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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 23 and June 24, 2012. The festival is open from 9:30 AM to 5:00 PM Saturday, and from 9:30 AM to 4:00 PM Sunday. 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 round-trip airfare for two 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. Sam Shoults is returning this year with the Yrse, a replica of the 27 foot, 6 oared deck ship found on the Gokstad burial ship. 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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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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MUGGY'S UFF DA BAND
These upbeat musicians from Albequerque primarily play Scandinavian immigrant music you can dance to. The origins of their music are from the USA, Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden. Their instruments are both traditional, such as the fiddle, and also instruments the immigrants began using after arriving in America, like the banjo, accordion, string bass and guitar. |
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NORWEGIAN SOCIETY OF TEXAS LEIKARRINGEN
The Leikarringens were organized in 1975 as part of the newly formed NST, with the purpose of preserving, promoting and enjoying the Norwegian heritage as they pass along the music, dance, and traditions of their ancestors to their children. Their bunader was designed in 1988 prior to their first trip to Norway, using a Nordic costume pattern, of cotton fabric and embroidered wildflowers of Texas. They have exchanged visits with the Rakne Leikarringen from near Oslo, and performed at festivals across the West and Mid-West. They perform Scandinavian dances, mostly Norwegian, which have choreographed "tur" patterns. |
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YOUNG SWEDISH SINGERS
This 34 member gospel singing group from Hassleholm in Skane, Sweden is made up of teens and young adults. They will perform gospels and Swedish folk music on Saturday, and Sunday morning will sing at our church service in the park, with their accompanying pastor officiating. This is their fourth US tour since 2000. |
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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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If you would like to be a volunteer during the festival please contact Cathy Allen at 303-449-9596. |
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For information about Spelemannslag or the Boulder Scandinavian Dancers contact: Erica Rice, 303-442-7689 about performances
For information about the Fjellborg Vikings, For information about Midsummer Festival, To make planning your Estes Park trip easy, view or order the 2010 INSIDERS GUIDE TO ESTES PARK,
click here
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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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