Midsummer in Vaxholm
As is tradition, we celebrate Midsummer at Lägret in Vaxholm with a maypole, folk musicians, and folk dance groups. Restaurants and cafés serve traditional Midsummer fare, and the shops are stocked with all the latest summer items.
Program
This year’s Midsummer celebration is divided into two parts. The morning celebration is geared toward younger guests, with dancing and singing for the little ones. In the afternoon, following tradition, we’ll walk in a circle from the harbor up to the camp, where the Midsummer pole will be raised and the Vaxholm Folk Dance Society will invite everyone to dance.
Children's Midsummer Celebration
10:00 a.m. We’ll decorate the Midsummer pole together.
11:00–11:30 a.m. The pole is raised, with singing and dance games for the little ones.
Break at the camp. You’re warmly invited to come down to town, where the restaurants and shops are open.
Traditional Midsummer celebration
2:00 PM We decorate the maypole with even more Midsummer flowers.
3:40 PM The wreaths are carried in the traditional manner from the harbor to the Camp.
4:00 PM The maypole is raised. The Vaxholm Folk Dance Society invites everyone to dance and play classic ring games!
Midsummer traditions
Midsummer is one of Sweden’s most cherished holidays and has been celebrated since the Middle Ages. Would you like to learn more about Midsummer traditions? Feel free to read our article here.
How to get here
We recommend traveling to Vaxholm by boat or bus, as Vaxholm is a small island with limited parking. Both buses and boats run to the island several times an hour. If you’re coming by car, it’s best to park at one of the park-and-ride lots—Engarn, Eriksö, or Kronängsskola—and continue from there by taking bus 670 down to Vaxholm city center. Feel free to check out our parking tips here.
Flowers
You are more than welcome to bring your own flowers to decorate the maypole and make wreaths. Please be considerate and do not pick flowers from other people’s yards, cemeteries, or flower beds.
To eat during the day
Throughout the day and evening, several of Vaxholm’s restaurants and cafés serve Midsummer food, drinks, and coffee and pastries. In the city center, we recommend Mathantverkstan i Skärgården, Roddarhuset & Bistro, Waxholms Hotell, Winbergs Kök & Bar, Vaxholms Hembygdsgårds café Camilles Trädgård. On the islands, Syrran & Jag and Fredriksborg Hotell serve delightful summer menus.