Events and Traditions

Akvarell Museum (Watercolour Museum) Skärhamn
If you haven´t been to the Nordic Watercolour museum in Skärhamn, on the island of Tjörn,  this is a good time to visit. The current exhibition (until September 14) is California Light with watercolours from California from 1908 — 2008. The exhibition included David Hockney, Robert Crumb and others.
For more information see: www.akvarellmuseet.org
If you don´t have a car you can get there by bus. See: www.vasttrafik.se for a timetable.      

Gothenburg Culture Festival 2008
- August 12 — August 17
The culture festival has taken over from the Gothenburg party week (Göteborgs kalaset). The idea is to include more culture. For six days the streets and squares will be transformed into festival venues with a wide assortment of entertainment. The broad mix on offer guarantees that there will be activities and entertainment to suit all ages and tastes. The best thing of all is that it won't cost you anything.
For more information see: www.goteborg.com.

Handicraft Fair
- August 15 to August 17
Venue: Kronhuset (the oldest secular building in Göteborg) Postgatan. An exhibition and sale of classy Swedish handicrafts. You can meet the artists and buy their wares. Includes unique clothes, ceramics, pottery, glass, jewellery, carpentry and much more.

Göteborg Dance and Theatre Festival
- August 15 to August 23
International companies are invited to present a selection of their best performances within the fields of contemporary dance, theatre, new circus and performing arts. This is spread out at different venues in Göteborg.
The aim is to give inspiration to the cultural life of Göteborg as well as all of Sweden and to offer a week of festivities for the locals and visitors alike. The Festival also includes an extensive workshop and seminar programme. Being the only Festival of its kind in Sweden, it has become an important meeting place.
For more information see: www.festival.goteborg.se

Sailing race — Around Tjörn
- August 16
Tjörn runt - Sailing Competition Race This is a competition where both Olympic masters and family sailors compete together. It is a popular race to watch.
For more information see: www2.idrottonline.se/ (Swedish only)
 
International soccer match Sweden vs France
- August 20
Anniversary soccer match between Sweden and France at Ullevi
Tickets: Got Event Biljett tel. +46 31 81 10 20,

Kronhuset  (re-opening)
-August 23 - 24
Kronhuset has been renovated and a new area for audiences has been added.
The Göteborg Wind Orchestra and other artists will be appearing.
A Musical Toast 23/8 and 24/8 at 3.00 and 7.00.
For more information see: www.ticnet.se
 
Göteborg Aero Show 2008
-August 30 to August 31
Welcome to the 2008 Göteborg Aero Show  — a flying festival for the entire family! Displays, exhibitions and fun activities for all ages. The venue is the former airport in Torslanda.
The program will be continuously updated.
For more information see: www.aeroseum.se/english/index.html  

If you are interested in finding more out about the City of Göteborg you can check out: www10.goteborg.se

Fermented Herring party (Surströmming)Northern Sweden
If you try surströmming, or fermented Baltic herring you will be sure never to forget the experience. It is sold in cans, and when you open them a strong, foul smell is released.  Apparently you need to eat it several times before you really appreciate the taste. There is a hard core of “surströmming" devotees in northern Sweden, where they live virtually undisturbed by the rest of the world. The saying goes that “it smells like hell but tastes like heaven". It seems to be an acquired taste.
It is eaten with “tunnbröd" (thin, crispbread), potatoes and sour cream. Two guesses as to what you drink it with!
 
The short Swedish summer often finishes with a bang at the end of July. August can be a great month but the nights start getting darker and longer. People come back to work and the roads are more crowded and your social life can get going again. Autumn is also when people´s thoughts turn to decorating their homes and furniture shops such as IKEA are crowded. I feel it is a type of “nesting". We tend to feather our nests for the period of hibernation that we know is ahead of us. We prepare for the long winter. Let´s hope we still have some sunny days in store yet though!
 
There is a page in GP (Göteborgs Posten) every day with information as to what is on in Göteborg (Children, Music, Film, Talks, Exhibitions, and Miscellaneous). There is also a listing for areas outside Göteborg. You will be surprised as to how much you can understand, even if you have a limited knowledge of Swedish. It is called “Guiden" and it is in Part 3 of the newspaper.