Below are selected highlights of the hundreds of events taking place in the region this year. For more information visit: www.westsweden.com, www.goteborg.com
29 January - Samsung EurojumpAthletic meeting in Scandinavium. More information 31 January – 8 Feb - Göteborg Boat ShowBoat fair with boats of all types and sizes in Svenska Mässan Exhibition and Congress Centre.More information 23 January- 2 February Göteborg International Film FestivalScandinavia’s largest public film festival with about 450 films will attract 115,000 visitors. More information 14 February Valentine’s DayGet away from the crowds on Valentine’s Day and check into a fairytale castle: Thorskogs Slott, located north of Göteborg at Västerlanda, is a real sleeping beauty. Or cosy-up on the coast at a traditional or contemporary hotel with magnificent views, or try oysters and champagne in a hot tub at the Oyster Bar on Karingön Island.More information 27 February – 1 March - Fresh FishAnnual Fashion Fair and Design Competition for not yet established local designers in Eriksbergshallen.More information 6-8 March - A Passion for Food exhibition in Göteborg A date for the diary of any foodie is the Passion for Food exhibition held in the gastronomic city of Göteborg. The exhibition held at Eriksbergshallen enables visitors to Taste the West of Sweden by showcasing the region's best food producers and restaurants. Buy top-quality produce, try taster platters and get tips from Göteborg's star chefs. More information March Cranes Dance at Lake HornborgaWitness an amazing spectacle: the arrival of over 10,000 cranes flying in from Spain to their traditional breeding grounds. Once arrived the cranes perform the famous Crane Dance – a mix of bowing, hopping and wing-flapping that is part of the mating ritual - as well as the unforgettable "big lift" at dusk when the birds take off. This is best witnessed from the bird tower at the Nature Reserve Centre. More information 19-22 March - TUR 2009Annual travel and tourism trade fair. Open to the public 21 –22 March. The location is Svenska Mässan Exhibition and Congress Centre.More information 19-22 February - Göteborg Horse Show An annual international event with the Rolex FEI World Cup in dressage, show jumping and driving. At the same time, the Euro Horse exhibition takes place at Svenska Mässan, Göteborg. More information 25 April-11 Oct - Liseberg Amusement Park Summer SeasonIt’s the greatest amusement park in Scandinavia and Sweden’s number one tourist attraction with around three million visitors per year. More information April 30 - Walpurgis EveWalpurgis Night, when spring is welcomed with bonfires, choral singing and fireworks. The festivities go on in many locations. 2 May - Oyster FestivalWest Sweden produces some of the world’s finest oysters and an Oyster Festival, held on 2 May, is dedicated to celebrating this delicacy in Grebbestad/Tanumstrand, two hours north of Göteborg. Oyster-openers battle it out in the Nordic Championships and the whole family can get acquainted with this sought-after shellfish through opening, picking and boat trip activities. More information 4 – 10 May 2009 - International Science Festival GöteborgExperiments, shows and seminars. Theme: Civilizations – yesterday, today and tomorrow.More information 16 May - Göteborgsvarvet (Göteborg half-marathon) With over 40 000 participants it is one of the world’s biggest events for runners. Take part and soak up the atmosphere all along the way, on the main boulevard Avenyn and hear the hearty encouragement of spectators and around thirty musical bands. Göteborgsvarvet is not just a sports event but a celebration for the whole family. Kids have their own running event on the following day. 2009 is going to be a record year in the number of participants and it’s the 30th running of the Göteborg half-marathon!More information 14-17 May – HBT-GBG FestivalA festival that gives everyone interested the possibility to get a broad aspect of culture created by and for lesbians, transsexuals, gay and bisexuals. This is the third year the festival is running. More information 21-24 May - Göteborg Basketball FestivalBig basketball tournament with 500 European teams.More information 5-6 June - STCC – Göteborg City RaceSwedish Touring Car Championship, pure racing!Location: The Frihamnspier.More information 6 June Sweden’s’ National Day 6 June - Summer concertTraditional open air concert with the Göteborg Symphony Orchestra in Slottsskogen City Park.More information 10-14 June Volvo Ocean RaceThe round the world sailing competition makes a stop at the island of Marstrand.More information 19 June - Midsummer’s EveMidsummer is one of the most popular holidays in Sweden – it’s a celebration of summer and of the long light nights. Most Swedes take to the countryside for public and private parties, which comprise dressing the Midsummer Pole with fresh leaves and flowers for children and grown-ups alike to dance around. Midsummer is celebrated all over Sweden the weekend nearest Midsummer’s Day itself, 24 June. Below are examples of public midsummer celebrations in West Sweden on 21 June. More information 16-26 June - 2009 UEFA Under-21 ChampionshipCome and see the football stars of tomorrow play in the brand new stadium in Göteborg.More information 26-28 June - World youth athletic gamesYouth athletic games at its best at the Ullevi stadium.More information 26-27 June - Metaltown / Pier PressureInternational music festival with around 30 bands playing during two days including Monster Magnet, Killswitch Engage, Bullet For My Valentine, Amon Amarth, Witchcraft and Nifelheim. At Frihamnspiren, GothenburgMore information 29 June – 5 July - Match Cup SwedenThe Swedish Match Cup resurrects under a new name – Match Cup Sweden. Some 100,000 visitors throng the cliffs and quaysides of Marstrand to follow the gripping match races which attract sailing competitors from the Olympics, World and European Championships and America’s Cup. More information 30 June – 5 July - Partille Cup, GöteborgSome 14,500 youngsters get together for the annual handball tournament in Göteborg.More information 4-12 July - Hova Jousting WeekEach year, a medieval week is held in Hova, about two hours from Göteborg, to celebrate a famous battle. A jousting festival with all manner of activities for the whole family is part of nine days of events attracting over 100,000 visitors. See the biggest medieval parade in the Norse countries as villages turn out in costume. There is also a medieval playground called ‘Barnens Riddarland’ for the little knights and princesses. More information 9-12 July - BluesFest in ÅmålThe Åmål BluesFest has become an international festival in its genre and one of the most prestigious in Sweden. More information 12-18 July - Gothia Cup The largest and most international youth football event in the world, with competitors from 50-60 countries in over 1,350 teams. More information 11-12 July - Evert Taube Festival, ÄngönVisitors enjoy their favourite Evert Taube songs in the Bohuslän archipelago. The performing artists are some of Sweden´s finest such as Sven-Bertil Taube and Peter Harryson. It was on the island of Ängön that famous Swedish singer/songwriter, Evert Taube, wrote some of his finest songs during the 1940’s. More information 8 August - Dalsland Canoe MarathonThe Dalsland Canoe Marathon takes place over 55 km through the connected system of waterways which make up the Dalsland Canal. More information 14-15 - August - Way out West, GöteborgThe music festival that started in Göteborg in 2007 was a success with a great line up of international names. The festival will be back in 2009 at Slottskogen City Park, central Göteborg. More information 7-9 August - Göteborg Jazz Festival Annual international jazz festival with some 30 participating bands, starting with a parade along the main boulevard Avenyn. More information 11-16 August - Göteborg Culture FestivalThe city is buzzing as the festival takes over the central city for six days. At the festival venues with outdoor stages, there will be several hundreds of music concerts, entertainment and culture activities, all with free admission. The children will have their own festival at Trädgårdsföreningen Horticultural Society Gardens. More information Date not yet confirmed. Aug - Göteborg Dance & Theatre FestivalThis is Sweden's leading event focusing on contemporary performing arts from all over the world. International companies are invited to present a selection of the best and most interesting performances within the fields of contemporary dance, theatre new circus and performing art. More information 21 September - Opening of the lobster seasonThe first day of the lobster season is the first Monday after 20 September, this year 21 September. Lobsters safaris, followed by lobster suppers, are arranged at a number of places along the coast. More information 5 September-15 Nov - Göteborg International Biennial for Contemporary Art 2009Theme 2009: What a wonderful worldRöda Sten cultural centreMore information 24-27 September - Göteborg Book FairInternational book and culture fair at Svenska Mässan Exhibition and Congress Centre.More information September - Kosterhavet Marine National ParkThe Kosterhavet Marine National Park will be inaugurated in September 2009.On the west coast of Sweden, on the border with Norway, Sweden’s first marine national park is underway. The marine environment here is influenced by the Atlantic and it includes habitats and species found nowhere else in Swedish waters. This area, Kosterhavet, is also a valuable recreational resource - it is one of Sweden’s most visited tourist destinations - and is an important inshore fishery, mostly for prawns and Norwegian lobsters. Protecting and maintaining the natural and economic wealth of Kosterhavet is one of the great challenges in planning this new national park. More information October - Lights in AlingsåsSix international designers come together in Alingsås and in workshops with around 70 people from around the world they create “Lights in Alingsås”. More information 13 December- Lucia Day – Queen of LightsDecember 13 is Lucia Day, and the longest night of the year. Lucia is a symbol of light in the dark Swedish winters. Each year, a Lucia (Queen of Light) is chosen from every establishment countrywide, from schools to clubs. The elected girl is dressed in a white gown with a crown of candles in her hair, and she delivers coffee, cat-shaped buns (’lussekatter’) and glögg. There are several Lucia concerts in churches and concerts hall all over Sweden. Mid November -23 December - A Göteborg Christmas with Swedish Style Spectacular light arrangements generate an atmospheric Christmas Lane from Liseberg Park, via Götaplatsen square, all along the main boulevard Avenyn to the harbour, covering more than three kilometres with innovative and stylish light attractions in a Christmas theme. The large Christmas market at Liseberg features some 80 rustic market stalls and shops selling arts and crafts and festive foods. The park is illuminated by almost five million lights on trees and buildings. Several children’s attractions are open and Santa is there. There are more Christmas markets in the downtown area and further outside the city in pleasant surroundings. Most restaurants serve a Christmas buffet “julbord” with a maritime flavour.More information
Cranes Dance at Lake Hornborga Liseberg Amusement Park Tjörn Runt sailing race Midsummer in June is one of the most popular holidays in Sweden The 34-mile Dalsland Canoeing Marathon takes place on 11 August.
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