Midsommer Celebration
On the weekend closest to June 21st, Swedes celebrate the summer solstice with a traditional Midsommer festival.
One of the first things you will notice are the costumes. Virtually every part of Sweden has its own folk costume, and they are well represented in the Swedish colony. Ladies in long flowing dresses decorated with fine embroidery, flowers in their hair, and the men in their knickers and vests.
Swedes like the world to be well-ordered, so Midsommer always begins on Friday with people picking flowers to making wreaths for the girl's hair and to decorate the maypole on Saturday, which are key components in the celebrations.
The maypole is raised in Thomas Park accompanied with traditional music, storytelling and traditional dances ending with a traditional ring dance around the may poll which delights children and the young at heart.