Where to celebrate Walpurgis night in Stockholm

Where to celebrate Walpurgis night in Stockholm

Walpurgis Night, Valborgsmässoafton in Swedish, takes place every year on the last day of April. The holiday is celebrated in Estonia, Finland, Latvia, the Czech Republic, Slovenia, Germany and Sweden. The name Walpurgis is taken from the eighth-century English Christian missionary Saint Walburga but Valborg, as it's called in Swedish, is now mainly associated with the arrival of spring. In Sweden, the day is traditionally marked by singing in the spring and lighting bonfires (majbrasor) and as it's mainly a public, rather than family, event everyone is welcome to join in their local community celebrations. We've listed some of Stockholm's most popular bonfires and other events taking place on April 30th to see in the spring.

In this guide
  1. Celebrate Walpurgis night in Stockholm
    1. Skansen – Traditional celebrations
    2. Grand Hotel Saltsjöbaden – Valborg celebration deluxe
    3. Hågelbyparken – Activities for the whole family
    4. Lake Kyrksjön – Playful Walpurgis celebration
    5. Mälarhöjden – Traditional
    6. Kvarnparken, Danderyd – Arranged by Danderyd's local heritage association
    7. Grinda Wärdshus – Hotel stay in the archipelago
    8. Vinterviken
    9. Huddinge – Dancing on the bandstand
    10. Himlabacken – Amusement park vibes
    11. Sandhamn – Torchlit procession

Celebrate Walpurgis night in Stockholm

Skansen

Traditional celebrations

Skansen hosts major festivities with spring speeches, bonfires, spring songs and musical entertainment in the form of live performances by artists including Väsen and Tarraband against the backdrop of the bonfire. 

  • Time: 2-10pm
  • Entrance fee: Adults 265 SEK, children 4-15 yrs 80 SEK, senior citizens 245 SEK 
  • Where: Skansen

Grand Hotel Saltsjöbaden

Valborg celebration deluxe

Prefer a lavish Valborg celebration? Then the Grand Hotel Saltsjöbaden's event might be for you. In addition to the waterfront views, the evening includes delicious food from both the restaurant, food trucks, and grill, enchanting choir singing, pentathlon and a delightful atmosphere. The party begins in the garden and continues indoors in the bar, Alice. If you like you can combine the Valborg celebration with a staycation at the hotel.

  • Time: From 4 pm
  • Entrance: Free
  • Location: Grand Hotel Saltsjöbaden

Hågelbyparken

Activities for the whole family

Hågelby park lights a traditional bonfire out on the water, with choir song, entertainment and fun activities for children. The spring speech will be held by Yusuf Aydin, MP for the Christian Democrats. Next to the covered dancefloor there'll be a food truck serving pizza, hamburgers will be sold through a window in Hågelby hus and the park kiosk will be open. The bonfire will be lit at 8.15pm and at 8.30pm there'll be a fire show. 

  • Time: 4-9pm
  • Entrance fee: Free
  • Where: By the pond

Lake Kyrksjön

Playful Walpurgis celebration

The Mälaren scouts are arranging a fun Walpurgis celebration at Lake Kyrksjön, with activities such as coconut ball catapult, nail in the log, whack-a-rat and arrow poker? If you're peckish after all the play, the café serves goodies such as candied almonds, candy floss and coffee. The bonfire will be lit at 8pm, followed by the Västerort choir singing in the spring.

  • Time: 6.30pm–9.30pm
  • Entry: Free
  • Location: Snorreängen by Kyrksjön

Mälarhöjden

Traditional

Classic celebrations at Klubbensborgs camping site in Mälarhöjden. The evening includes music, speeches, bonfires and fireworks. You can buy coffee and snacks, hot dogs and ice cream and visit Café Uddvillan. The evening kicks off at 6.30pm and the bonfire will be lit at 8.45pm.

  • Time: 6.30-9.30pm
  • Entry: Free
  • Where: Klubbensborg camping

Kvarnparken, Danderyd

Arranged by Danderyd's local heritage association

The local heritage association in Danderyd will be organising Valborg celebrations beginning at 5pm. Around 7.30pm there will be spring songs, followed by a spring speech from Erika Svanström. After that there will be a performance by Danderyd's brass band before the bonfire is lit. There'll be coffee and candy floss for sale. 

  • Time: 5-10pm
  • Entry: Free
  • Where: Kvarnparken, Danderydsgården

Grinda Wärdshus

Hotel stay in the archipelago

Escape the everyday with a Valborg's get-away on the island of Grinda and watch spring unfolding up close. Enjoy a three-course dinner in the dining room, a bonfire, and a sauna bath. The next morning, indulge in a breakfast buffet, all surrounded by the beautiful natural surroundings of the Stockholm archipelago. You can also come for a meal in the dining room and then join the celebrations.

  • Time: Midday–11pm
  • Entrance: Hotel package 1745 SEK
  • Location: Grinda

Huddinge

Dancing on the bandstand

Bonfires will be lit in several spots around Huddinge, including Stortorp park at 8pm. There will be live music on the bandstand with P-Nuts, food with Peruvian influences, and the coffee kiosk will be open all evening. 

  • Time: 6-10pm
  • Entry: Free
  • Where: Huddinge

Himlabacken

Amusement park vibes

As per tradition, the fifth graders of Västberga school organise a Walpurgis bonfire which also includes a lottery, a chocolate wheel, and other festive activities. Food will be available to buy on-site, so feel free to come hungry.

  • Time: 6–10pm
  • Admission: Free
  • Location: Himlabacken, Hägersten

Sandhamn

Torchlit procession

Why not head out into the archipelago to celebrate Walpurgis night? A torchlit procession leaves from Sandhamn Värdshus at 8pm and makes it way up to the bonfire on Fläskberget hill. You can buy torches on site and song sheets will be handed out. Warm drinks and sweet treats will be handed out by the bonfire, but if you like you can take your own campfire bread, sausages, marshmallows or something else to grill by the fire. 

  • Time: From 8pm
  • Entry: Free
  • Where: Fläskberget, Sandhamn

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At Thatsup, we have extensive experience of guiding our readers to a city’s hidden gems. Since 2008, our editors have been writing insightful guides covering restaurants, bars, cafes, hotels, and hairdressers, among other things. Our guides consist of carefully selected tips based on our local knowledge and are regularly updated with the help of our focus group, where we collectively discuss selections and content. We are constantly working to inspire and provide you with the best possible experience, no matter where you are or what you are looking for.