by continuous flowing turns. The folk costumes of the group reflect authentic traditions of dress from various regions in Sweden and Norway. The group is based in Boulder and includes dancers from the Boulder-Denver area. They perform to music provided either by the Boulder Spelemannslag or by musicians who are also dancers in the group. BSD's musicians play fiddle, Swedish nyckelharpa, cittra, and durspel (a traditional Scandinavian diatonic accordian). They also sing to accompany their dancing. The group performs at various places throughout northern Colorado, including the Georgetown Christmas Market, Denver International Airport, and Octoberfest on Denver's Larimer Street. BSD sponsors Scandinavian dance classes, held every Monday evening at the Pearl Street Studio in Boulder. |
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Boulder Spelemannslag
The Boulder Spelemannslag is a group of young musicians led by Sharon Gillespie. Musicians start training with the group at the age of ten, and learn by ear to play Scandinavian dance music on folk instruments in the appropriate folk styles. Many alumni of the group return whenever they can play during vacations and holidays. The Spelemannslag frequently plays for performances of the Boulder Scandinavian Dancers. They have a long-standing tradition of playing at BSD's annual Scandinavian Christmas dance in Boulder. |
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For information about Spelemannslag or BSD contact: Erica Rice, 303-442-7689 about performances
For information about the Fjellborg Vikings, For information about Midsummer Festival,
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For over 70 years, Icelandair has been the benchmark in quality and service for international travel. Icelandair offers service to Iceland from Boston, New York-JFK, Minneapolis/St. Paul (seasonal), Orlando, Sanford, Halifax, and Toronto (seasonal). Connections through Icelandair's hub in Reykjavik are available to more than 20 destinations in Scandinavia, Great Britain, and Continental Europe. As always, passengers can stop over in Iceland for up to four nights on their way to or from our European destinations at no additional airfare. Become a member of our free Lucky Club and receive the latest specials from Icelandair. As our lowest fares and package have limited availability, Lucky Club members will have the advantage of receiving first notice of these incredible offers. For more information about Icelandair, our destinations, or Lucky Club membership, just click on our logo.
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