Walpurgis Night, on Tuesday, is the night of the bonfire in Sweden, traditionally believed to ward off evil spirits, but is now a festive way of incinerating excess gardening and household odds and ends. Here is a list of bonfires in Skellefteå.
Many of these come from Visit Skellefteå and Svenska Kyrkan.
Bonfires:
Prästbordet, Parish House in Skellefteå (near the Landskyrkan):
- Organizer: The Swedish Church
- Celebration starts at 18:00 with spring songs and speeches.
- Bonfire will be lit at 18:00.
- Food & Drinks: Sale of refreshments and hot dogs.
- Concert: At 20:00 PM at Landskyrkan featuring Anders Lindberg.
Skråmträsk Prayer House:
- Organizer: The Swedish Church
- Festivities start at 18:00.
- Bonfire lighting at 20:00.
- Activities: Speeches, prayers, refreshments, bonfires for grilling, and a lottery.
EFS in Ostvik:
- Organizer: EFS
- Celebration from 17:00 to 19:00.
- Spring supper and bonfire by the lake.
Anderstorp Church:
- Organizer: The Swedish Church
- Festivities start at 18:00 and last until 20:30.
- Activities: Choir singing, opportunities to grill sausages, and a café.
Bergsbyn Church:
- Organizer: The Swedish Church
- Celebration begins at 18:30 with the bonfire lighting at 19:00.
- Activities: Speeches, spring songs, refreshments, and hot dogs for sale.
Ersmark Church:
- Organizer: The Swedish Church
- Celebration from 18:00 to 19:30.
- Activities: Speeches, spring songs, refreshments, and option to grill sausages.
Sandfors Prayer House:
- Organizer: The Swedish Church
- Festivities start at 19:00 with choir singing and refreshments.
Medle Prayer House:
- Organizer: Medle EFS
- Celebration begins at 19:30.
- Bonfire lit by the pond by the scouts.
- Activities: Spring songs, lottery, and hot dogs for sale.
Mobacken Church:
- Organizer: The Swedish Church
- Spring service in the church at 19:00, followed by outdoor festivities starting at 20:00.
- No bonfire, but small fires for grilling available.
- Café will be open, with speeches and spring songs.
Kåge:
- Bonfire lit at 18:30 on the gravel pitch opposite Preem.
- Small fires available for grilling sausages.
Bureå, Myggvalla:
- Organizer: Bureå IF
- Bonfire lit at 18:30 at Myggvalla.
- Activities: Hamburgers grilled, fire department showcasing a fire truck.
- Speeches and spring songs at Café Träffpunkten before the bonfire at 18:00.
Skelleftehamn, Guldvallen:
- Organizer: Rönnskär Railcare IF
- Festivities start at 18:30. Bonfire lit at 19:00.
- Activities: Fishing pond, hamburgers, refreshments, and spring songs.
Boliden, Café Guldkanten:
- Organizer: The Swedish Church
- Celebration from 18:30 to 20:30.
- Refreshments for sale, outdoor equipment available for grilling sausages.
Lövånger, at the campground:
- Organizer: Lövångerbygdens Utveckling
- Festivities start at 17:00. Bonfire lit at 19:00.
- Activities: Speeches, spring songs, hamburgers, coffee, and refreshments for sale.
Hökmark:
- Bonfire lit at 18:30 next to Hökmark's school.
- Refreshments available.
Drängsmark, Folkets hus:
- Organizer: Centrumhörnan in Drängsmark
- Bonfire lit at 18:30.
- Festivities start at 18:00 with hot dog and refreshment sales, lottery, children's fishing pond, and small fireplaces for grilling.
Burträsk, at the marina:
- Organizer: Burträsk Together
- Festivities start at 17:30 with a torchlight procession from the church to the marina. Bonfire lit around 18:00.
- Activities: Spring songs, speeches, coffee, hot dog grilling, and a lottery.
Bodbysunds community center, Burträsk:
- Organizer: Bodbysunds Community Center Association
- Bonfire lit at 6:30 PM. There will be a treasure hunt for children, and attendees can grill their own sausages.
Ljusvattnet, Burträsk:
- Organizer: Ljusvattnets Village Association and Främjarna
- Festivities start at 6:30 PM. Bonfire lit at 7:00 PM.
- Outdoor refreshment sale, fireplaces for grilling, a quiz with small prizes, and a treasure hunt for children.
Kusmark, at the mini golf course:
- Organizer: Kusmark's Community Committee and Folkets hus
- Bonfire lit at 6:00 PM.
- Alongside the bonfire, there will be spring songs, and refreshments will be available for sale.
What is it?
Sweden throws open the doors to spring with Walpurgis (or Valborg, short for Valborgsmässoafton)! This festive tradition on April 30 marks the end of winter and the promise of warmer days.
As dusk falls, bonfires blaze, and people gather to listen to celebratory speeches and songs that welcome the new season and a brighter future.
Expect some Swedish flags! Walpurgis coincides with King Carl XVI Gustaf's birthday, making it a double celebration of spring and national pride.