Summer Solstice 2011

Midsummer (Sankthans) is celebrated in Norway on the 23rd rather than the 21st. The party normally revolves around a bonfire, there will be a barbeque, the kids get to stay up late, the adult (and (particularly) adolescent) knock back a few beers: it's very casual, and good fun.

Truth be told, however, it's probably not the easiest celebration to join in unless you already know someone there: parties are normally (semi-)private, and many people go into the countryside/coast at that time (the school holidays will just have started, and the 23rd this year is a Thursday, which, during June and July, is effectively part of the weekend to most Norwegians).

W.

In southern Iceland the most well-known event is in þórsmörk and is open to the public.

it's a big bonfire with a couple hundred Icelanders wearing lopapeysur, getting drink, and strumming guitars. I personally didn't find it transcendant, although the landscape there is marvelous. The love of getting wasted in the wilds here is a little less marvelous IMO :)

St. Hans is celebrated on the 23rd of June in Norway as a family barbeque or late picnic. For tourists best place would probably be at Maihaugen open air museum in Lillehammer (starts at 17:30, bonfire is lit at 21 and it all ends 23:30), but the celebration is pretty laidback in Norway. Not so for Midsummer in Sweden, it's huge and always celebrated on friday, the 24th this year, starting at 13:00 dancing around the maypole going home for dinner afterwards and partying until late.

Thanks for the info everyone. That really helps with my trip planning. Maybe I'll stay in Iceland for the 21st and fly to Norway on the 22nd. Then I might get two celebrations!!