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Showing posts with label sport. Show all posts
Showing posts with label sport. Show all posts
Sunday, February 23, 2014

Olympic Celebration in Kungsträdgården

Swedish medalists, photo from Swedish Olympic Team.
Well... the Winter Olympics 2014 are officially over and the Sochi Games turned out to be Sweden's most successful winter olympics in history. The team is returning home with 15 medals (2 gold, 7 silver and 6 bronze)! If you are in Stockholm tomorrow evening (Monday, February 24th) then a fun thing to do is head down to the park Kungsträdgården and welcome home the Swedish Olympic Team. This tradition of welcoming home athletes from world championships and olympics has become very popular over the past couple of decades... so there should be a large crowd! The party starts at 7pm and besides seeing & hearing from the medal winners, there will be live music and a look back at the best olympic moments (from a Swedish perspective, of course). Even if you don't speak Swedish, it will be a fun festival feel to the evening... just make sure you are wearing blue & yellow! Located in the downtown area, Kungsträdgården is easy to get to from the Rival Hotel. It is either a 20-25 minute walk through Gamla Stan, 3 stations on the subway (T-Centralen, exit to Sergels Torg) or a 5 minute taxi ride.
AN festival, sport
Tuesday, January 14, 2014

Winter is Finally Here... Ski Slopes to Open!

It has been a relatively warm winter so far... with no snow and temperatures well above freezing. Quite unusual! But winter (and the snow) has finally come to Stockholm. We had our first real snowfall this past weekend and the weather reports show more snow and continuing below freezing temperatures in the coming weeks.
Map of Hammarbybacken
www.skistar.com/sv/hammarbybacken/
This all means that the ski slopes around Stockholm can finally open for business! To give you an idea of how warm this winter has been... last year the ski slopes opened on December 13th. The Stockholm region has no mountains, so we are talking smaller slopes. But they still have lifts, multiple runs and the opportunity for the popular "after-ski". You can also rent ski and snowboard equipment there, so you don't have to worry about bringing it with you from home.
Hammarbybacken- open in the evening.
www.skistar.com/sv/hammarbybacken/
The closest slope to Stockholm is Hammarbybacken. In fact, it is so close (located in the southern suburbs) that you have great views of downtown Stockholm from the top. They are busy preparing the slope with snow cannons and plan to open on Saturday (Jan 18th). To get to Hammarbybacken from the Rival Hotel, it is only a 20 minute trip with the subway and street car (Tvärbanan) or by direct bus (#74). Other ski slopes in the Stockholm region that are planning on opening this coming weekend are Ekebyhovsbacken and Flottsbrobacken. These are, however, a bit further away than Hammarbybacken! Full list of nearby ski slopes.
Click here to read my article from last year (with more information).
AN activity, sport, winter
Friday, December 6, 2013

Winter Sport Activities in Stockholm

Are you feeling a bit sporty or adventurous? There is plenty to keep you occupied during the winter months and it all happens very close to the city, if not within.
        
    Photo: Henrik Trygg- Stockholms Visitors Board
  • Ice Skating: I've already reported on the outdoor ice skating rink in the middle of the city at Kungsträdgården. If you feel like doing some long distance skating on the frozen lakes and rivers around Stockholm, then it is better to do it in a group with a guide (it's still a little early in the season). Two good guide companies that offers such tours, including equipment rental, are the Stockholms Guidebyrå and Ice Guide. They can be contacted at info@stockholmsguidebyra.se and info@iceguide.se (they have a contact form on their website) for more information and booking. Click here for a list of cleared skating routes in the greater Stockholm area. 
  • Cross Country Skiing: If you have your own equipment then there are many tracks around the city, including Djurgården. I'm having trouble finding a place that rents cross country skis, but if I find a place then I will report back!
    • Photo: Skistar.com/hammarbybacken
  • Alpine Skiing & Snowboarding: There are several hills in and around Stockholm high enough to support some alpine skiing! I've already reported on the opening of Hammarbybacken this week. This is by far the closest slope, in fact you can see the slope from parts of Södermalm where the Rival Hotel is located and the there is a great view of the city from the top of the hill. There are lifts and a restaurant and they do rent skiing equipment! Click here for some short movies of the slope. There are a few other slopes on the outskirts of the city... including Ekholmsnäsbacken, Flottsbro and Väsjöbacken. 
 
I would be remiss in talking about winter sport activities without mentioning Hellasgården. This nature area is located in Nacka, just a 15 minute bus ride on #401 from Slussen (10 minute walk from the hotel). Here you can find plenty of walking paths, cross skiing tracks and outdoor ice skating (with rental). Another activity offered here, not for the faint of heart (literally), is ice swimming. A very nordic activity involving heating up in a sauna or bastu and then plunging into frigid waters. Brrrr...!

AN activity, sport, winter
Friday, November 22, 2013

Ice Skating Rink at Kungsträdgården is Open for the Season!

This weekend we are expecting subzero (Celsius) temperatures which means that it is cold enough for the popular outdoor ice skating rink in Kungsträdgården to open for business. A sure sign that winter is not far off! Stockholmers have been skating here since 1962, when the rink first opened for business. It's location in the center of the city makes it a popular activity for both locals and tourists... whether they actually take to the rink or just observe. The downtown shopping district is nearby with the NK department store located right across the street. Starting next Friday (Nov 29th) a Christmas market will open up just adjacent to the rink. This market will be open daily, 11am to 6pm, until December 22nd.
On a snowy evening last winter... no snow yet this year!
The ice skating rink is also open daily: weekdays from 10am to 9pm and weekends from 11am to 9pm. If you don't feel like packing your ice skates when you come to Stockholm... don't worry, they have skates for rent! The cost is 60 SEK for adults and 30 SEK for youth/children under 20 (prices are for one hour rental). Children are required to use a helmet and they have them to borrow- free of charge (even for adults). The rink is lit up in the winter darkness and they have fun music playing over the loudspeakers, so it is worth a visit even if it is just to have a cup of glögg and watch the skaters. It is easy to get to from the Rival Hotel... either a 30 minute walk through Gamla Stan, 3-4 stops on the subway or a 5 minute taxi ride.


AN activity, sport, winter
Tuesday, November 19, 2013

This Weekend!

Photo by: Nicho Södling

November 19th, 20th & 21st

The holiday season is approaching fast... adding a little color to the events this weekend.

  • If all things cinematic is your thing, then Stockholm is the place to be this weekend! The Stockholm International Film Festival is in full swing with movies being shown in theaters all over the city. Check their website here or ask me at the hotel for more information of films and events.
  • The first Christmas Market of the season opens on Saturday. Get a jump start on your Christmas shopping or just enjoy a glass of glögg (Swedish mulled wine) as you walk through the stalls. It will be open daily between 11am and 6pm until December 23rd. This market is located in the main square in the Old Town (Stortorget in Gamla Stan). 
  • On Saturday we have the fifth annual Stadium Winter Jam taking place at Stockholm Stadion (old Olympic stadium). There is both a skiing and snowboarding competition as well as a winter fair and it all takes place between 11am and 5pm. Best of all... no entrance charge!
  • On Sunday it is the traditional beginning of Christmas with Skyltsöndag when stores begin their holiday window decorations, and nothing says Christmas more to a Stockholmer than the window decorations in the NK department store. The big reveal will at 11:50am and the theme this year will reflect the fact that we live in a multicultural era. Right across the street you have the Kungsträdgården park where there will be Christmas caroling at 2pm on the center stage, marking the end of the Christmas parade. Why not take in a little ice skating while you wait?
The weather this weekend? They are predicting temperatures around zero with rain or snow.
AN christmas, movies, sport, weekend
Tuesday, November 12, 2013

Pitcher's Sports Bar & Restaurant

Last week I was at the premiere of a new restaurant, called Pitcher's, which opened up next door to the Rival Hotel. Welcome to the neighbourhood! This is a combination restaurant, pub and sports bar. In fact, it is part of a Sweden-wide franchise... though this is the first one in Stockholm. It is quite a large locale with two floors and several bars. I talked to a member of the staff on opening night and he explained that they are a "soft" sports bar, which means that, while they do have TVs showing live sporting events, the sound is muted so that diners can still enjoy their meal. He did mention that if there is a big sporting event going on (playoffs, world championships, grand slam, etc;) then they will have the sound on in certain parts of the restaurant. As I mentioned, it is a large locale!
Restaurant area, with booths...
As it was the premiere evening, I didn't have a chance to try the menu, except for the hors d'oeuvres they served... but I had a look at the menu and it seems to be a mix of classic Swedish and American dishes (including several "gourmet" hamburgers). The interior of the newly renovated locale resembles an upscale British golf pub... with brass, leather, dark wood and tartan.
Bar area...
 As a concierge I am happy with the addition of a sports bar in the neighbourhood, even if it is a "soft" sports bar. We do have two sports TV channels at the hotel, but every once in awhile we do get guests who are interested in a sporting event that is not being shown on either Swedish TV or one of the sports channels. For example, a rugby game (not popular in Sweden) or maybe a more obscure Italian Serie A football match. Now our guests don't have to go too far to enjoy the game! There are, of course, many other sports bars and pubs in the city (like the newly opened Tolv Stockholm at Tele2 Arena)... just talk to me, if you are staying at the hotel, and I will give you some options. In the meantime, you can have a look at the list put together by What's Up Sthlm (in Swedish, but with Google translate option in the upper right hand corner).
Click here for more options of restaurants near the Rival Hotel!

AN Mariatorget, restaurants, sport
Sunday, November 3, 2013

Upcoming Events in November

Here are some dates to keep your eyes on if you are travelling to Stockholm in November:
  • All Saints Day (Alla Helgons Dag) on November 6th. While this is celebrated in Anglo-Saxon countries on November 1st, in Sweden it falls always on the first Saturday in November. It is a holiday in Sweden, but, as it falls on a Saturday, it shouldn't disturb tourists too much... besides a few small shops being closed, all museums and such will be open. The Swedish tradition is to light a candle at the graves of family & friends. If you would like to witness this tradition then I would recommend a visit to the Woodland Cemetery (Skogskyrkogården).

  • November 10th is Mårtensgås or Mårten Gås. Originally the celebration of St Martin, these days it is mostly celebrated in southern Sweden where it is tradition to eat a goose dinner. You can partake of this tradition in Stockholm as well. A few restaurants will be serving a goose dinner will all the fixings during the second week of November. I would recommend Den Gyldene Freden in the Old Town (goose dinner offered from Nov 8th through the 13th).

  • The 21st annual Stockholm Film Festival will be going on between the 17th and 28th of November! Lots of cinematic happenings going on in the city. Besides plenty of top notch movies to be seen, there will be a competition (jury presided over by Holly Hunter), as well as parties & events. Gus van Sant will receive the Visionary Award and the festival is dedicated to the late Dennis Hopper. Click on the link above for program and more information.

  • On November 20th it is time for the Stadium Winter Jam which takes place at Stockholm Stadion (old Olympic stadium). There is both a skiing and a snowboarding competition as well as a winter sports fair. And best of all... it's free of charge! Swedish webpage.

  • November 26th - 28th are the dates for the Stockholm International Horse Show taking place at the Eriksson Globe Arena. This is the world's largest indoor equestrian event (in terms of daily spectators). There will be lots of entertainment as well as international competitions in dressage, jumping and hand driving. Click on the link above for program and more information.

  • This year the first advent (fourth Sunday before Christmas) will be on the last weekend of November. Lots of Christmas markets will be starting on this date. I will be listing and writing more about the different markets later...

AN event, movies, restaurants, sport, tradition
Friday, October 25, 2013

Tolv Stockholm- New Entertainment Centre

Exterior of Tele2 Arena.
I was invited yesterday to the premiere of Tolv Stockholm, a collection of restaurants, bars and a nightclub. What makes it even more special is its location... under the newly built Tele2 Arena. Besides being the home arena to two local football/soccer teams (Djurgården & Hammarby), Tele2 will also host other sporting events and function as a concert venue (max capacity of 45,000). The roof of the arena can be closed, making it useable year-round. The arena is located next to the existing Globe Arena as well as the smaller Hovet, Annexet and Söder Stadion venues... creating a huge centre for sport, music and entertainment.
O'Leary's Sports Bar.
As I mentioned, Tolv Stockholm, is a collection of bars and restaurants which compliment the arenas as a place to have a meal or cocktail before or after a concert/match. It also stands alone as a place to visit. For example the sports bar O'Leary's is huge! Here you can eat & drink, watch sporting events as well as play some yourself... with bowling lanes, ping pong tables and (more sedate) racing car simulators in the bar. They even have a Stockholm themed mini-golf course!
Shark themed bowling lanes at O'Leary's.
Other restaurants include Enzo's (Italian), Printz (beer hall and home-made sausage restaurant), Davaj (deli) as well as an ecological salad bar and frozen yoghurt parlour. If you are attending a concert at the arena and feel inspired... try your hand at singing in their karaoke bar. The big news, for many, is the nightclub Solidaritet Arena. It will be able to take up to 1,500 persons with three dance floors and several bars. They will have big name DJ's as well as more intimate live music concerts. It wasn't open last night (premiere tomorrow) but we were given a tour of the locale.
Bar at Enzo's.
"Tolv" is the Swedish word for twelve and refers to the fact that it will be open 12 hours a day, 12 months a year. I am a little unsure of how this will work as it will be hard to fill restaurants on evenings when there aren't any matches or concerts. But I trust that they have that figured out. At any rate, well worth a visit! The Tele2 Arena and Twelve Stockholm are located in the suburb of Johanneshov, just south of Stockholm. It is easy to get there from the Rival Hotel... just take the subway (green line) from nearby Slussen going in the direction of Hagsätra. Exit the subway at the Globen station which is the fourth stop after Slussen.
Gold Bar at Solidaritet Arena Nightclub.
Solidaritet Nightclub... sans guests!

AN alcohol, music, restaurants, sport
Tuesday, October 15, 2013

This Weekend!

Picture by: Alexander Dokukin
October 16th, 17th and 18th 
.
Besides The Chocolate Festival and the Nordic Film Prize, there are lots of things going on in the city to keep you occupied.
The Museum of History (Historiska Museet) is having a Farmer's Market on both Saturday and Sunday (11am to 5pm). Not only will farmers be selling ecological friendly fruits, vegetables, jams, honey and bread... there will be the oppurtunity to taste products, get tips and advice as well as autumn inspiration! Experts will be there to demonstrate how to create autumn decorations as well as how to bake bread the Viking way! While you are there, don't miss seeing The Gold Room and their new exhibition focusing on the past 1,000 years of Swedish history. If you are interested in other Farmer's Markets, then it's good to know that there is one taking place the first three Saturdays in October, just around the corner from the Rival Hotel in SoFo.
This Saturday, starting at 4pm, you can get a "jump start" on winter. Artificial snow is being trucked in to Sergel's Square and some of the world's best snowboarders will be showing off with jumps and tricks. Entrance is free!
All of the major autumn art and museum exhibitions are up and running now... click here for more information.
How's the weather? Sunny and chilly, with lows below 0 and highs around 5 degrees Celsius.
.
AN event, Museums, SoFo, sport, weekend
Friday, September 13, 2013

Royal Celebrations, Half Marathons and More This Weekend!

DN Stockholm Half Marathon, photo by Bengt Aronsson
Another busy weekend in Stockholm! To start off with... The annual DN Stockholm Half Marathon will be held on Saturday, September 14th. Over 17,000 runners from all over the world will be running a course set in the streets of the city. The race starts at 3:30pm at Gustav Adolfs Torg and will take runners on 21.1 kilometers through the western parts of Stockholm, including Södermalm where the Rival Hotel is located. In fact, the course runs along the street St Paulsgatan which is adjacent to the hotel. Nice with a little life in the neighbourhood... but this can mean some traffic troubles: no parking and hard for taxis to get to the door. Stick with walking, ferries and subways and you will be fine! This advice goes for the rest of the city as many streets will be closed off. The finish line is the same as the starting point... Gustav Adolfs Torg.
Race course from www.stockholmhalvmarathon.se 
If that wasn't enough... King Carl XVI Gustaf is celebrating 40 years on the Swedish throne this year and this weekend (September 13th to 15th) is the official jubilee celebrations. On Friday an exhibition on the king's 40 years on the throne will open in the Hall of State in the Royal Palace, located in Gamla Stan. The exhibition will run until February 2nd next year, so plenty of opportunities to visit the exhibit if you are coming to Stockholm later this year. Two official events will be held on Saturday evening. First a celebratory dinner, hosted by the government, will be held at the Nordic Museum (Nordiska Museet), located on the island of Djurgården, followed by a concert in the Concert Hall (Konserthuset) in the downtown area. What this means for visitors is that the traffic snarls caused by the half marathon in the afternoon will be followed by some minor ones in the evening. But it is not all doom and gloom for visitors... on Sunday the king and City of Stockholm invites the general public to the Royal Palace to celebrate with dance. The festivities start at 3pm and run until 11pm. Music and dancing from around the world (big band, salsa, tango, jazz, folk and more) is the theme with many performances. No entrance fee! There will be a toast for the king at 3pm from the balcony at Lejonsbacken. Click here for a schedule (there is a Google translate option). Otherwise, if you are staying at the Rival Hotel, come talk to me or the Reception for further information.
www.kungahuset.se
And finally... a political demonstration and march planned on Saturday, starting at 1:30pm. They will gather in the park Humlegården and then march to Observatorielunden. Counter demonstrations are planned as well, so it would be best to avoid that area of the city (Norrmalm) during Saturday afternoon.
AN Gamla Stan, royal, sport, tourist information
Thursday, August 8, 2013

Next Week: Culture Festival, Outdoor Cinema & Midnight Run!

I am on vacation next week... off to Spain for a friend's birthday. I wanted to leave you with some tips of fun things happening in the city during my absence!
GAT Stage, kulturfestivalen.stockholm.se
First up is the fun Kulturfestivalen (Culture Festival). I am sad to miss this! This festival runs from 13th through the 18th of August and encompasses all things cultural. Best of all... it is all free! No admission fees. It is a little hard to write about since there are so many things going on, but basically the festival takes place in the downtown area around the squares Gustav Adolfs Torg, Brunkebergstorg and Sergels Torg. The program (click here) runs from midday until late in the evenings and you can find something for every taste... cabaret, opera, salsa, literature, street performances, dance, Bollywood, vintage punk reinvented, nightclubbing and much, much more. The best thing is to check the program linked above and pick your favorites. If I was in Stockholm this week, I wouldn't miss disco legends The Pointer Sisters! Side by side with this festival is another one called We Are Sthlm. This one is aimed at the youngsters (13-19 yrs of age) with lots of live music and takes place in Kungsträdgården from the 13th to the 17th of August.
Source: The Pointer Sisters
If cinema is more your cultural cup of tea, then you are in for a treat. The Stockholm Film Festival has their annual Outdoor Summer Movies next week. They will be showing a great movie every evening (August 14th to 18th) under the stars. And it is free! The evening starts with fun activities at 6pm and the movie starts showing at 8:30pm. Popcorn, soda pop and other snacks are sold there... but you can pack your own picnic basket. Be aware that some of the movies have an age limit. Movies include The Fly, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and The Kids Are All Right. All movies are in English with Swedish subtitles except for A Royal Affair on the 14th (Danish with Swedish subtitles). This all takes place in Rålambhovs Park on Kungsholmen.
Photo by Yanan Li, Stockholm's Visitors Board
Finally... Saturday, August 17th is the date for the annual Midnight Race (Midnattsloppet). This is a late evening 10K race around the island of Södermalm (where the Rival Hotel is located). More than just a run, it always has a festival like atmosphere... with DJ's and Samba & Dixie bands playing along the route. There is a costume competition as well! So, even if you aren't running (36,000 others are!), come down and cheer them on while enjoying some great music and festivities! The main race starts at 9:30pm and ends when it ends... though the finishing line is on the street Hornsgatan. Just a few blocks from the hotel! One word of caution: don't plan on travelling around Södermalm by car or bus this evening as many roads will be cordoned off. Stick to walking or the subway.
AN culture, festival, GAT, kungsholmen, movies, Södermalm, sport
Tuesday, August 6, 2013

Fishing in Stockholm

After a week of festivals and general craziness... I thought I would slow it down with something a bit different! A happy Rival Hotel guest sent me some pictures of the fish he caught while visiting us a couple of weeks ago, which gave me an idea of a good blog article (and he was nice enough to allow me to publish the pictures- thanks!).
Did you know that you can fish right in downtown Stockholm and that you don't need a fishing licence? Fishermen standing along the Stockholm shores, especially along Strömmen, are a common sight year-round. They catch a wide variety of fish... the most common being perch, bream, whitefish, pike, eel, trout and salmon. The largest salmon caught in Stockholm was over 40lbs. The waters around Stockholm are clean which means you can eat your catch. Just please don't bring them back to the hotel for gutting and de-boning! If you are staying at the hotel: do catch & release.
As I mentioned, you don't need a licence which makes it all much easier for visiting fishing enthusiasts. If you don't have your own fishing equipment with you, there are several fishing stores where you can get all you need. One I recommend is Lundgrens Fiskredskap, which is centrally located in Gamla Stan. They can also give you more practical information! If you want to try a bit more advanced fishing (fly-fishing, archipelago trips, packages, etc;), contact the company Catch & Relax. While the most popular place to fish is around Strömmen, where the waters of Lake Mälaren run swiftly between Gamla Stan and the downtown area, there are other good places to try. In fact, our lucky guest caught his fish near Slussen... just a 10 minute walk from the hotel.

AN sport
Sunday, August 4, 2013

Event: DN-Galan


This friday (August 6th) some of the world's best track & field athletes will be competing in Stockholm at the DN Galan. If you haven't bought tickets for the big event then you are out of luck... the only tickets left are for the "Exclusive Bolt Package" which will set you back about 3,000 SEK, but you just might be able to rub shoulders with some of the star athletes.

The DN Galan, sponsored by the newspaper Dagens Nyheter, is part of the prestigious Samsung Diamond League athletic series. It is the largest annual sporting event in Sweden, taking place at the old Olympic stadium (Stadion) where Stockholm hosted the games in 1912. The stadium is located on northern outskirts of the city. The big event this year will be the mens 100 meters with a showdown between Usain Bolt, Tyson Gay and Asafa Powell. My money is on Bolt!

Besides the races, there will be other events in the city this week taking place mainly at Kungsträdgården. On August 4th, from 11am to 6pm, kids can come down and try different athletic events with some of the big stars including Carolina Klüft and Usain Bolt. On August 5th there will be a shot put competition (Big Shot) with the shot put elite competing. The women will compete at 4pm and the men at 6pm. Besides that, there will also be entertainment and no entrance fee! Click here for a full list of this summer's festivals and events.

Trivia: Sweden has a rich sporting history which we are very proud of. In the past 10 years, in athletics alone, Sweden has won multiple medals in the Olympics as well as World and European Championships with star athletes like Carolina Klüft, Kajsa Bergqvist, Stefan Holm and Christian Olsson. Last week Emma Green won the silver medal in the women's high jump at the European Championships.
AN event, sport, trivia
Wednesday, July 24, 2013

Stockholm by "Gummibåt"

Photo by: Privat, sbgb.
You lucky visitors coming to Stockholm on the first weekend of August... you have so many fun things happening on Saturday, August 3rd! Not only is the huge Gay Pride Parade going through the city and concerts and art exhibits at the Music & Arts Festival, you also have something a bit more whimsical happening in the city: Stockholm by Gummibåt!
Photo: Privat, sbgb
Gummibåt means "rubber boat" in Swedish... and the event is basically a fun trip down the canal Karlbergskanalen, on the north coast of Kungsholmen, in rubber boats. It is not a race, though there is a start and finish, and it is open to anyone with a rubber boat (no fee). The course runs west to east, ending just before Kungsbron (King's Bridge). They are expecting over 700 boats and 1,000 participants this year! They do encourage people to come in costume. Looking at the pictures from last year, people dressed up as Smurfs, Vikings, Baywatch lifeguards, Kiss Army and more. Fun! The event starts at 10am so, if you plan smartly, you can watch the boats before heading to the Pride parade, which starts at 1pm, before going on to see a concert at the Music & Arts Festival in the evening.
The canal on a quieter day...
I recently wrote about the waterfront promenade in this area and how this is a nice place to spend a relaxing summer day in Stockholm... now you have another reason (Swedes acting silly). The easiest way to get to the "race course" from the Rival Hotel is by taking the subway, green line, from Slussen to Fridhemsplan.
AN boat, event, kungsholmen, sport
Sunday, July 21, 2013

Festivals in August

Photo by Yanan Li, Stockholms Visitors Board
July is the month when most Swedes have their summer vacation and, therefore, most Stockholmers leave the city for their summer homes or trips abroad. Because of this, there aren't many big festivals in the city during July. But Stockholmers are returning to the city now and festival season is starting!

  • First out is the finals of the Women's Euro-Championships in Football(Soccer). It will be held at the new Friends Arena on July 28th. While this isn't a festival per se, it will hopefully be a festival atmosphere. Especially if Sweden, who has been playing quite well, makes it to the finals. Fingers crossed! Edit: :( 
  • The gay pride festival, called simply Stockholm Pride, kicks off on Wednesday, July30th and runs through Saturday, August 3rd. This is Scandinavia's largest gay pride festival and it attracts people from far and wide. Besides the festival area, filled with restaurant tents and live performances from big name artists, the big event is the pride parade which takes place on Saturday. Stockholmers tend to come out in the hundreds of thousands to see the parade snake through the city.
  • On the same weekend, August 2nd-4th, the Music & Art Festival will be taking place on the island of Skeppsholmen. A varied line-up of artists will be performing, though the big ticket name is Prince (performing on Sunday evening).
  • Next out are two side-by-side festivals. The main one is the Stockholm Culture Festival (August 13th-18th). This covers everything cultural... with music, art, literature, live performances and much more going on throughout downtown Stockholm. The best part is that it is all free (no admission)! Going on simultaneously (August 13th-17th) is the youth festival We Are Sthlm (formerly known as Ung08) in Kungsträdgården park. 
Those are the big festivals, but there are even other smaller festivals as well as concerts and sporting events going on in August. Check the full calendar by clicking here.
Photo by Yanan Li, Stockholm Visitors Board



AN festival, gay, sport
Friday, June 28, 2013

Saling Regatta- ÅF Offshore Race

Photo: Oskar Kihlborg, ksss.se (other photos by me!)
It is that time of the year again... the ÅF Offshore Race is in town! The race is this Saturday (June 29th) but the sailing boats are already here and they have a "racing village" set up with live music performances, food & drink tents as well as information tents through Sunday.
I stopped by yesterday evening with a friend to check out the boats and have a drink, soaking up the sailing atmosphere! The racing village is set up on the island of Skeppsholmen next to the beautiful Af Chapman sailing frigate, just across the water from the royal palace. They have several food & drink tents set up... of special note is the one set up by Operakällaren, called Operabaren på Kajen (The Opera Bar on the Pier) with some great dishes! The village is open every day this weekend until 11pm, except Sunday when they close at 5pm. Full program linked above.
The race itself starts at 11am on Saturday and it is a staggered start. I watched it last year and it was quite fun to see the boats tacking back and forth, getting into position. From Stockholm, the racers head out through the archipelago to the sailing mecca of Sandhamn. From there it is out into the Baltic Sea and around the island of Gotland. Last year we stood near Fotografiska (photography museum) which is just a 15 minute walk from the Rival Hotel, and that was a good place to see the start of the race... otherwise anywhere in the harbour should be good. Especially the south shores of the islands of Djurgården, Skeppsholmen and Kastellholmen.



AN boat, event, sport
Thursday, May 30, 2013

Stockholm Marathon 2013

Runners at “Nybroplan” just in front of the Royal Dramatic Theatre
Photo: Martin Ekequist.
Always a fun weekend here in Stockholm when the annual Stockholm Marathon is held. This year the marathon falls on Saturday, June 1st and it is bigger than ever with over 21,700 runners from 81 countries partaking in the race. The race starts at noon and both the start and finish lines are at Stadion, the 1912 Stockholm Olympic Stadium. The finish line "closes" at 6:10pm and the marathon is comprised of two laps around and through the city.
The start is just outside the Stockholm Olympic Stadium.
Photo: Martin Ekequist. 
If you are running, there are 16 refreshment stands spaced out along the course. If you are planning on being a spectator, then there are plenty of great spots throughout the city to watch the runners. Click here for course map. Actually, it will be hard to avoid seeing the runners on this day if you are visiting Stockholm. Keep in mind that you should avoid driving or taking a bus or taxi during the day as many streets will be closed off. Stick to walking, ferries and/or subways! If you are going to the airport during the day... plan accordingly and give yourself some extra time. Another thing to think about, as a visitor, is that there will be (due to the recent Boston Marathon bombings) additional security throughout the city and airports.
Activities for runners and spectators outside the Stockholm Central Railway Station.
Photo: Martin Ekequist.
One good thing to know is that, if you are running in the race, you have free access to all subways, commuter trains and busses throughout the day. Just show your running bib or registration card. Getting from the Rival Hotel to the start/finish line at Stadion is very easy... take the subway (red line in the direction of Mörby Centrum) 5 stations to the Stadion station. Good luck runners!
AN event, sport, tourist information
Thursday, April 4, 2013

Festivals & Events in Stockholm- Spring Summer 2013

(EDIT: Be aware that this is the 2013 calendar. 2014 will be coming sometime in April) Not a cloud in sight for the past couple of weeks and just about all of the snow has melted away. This means it is time to look forward and see what the warmer months of the year have in store for us. This is a calendar of big events and festivals in Stockholm- things that tend to draw a lot of visitors to the city. Lots of big concerts this year thanks, in part, to the new Friends Arena. Hopefully this calendar will help you plan your trip! I will be constantly adding events as I find them, so check back from time to time. I will also be writing more in depth about many of these events as the dates approach. Of course, if you are staying at the Rival Hotel and need more detailed information of what is going on in Stockholm during your visit... contact me directly!

April

May
June
July (generally a slower month, event-wise, because many Swedes have vacation and leave the city.
August
  • July 30th to August 3rd- Stockholm Gay Pride Festival. Parade through the city on Saturday!
  • 2nd to 4th- Music & Arts Festival. Several artists, including... Prince!
  • 13th to 18th- The Stockholm Culture Festival. Free, free, free! Everything "cultural".
  • 13th to 17th- Ung08 (youth festival- also free!).
  • 15th- Leonard Cohen at Globe Arenas.
  • 17th- Midnattsloppet. Late evening 10K run around the island of Södermalm. Festival atmosphere!
  • 18th- DN outdoor concert with the Royal Philharmonic in Gärdet.
  • 22nd- DN Galan. International track & field meet at Stadion.
  • 23rd- The amusement park Gröna Lund turns 130 years old!
  • 23rd to 30th- Baltic Sea Music Festival.
  • 24th- Opening part for the new Tele2 Arena with Robyn, Kent and Lars Winnerbäck.
  • 24th & 25th- Stockholm Triathlon.
September
AN events, festivals, music, sport, tourist information
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