Stromsburg Swedish Midsommar Festival

Stromsburg is the Swede Capital of Nebraska and has held its Midsommar festival since the early 1950s. It locks to the third full weekend in June because it follows the Swedish midsummer holiday rather than a convenient summer date, and the maypole dancing is the Midsommar tradition proper rather than generic festival programming. The weekend carries a smorgasbord billed as Taste of Sweden, Swedish pancakes with lingonberry sauce, dancing in traditional costume, a king and queen coronation, a grand parade, a carnival, a Sunday car show and a Swedish tractor pull. The Skjaldborg Vikings stage sword battles on the town square in leather vests, chainmail and steel helmets. Phone 402-363-1534.