Five quirky fairs and festivals across Sweden this week
From liquorice to beer to poetry, find about the unusual festivals and fairs going on across the country in the next seven days alongside our weekly events listings.
1. Stockholm Shakespeare festival, April 23rd
‘The world is a stage – 400 years of Shakespeare’ is the title of this celebration of the Bard. Some of Shakespeare's most loved sonnets and monologues will be put to music at the Artipelag cultural centre in Värmdö. Tickets are 195 kronor ($24) or 145 kronor ($17.90) for children and young people. For 350 kronor ($43.20), you get a special two-course lunch before the show. Fans of Shakespeare can also take advantage of their final chance to catch Macbeth by Stockholm's English Speaking Theatre in an atmospheric wine cellar venue, before the show closes on April 24th.
Photo: Public domain/Wikimedia commons'
2. Liquorice festival, April 23rd-24th
Swedes love their liquorice, and if you do too then the Liquorice festival – described as the “biggest liquorice party in the world” – is the place to be this weekend. But don’t make the mistake of thinking it’s all about the black sweets. You'll also get the opportunity to take part in beer, liquorice and chocolate tastings, learn how to cook liquorice dishes, get a liquorice massage at the spa, and even enjoy the “liquorice-inspired entertainment” promised by organizers. Tickets are 145 kronor ($17.90) for adults, and under-10s go free.
Photo: Jonas Nordlund/Flickr
3. Supermarket Independent Art Fair, April 21st-24th
Photo: Margon Lindberg and Kent Anderson, ‘Va ere om?’. Nationalgalleriet, Stockholm, Sweden/Supermarket Art Fair
Supermarket has nothing to do with your weekly food shop. It is an art fair run by artists themselves, and this year will feature creatives from over 50 countries. As well as exhibitions, the event includes talks, performances and networking events in Svarta Huset, Telefonplan, just a short subway ride from the city centre. This is the tenth edition of the fair, which started out small as Minimarket, but has grown year on year. Admission is 120 kronor ($14.80) or you can buy a 4-day pass for 200 ($24.70), and get the Supermarket magazine for free. Supermarket is part of Stockholm’s Art Week, which also includes the Market Art Fair held on the rooftop of the Gallerian Mall (tickets 120 ($14.80) kronor with student discount available)
4. Gothenburg beer and whisky fair, April 23rd-24th
The beer and whisky fair plays host to exhibitors from microbreweries alongside big brands, and there will be tastings, talks, and seminars from a range of speakers. As well as plenty of beer and whisky, you can taste and learn about rum, cider and the perfect cheese or chocolate to go with your beverage. Tickets can be bought here for 250 kronor ($30.86) – but be quick as they are selling out fast.
Photo: Quinn Dombrowski/Flickr
5. Uppsala Magic and Comedy Festival, until April 24th
This festival includes shows from comedy legends like John Cleese alongside children's magicians, expat comic Al Pitcher and many more from Sweden and abroad, including some up-and-comers making their stage debut. The shows take place in various venues across the city and there will also be plenty of free festival events on Uppsala's streets. It's either a chance to improve your Swedish skills outside the classroom, or to indulge in some British humour – but if you don't understand Swedish, make sure to consult the list of English-language shows first.
Photo: Eva Peris/Flickr
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1. Stockholm Shakespeare festival, April 23rd
‘The world is a stage – 400 years of Shakespeare’ is the title of this celebration of the Bard. Some of Shakespeare's most loved sonnets and monologues will be put to music at the Artipelag cultural centre in Värmdö. Tickets are 195 kronor ($24) or 145 kronor ($17.90) for children and young people. For 350 kronor ($43.20), you get a special two-course lunch before the show. Fans of Shakespeare can also take advantage of their final chance to catch Macbeth by Stockholm's English Speaking Theatre in an atmospheric wine cellar venue, before the show closes on April 24th.
Photo: Public domain/Wikimedia commons'
2. Liquorice festival, April 23rd-24th
Swedes love their liquorice, and if you do too then the Liquorice festival – described as the “biggest liquorice party in the world” – is the place to be this weekend. But don’t make the mistake of thinking it’s all about the black sweets. You'll also get the opportunity to take part in beer, liquorice and chocolate tastings, learn how to cook liquorice dishes, get a liquorice massage at the spa, and even enjoy the “liquorice-inspired entertainment” promised by organizers. Tickets are 145 kronor ($17.90) for adults, and under-10s go free.
Photo: Jonas Nordlund/Flickr
3. Supermarket Independent Art Fair, April 21st-24th
Photo: Margon Lindberg and Kent Anderson, ‘Va ere om?’. Nationalgalleriet, Stockholm, Sweden/Supermarket Art Fair
Supermarket has nothing to do with your weekly food shop. It is an art fair run by artists themselves, and this year will feature creatives from over 50 countries. As well as exhibitions, the event includes talks, performances and networking events in Svarta Huset, Telefonplan, just a short subway ride from the city centre. This is the tenth edition of the fair, which started out small as Minimarket, but has grown year on year. Admission is 120 kronor ($14.80) or you can buy a 4-day pass for 200 ($24.70), and get the Supermarket magazine for free. Supermarket is part of Stockholm’s Art Week, which also includes the Market Art Fair held on the rooftop of the Gallerian Mall (tickets 120 ($14.80) kronor with student discount available)
4. Gothenburg beer and whisky fair, April 23rd-24th
The beer and whisky fair plays host to exhibitors from microbreweries alongside big brands, and there will be tastings, talks, and seminars from a range of speakers. As well as plenty of beer and whisky, you can taste and learn about rum, cider and the perfect cheese or chocolate to go with your beverage. Tickets can be bought here for 250 kronor ($30.86) – but be quick as they are selling out fast.
Photo: Quinn Dombrowski/Flickr
5. Uppsala Magic and Comedy Festival, until April 24th
This festival includes shows from comedy legends like John Cleese alongside children's magicians, expat comic Al Pitcher and many more from Sweden and abroad, including some up-and-comers making their stage debut. The shows take place in various venues across the city and there will also be plenty of free festival events on Uppsala's streets. It's either a chance to improve your Swedish skills outside the classroom, or to indulge in some British humour – but if you don't understand Swedish, make sure to consult the list of English-language shows first.
Photo: Eva Peris/Flickr
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