The harvest festival on the island of Öland
Gothenburg cubed: Picasso, acrobatic and in love, on show for a limited period
From 7 August to 3 December, Pablo Picasso's early work, looking at acrobats, families and love, will be shown at Gothenburg's Museum of Art. The development of cubism and the colourful grace of the circus will be central themes of the exhibition, which comprises Picasso's work between 1906 and 1939. For more information, visit www.goteborg.com.
Snakes and Apes take over the Universeum
Gothenburg's Universeum is home to all kinds of exotic guests during the autumn months. On show until January, Deadly Beauties is a unique exhibition of poisonous reptiles, featuring green mambas, emperor scorpions and other scary creatures. Meanwhile, a family of Goeldi's monkeys have moved into the Rainforest. These endangered marmosets are over on a visit from South America until early winter. For more information, visit www.goteborg.com.
Metal to your ears: Iron Maiden play the Scandinavium
Rock music comes to Gothenburg on 20 November in no uncertain manner, with the arrival of Iron Maiden. Following the release of their new studio album, Eddie and the band are out on yet another major world tour, playing the Scandinavium Arena for the tenth (and perhaps noisiest) time. New songs will be paraded alongside old favourites such as Run to the Hills and Wildest Dreams. For more information, visit www.goteborg.com.
For just £45 pp including taxes, direct flights to Gothenburg's centrally-located Landvetter airport are available six times a week with Sweden's low-cost airline, FlyMe , from London Stansted. Flight time under 2 hours.
Öland's harvest festival 2006
28 September "“ 1 October The island of Öland, where the current Swedish royal family spend their summer holiday, comes alive during its annual harvest festival. Between 28 September and 1 October the island celebrates its culinary diversity through a host of celebrations, including a fish fair, cooking competitions and specially themed menus as well as fire sculptures, square dance shows and musical concerts. Restaurants, galleries and handicraft boutiques are open throughout the celebrations and 'Night of Art' sees local artists open their studios to the visiting public.
Why not combine the festival with a nice relaxing stay at Hotel Skansen Spa in Färjestaden? Designed around the old courthouse which once stood in the grounds, the hotel offers five spa treatment rooms, a pool, sauna, jacuzzi, meditation and yoga room, wine bar and a fine whisky cellar with a wide range of whiskies from all over the world.
Linnaeus celebrations in Uppsala
In 2007 Uppsala will celebrate the 300th anniversary of world-famous botanist, Linnaeus´s birth. The tercentenary festivities will culminate on Linnaeus's birthday, 23 May 2007, with a national celebration in Uppsala. During the anniversary week, 20"“27 May, Uppsala will host a packed programme of activities. Regular updates at www.linneuppsala.se.
Throughout 2007 you can enjoy a wide variety of events in Uppsala "“ or just come and absorb the Linnaean atmosphere. In the centre of the city is Linnaeus's home and botanical garden, now the Linnaeus Garden. Just beyond the city limits lies his country residence, Hammarby. In the countryside around Uppsala you can still follow the paths Linnaeus used for his natural history excursions.
ELD "“ Festival of Fire
21 – 22 October ELD celebrations in the Stockholm archipelago
As winter approaches, the Stockholm Archipelago prepares for one of Sweden's most unique festivals "“ Eld (fire in Swedish). Over the weekend of 21-22 October, from north to south, the Archipelago will be aglow with bonfires, torchlight processions and candlelit dinners to celebrate the turn of the season. A whole host of events will be taking place over the two days as numerous islands open their doors.
See www.oppenskargard.se for more information.
For more on Sweden at ITKT
