In Sweden, Midsummer has been a beloved local holiday for thousands of years. Traditionally, the solar festival has ancient roots in pagan nature worship. Today, it’s an excuse to get outside, explore local landscapes, and squeeze every last drop of joy out of the longest day of the year.
Here are a few tips from our Swedish friends at Fjällräven on how to do it right — plus a few gear recs to help you on your way.
Build a Linkup
A linkup is the perfect excuse to see and savor as many different landscapes as possible. Fortunately, there’s no better time to attempt ambitious mileage than the longest day of the year. Find a few objectives near you — whether they’re alpine lakes, parks, or swimming holes — and try to tag them all before sunset.
Key Gear: Pulling off a linkup is all in the planning. Scout out your route ahead of time, dial in your timing, and make sure you’ve got all the snacks, water, and layers to power you through a full day of adventure. Our pick for carrying all those provisions without holding you back: the Abisko Hike Lite 20, a svelte, lightweight daypack designed for high-mileage days.
Try Plogging
A deep appreciation for nature lies at the heart of the Midsummer holiday. The best way to show it? Go plog! From the Swedish term “plogga,” this activity ripples out greater good by combining jogging (or walking) with picking up litter. It’s a simple way to add instant stewardship to an outing on your favorite local trail system. Make it a plogging day with others ready to immerse in nature, connect, and give back.
Key Gear: As part volunteer effort, part adventure, a good day plogging throws everything your way, making smart layering a must. Fortunately, the Abisko Wool Hoodie (in both men’s and women’s versions) delivers across conditions, keeping you warm on shady days at high altitude, and wicking moisture as soon as you break a sweat.
Bike the Unfamiliar
Use the long daylight hours of the solstice to scout out a new favorite neighborhood route. Pick a new coffee shop, bakery, or brewery you and your friends have been dying to check out, and then plot an adventurous bike loop there and back.
Key Gear: Biking with a backpack is no fun, and not all of us are hardcore enough for bikepacking panniers. The perfect solution for the relaxed cyclist: the Hoja Snack Bag and bottle holder. It straps to your handlebars during the ride and unfurls a cross-body strap for easy carry on foot.
Go Nature Crafting
In Nordic tradition, foraging for wildflowers, weaving flower crowns, and moving intentionally through nature are all part of the quintessential Midsummer experience. If flower-collecting doesn’t fall within your area’s local LNT guidelines, take advantage of the long summer hours to preserve their beauty in a more artistic way: through watercolor painting, drawing, or any other of your favorite crafts.
Key Gear: A streamlined silhouette means the Vardag Totepack 22 carries like a hiking backpack, but its wide-mouth, top-loading opening is perfect for sliding in canvases, sketchbooks, and other art supplies — not to mention snacks, water, and layers for a full day out.
Picnic at Sunset
Midsummer doesn’t just recognize the longest day of the year; it also marks the longest sunset. Because of the sun’s position in the sky, it takes longer than usual to sink below the horizon — making this the perfect time to set up and soak it in. Unfurl a blanket at a beach, a hilltop, or a park and lay out a feast.
Key Gear: When the sun dips and the temps drop, don’t let a little chill ruin your picnic; stow the packable and windproof layer Keb Lätt Wind Jacket (available for both men and women). The low-profile hood lies flat when it’s not in use, and a water-resistant coating defends against light drizzle. The quick layer is an easy way to retain heat and eke every moment from that setting sun.
Host a Block Party
In Sweden, Midsummer is less about a formal celebration and more about gathering outside with friends, family, and good food — mixed in with a little silliness. Host your own version with a backyard barbecue, lawn games, and flower crown-making.
Want to truly embrace the spirit? Set up a homemade maypole. The greenery- and flower-covered poles anchor a traditional dance, and still serve as the centerpiece of many Swedish Midsummer celebrations. None of which would feel complete without kubb, a classic Swedish lawn game that blends aspects of bowling, horseshoes, and cornhole.
Don’t overthink it. Midsummer is simply an excuse to stay outside longer than usual and celebrate summer while it lasts.
This article is sponsored by Fjällräven.
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