Tuesday, May 28, 2024
New ‘Midsummer Celebration’ Shares Scandinavian Traditions at Old World Wisconsin
Celebrate the summer solstice with old world traditions from sipping ale by the bonfire to dancing around the Maypole
EAGLE, Wis. – Experience the mysterious magic of a Scandinavian “Midsomer,” or Midsummer, celebration at Old World Wisconsin. This new evening event for adults 21 and above takes place at Old World Wisconsin on Saturday, June 15 from 4:30 to 9 p.m. An ancient seasonal tradition in Norway, Sweden, Finland, Iceland and Denmark, Midsummer celebrations have been held since the Iron Age as a means of shaking off winter and ushering in a bright, cheerful summer of bounty, fertility and prosperity. Usually held in pastoral areas around a bonfire, Midsummer is a time to connect with family and community while also enjoying the fruits of a fertile spring.
"Journeying through Old World's wooded grounds and dancing around the Maypole in front of our Norwegian homestead is akin to entering a movie set filled with beauty, nature, and wonder," said Maria Comiskey, general manager of experiences and events at Old World Wisconsin. "Guests will truly feel transported to another time and place as they experience one of the longest days of light amidst our authentic Scandinavian environment."
The evening, filled with tastings from hand-picked local breweries offering barrel-and open-fermented traditional ales along with samples from special Old World-brewed casks, will also feature live music, head wreaths for guests, and a host of traditional cultural activities, from a bonfire to a Maypole dance. There will even be a Midsummer People's Choice best beer competition, where guests cast their vote. Tickets include 6-10 tastings, a special souvenir glass, and a passport to track stops and pours at local brewer stations. Purchase your tickets online in advance to secure your spot."
Wisconsin Historical Society members receive free general admission to Old World Wisconsin and a 10% discount on special events. Members are invited to pick up their complimentary Pastport at any of the Society’s 12 historic sites this season. Members earn stamps by visiting each site, working towards special discounts, fun prizes and the opportunity to earn a FREE year of membership.
About Old World Wisconsin
Old World Wisconsin is one of the Wisconsin Historical Society’s 12 historic sites and museums. Rated as one of the top attractions to take kids in the Milwaukee area, Old World Wisconsin is a 600-acre regional history attraction that features interactive environments and immersive stories of 19th-and early 20th-century Midwestern immigrant farm and rural life. The museum offers guests family-friendly, hands-on activities as they visit crossroads village and eight working farmsteads, explore heirloom gardens, experience beer brewing traditions, meet heritage animal breeds and try historic crafts and skills. Old World Wisconsin is located on Highway 67 just south of Eagle, Wisconsin, within daytrip distance of Milwaukee, Chicago and Madison. For more information and a list of upcoming events visit oldworldwisconsin.org or call (262) 594-6301. Wisconsin Historical Society members receive free general admission to this site during regular operating hours.
About the Wisconsin Historical Society
The Wisconsin Historical Society, founded in 1846, ranks as one of the largest, most active and most diversified state historical societies in the nation. As both a state agency and a private membership organization, its mission is to help people connect to the past by collecting, preserving and sharing stories. The Wisconsin Historical Society serves millions of people every year through a wide range of sites, programs and services. The Wisconsin Historical Foundation, a 501(c)(3) tax exempt organization, receives grants and private contributions benefitting the Wisconsin Historical Society and administers the membership program. For more information, visit www.wisconsinhistory.org.
