Malmo is gearing up to celebrate its biggest event of the year – the Malmöfestivalen – an eight-day extravaganza of music, traditional Swedish food, theatre, sports and art exhibitions.
To be held this year on 19 to 26 August, the annual Malmo Festival regularly attracts a whopping 1.5 million visitors from all corners of the globe. OK, so the 250 concerts from well-known musical stars and up and comers, the giant amusement park and sporting spectacles may have something to do with it, but the free entry doesn’t hurt.
Kick off the Malmöfestivalen with a bang – the crayfish party at Stortorget at the start of the event is not to be missed. In the past, the restrictions on river crayfishing meant that the crayfish season was limited to August and September. Now, although imported crayfish is available year round, the Swedes are clinging on to the tradition – hence the annual parties held each summer.
Get together with friends, enjoy some local beers or schnapps and gorge on crayfish cooked in the way Swedes love – in brine, with handfuls of crown dill to enhance the flavour, accompanied by some mature Västerbotten cheese and bread on the side. (NB. A bib may just become your new best buddy).
In the run up to the crayfish parties, the Swedish media set the scene, with taste testings of crayfish from different parts of the world and tips from celebrities on how best to cook and enjoy them.
The main events of the festival take place across 20 giant stages set up in the centre of Malmo. Music lovers seeking everything from opera and classical tunes to hard hitting hip-hop and heavy metal will be in for a treat – this eclectic festival has something to suit all styles. Some of Malmo’s best loved nightclubs such as Classic KB and Debaser will be turning up the volume during the festival, welcoming Swedish and international bands.
World food stalls will be set up in Gustav Adolf’s Square during the festival, offering delights such as the famous Swedish smörgåsbord – which often boasts a selection of sweet pickled herring, pickled herring with dill, Swedish meatballs, salmon, fried potatoes and the much-loved “Jansson’s temptation” – potatoes, sliced herring, breadcrumbs and onions baked in cream. Other foods on offer include Italian fare, Indian curries, French cheeses and the good old British banger.
Since its birth in 1985, the Malmöfestivalen has grown beyond recognition, and now encompasses the Malmo “Summer Scene” programme, which aims to highlight the summer attributes of the city to visitors who may view Sweden as more of a winter destination.
Events including live theatre, singing competitions, poetry readings and art events will be held across Malmo’s beautiful green spaces, including Folkets Park, Slottsparken, Pildammsparken and Kungsparken.
(Image: Adamina)
