Midsommar 2012 June 22, 23, 24

Midsommarstång (Midsummer pole) preparations at New Sweden, ME

Midsommar is almost here! Here’s hoping that the weather will be practically perfect here in Maine Swedish Colony (after the past few years rainy events) and that the official start of summer will have folks  in a happy mood for the Fest.

The whole thing starts on Friday morning with the gathering of wild flowers up on Carlstrom Hill just north of Madawaska Lake. The view is incredible and it is an experience everyone should participate in at least once in a lifetime! Bring a pair of clippers or scissors to cut lupines. After the flower gathering, head back to the New Sweden museum grounds and pitch in to help put up the tents to get things ready for Saturday’s festivities. Helping hands are very needed and you will meet some new friends!

Friday evening features a supper and Swedish dance at the Stockholm American Legion. Proceeds support our veterans and you will have a great time with the very special Orust folk dancers and musicians who are making their second visit from Sweden.

There is a full day planned for Saturday. Head to the New Sweden museum grounds around 10 am Saturday and browse around. Make a hair wreath to wear out of  wildflowers (at the table near the Lindsten Stuga out in back of the museum) and then choose lupines from the buckets to pass to the Swedes who’ll tie them onto the big Midsommarstång (Midsummer Pole). Follow the Pole out to the front of the museum and see the little folk dancers perform. Perhaps have a homemade ice cream from the Lutherans and a red hotdog from Ralph Ostlund (nearly 90 and charming!) or coffee with a homemade sandwich and sweet under the shade of the birches. There are local crafts to browse, Swedish gifts in the restored one-room Capitol School, and the various musuem buildings to go inside, including a tour of the Ostlund log house and the blacksmith shop (down the road past Thomas Park.)

A brand-new Midsommar event is a Chicken Barbeque at the New Sweden School from 4-6 PM on Saturday evening for supper. Proceeds benefit programming for the local kids. There is also a Swedish supper with continuous seating put on by the folks at the Lutheran church in New Sweden with homemade dishes made by talented cooks.

Direct from Sweden, the Orust folk dancers and musicians perform throughout the weekend, including up at the New Sweden school Saturday night at 7 PM. [also performing: Friday evening 6 PM supper and Swedish dancing at the Stockholm American Legion; Saturday 11 AM Midsommarstång (Midsummer pole) and 1 PM Swedish dance lessons on the grounds of the New Sweden Museum, and 7 PM Swedish dance and lessons at the New Sweden School; and Sunday 1 PM at Thomas Park.]

Enjoy the Sunday afternoon program in the “music bowl” at Thomas Park (starts 12:45 with the arrival of the Midsommarstång) which includes the Orust folk dancers/musicians, the New Sweden Little Folk Dancers, and ends with the Långdans where all are invited to join hands to form a long chain to march around the park for the closing dance .

Catch the latest news by following Maine Swedish Colony on Facebook.

There are lots of other events. Too many to list them all here! You can get your own schedule with a download of the pdf at http://maineswedishcolony.info/

Midsommar is a wonderful family experience. Don’t forget your camera!

Tags: midsommar