One of the many revelers who enjoyed the sun and fun at the NYC Swedish Midsummer Festival in Battery Park City.
On June 11, DOWNTOWN’s CEO and Publisher Grace A. Capobianco biked to the Robert F. Wagner Park in Battery Park City where she joined New Yorkers of Swiss descent and others in the celebration of the annual New York City Swedish Midsummer Festival. Accompanied by DOWNTOWN’s Executive Maltise, Barclay Capobianco,
Grace drew a crowd as seen in the image above. Barclay quickly made friends with Tribeca resident, Amaya Laeben, daughter of Taryn Laeben, Senior Vice President, North America for Kate Spade.
The NYC Swedish Midsummer Festival is an annual event that promotes and supports Swedish culture in New York, and offers up traditional activities such as dancing, traditional fiddle music, the making of the traditional Mid-Sommer Krans or head wreaths, as well as an array of customary Swedish games. And don’t forget delicious Swedish food!
Swedish women embrace their heritage and each other at the Midsummer Festival.
The festival took place from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm and began with the decoration of the Maypole, as European folk festival-tradition demand, was erected by participants throughout the event. It followed a speech by the Honorary Consul General of Sweden in New York, David E. R. Dangoor, who welcomed the community and highlighted the importance of the celebration.
The participants, both adults and children all crowned with the just-made flower wreaths, picnicked on the grass enjoying the view of the Hudson river and traditional food from Swedish food stands such as Fika Restaurant, AQ Kafe/Aquavit, Smorgas Chef, Crepe du Nord, Gigino’s at Wagner Park, Red Rooster Harlem and The Shop At Scandinavia House.
Festival goers feast on a full array of Swedish delicacies!
To give an even more traditional twist to the event was Ross Sutter, one of the best-known musicians and singers of Scandinavian, Scottish, and Irish songs in America.
Members of the Barnklubben Elsa Rix and of the Swedish Folk Dancers of New York joined him by involving participants to dance around the Maypole on the notes of Paul Dahlin & Friends’ music, a band of the American Swedish Institute.
The NYC Swedish Midsummer Festival was co-sponsored by the Consulate General of Sweden in New York and the Battery Park City Parks Conservancy with the support of SWEA International New York Chapter. Some other distinguished contributors featured Barbro Osher Pro Suecia Foundation, David and Ide Dangoor, Scandinavian Airlines, SEB, Skanska USA Civil Inc., Swedbank, Swedish Match, The Heimbold Foundation, Volvo Group North America, and Ambassador and Mrs. Lyndon L. Olson Jr.
Barclay gets his just desserts from Amaya as the sets on Battery Park City.
—Ludovica Martella