Celebrating Summer, Swedish Style

Folk dancing in age-old garb around a raised maypole ensued Sunday as Agoura Hills played host to the ninetieth annual Swedish Midsummer Festival. Descents from across the southland flocked to Vasa Park in Triunfo Canyon to soak up traditional tunes and to savor sweet fare. 

Midsummer's Day in Sweden is the celebration of the end of the winter season and the beginning of sunshine and warmer temperatures. Each year, the Swedish American Central Association of Southern California, which was organized in 1920 to encourage the preservation of Swedish customs, celebrates the holiday in Agoura Hills. 

"In Sweden, people will take the day before and the day after the festival off of work, making it a three- or sometimes even four-day holiday," said Dr. Jacqueline Ahlen, former president and current treasurer of the organization. "The California festival started 90 years ago in Pasadena, but the Swedish organization Vasa bought this land in the 1950s, and they've been having the festival here ever since."

Attendees began arriving as early as 8:30 a.m. on Sunday, awaiting the raising of the maypole at noon. Dozens danced to the authentic Swedish tunes of the Vastkusens Spelmanslag band, and at 2 p.m., a procession of present and past Midsummer Queens—some as far back as 1941—made their way through the park. 

"I've been coming for the last 10 years," said Kelly Webb, who traveled from San Pedro with her husband to spend the entire day at the festival. "It's something we look forward to every year. It's a great way to enjoy the sunshine and celebrate my heritage."

Celebrants savored popular treats—"vaflers," waffles with sweet sour cream and jam, and "aebleskivers," tennis ball-shaped pancakes topped with powdered sugar. Besides dessert, booths sold traditional wares and offered Swedish games. 

Ann-Kristin Karling ran the "trombola" or raffle booth. "Kids pay $1 and get to draw two tickets out of a drum," she explained. "If their ticket has a symbol on it, they get to enter the booth and shop."

Entrance into the festival was $5. Children 12 and under were admitted for free.  Proceeds for the event funded the Swedish American Central Association.

"This celebration is such a great tradition for my family," said Heather Codding, who has attended the June festival her entire life. "I'm so proud to be a part of this organization and of this culture."