Midtsommer & Sankthans (Norwegian) / Midsommar (Swedish) / Midsommer (Danish)
Events & Activities
 
​An annual tradition at Muriel Iverson Williams Waterfront Park in Poulsbo 

The events will occur on Saturday, June 20, 2026

Note: Midtsommer is the Norwegian spelling, while Midsommar is the Swedish spelling.
The Maistang pole raising is Swedish, and the evening bonfire is a Norwegian tradition.  Both are part of this wonderful day's events.

Click here to watch a video from Love Kitsap showing part of the day in 2025.

There is also information about the Nordic Market below the story of the Summer Solstice Celebration.

Summer Solstice Celebration            
​Information provided by the Poulsbo Sons of Norway Leikarringen and written by https://www.kitsap.love

Hosted at the picturesque Muriel Iverson Williams Waterfront Park in downtown Poulsbo, this event offers two distinctive celebrations: an afternoon festival rooted in Swedish Midsommar traditions, culminating in the raising of a maistang (midsummer pole), and an evening bonfire inspired by the Norwegian observance of Midtsommer and St. Hans Eve.
Midsommar festivities in Poulsbo began in 1981, when the Skandia Folkdance Society relocated their event from Gig Harbor to Poulsbo’s Frank Raab Park. After Skandia’s move to St. Edwards State Park in the early 2000s, the Poulsbo Sons of Norway proudly took up the tradition, bringing it closer to the heart of their community. For over two decades, the Muriel Iverson Williams Waterfront Park has been home to Poulsbo’s beloved Midsommar celebrations. Today, the festivities are organized by Poulsbo Leikarringen and the Poulsbo Sons of Norway Vikings.

​These cherished traditions reflect the spirit of Scandinavian villages, now shared with the Pacific Northwest.
What makes Poulsbo’s celebration unique is its harmonious blend of two distinct interpretations of the summer solstice:
● Swedish Midsommar: In Sweden, Midsommar is a national holiday celebrated on a Saturday between June 20th and June 26th. Villages, towns, and cities across Sweden adorn and raise maistang—large poles decorated with greenery and flowers—symbolizing spring, life, warmth, and beauty. Dancing around the pole, singing traditional songs, and wearing flower crowns are central to the celebration. In keeping with these time honored traditions, Poulsbo Leikarringen will host an afternoon Midsommar pole raising, complete with live Scandinavian folk music, flower crown making, and traditional performances by Leikarringen’s talented youth dancers.
● Norwegian Midtsommer: In Norway, Midtsommer is celebrated on June 23rd, known as Sankthansaften (St. Hans Eve), the evening before the feast day of John the Baptist. This tradition blends pre-Christian pagan customs with Christian influences, most famously marked by large bonfires near beaches or water. Once linked to mystical and superstitious practices, today’s celebrations are primarily secular, offering a festive way to welcome the summer solstice. In Poulsbo, the Sons of Norway Vikings bring this tradition to life with a spectacular bonfire on the shores of Liberty Bay, lighting up the evening sky and honoring the longest day of the year.
This event is proudly coordinated by Kristina Halvorson, President of Poulsbo Leikarringen, with evening bonfire leadership by the Poulsbo Vikings.

About Poulsbo Leikarringen:  Poulsbo Leikarringen is dedicated to preserving and sharing Scandinavian heritage through traditional folk dance, music, and community events.
About Poulsbo Sons of Norway: Poulsbo Sons of Norway is a fraternal organization dedicated to preserving Norwegian heritage, fostering community, and celebrating Nordic connections.

​Celebrate Midsommar in Poulsbo and experience vibrant Scandinavian culture with friends and family. Admission is free!

Some items you may see at the Market and be available for purchase

Rosemaling by Marilyn Hansen

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