Happy Hour – Deck Lights!
Friday, May 16, 6:30 pm
The Rental Manager and a team of Member volunteers (Thank you to Dan, Ed, Matt, and Catherine!) have installed 200 small light bulbs above the deck, so for this Happy Hour we’ll be in the back (NOT by the Pavilion).
- Food: Sausage with mashed potatoes and peas
- Beverages
- Streaming music
- Donation jar
Event chair: Peter
Eurovision Song Contest Viewing Party
Saturday, May 17, 3–6 pm
Switzerland was the winner last year, which means that the Grand Finale of the Eurovision Song Contest 2024 will take place at St. Jakobshalle in Basel, Switzerland. We’ll stream the broadcast live on the Club’s 85-inch flatscreen in the Members Lounge.
Visit the official website for more info: https://eurovision.tv/
- Light refreshments available
Event chairs: Leena and Birgitta
Sweden’s entry is from Finland
Yes, it’s complicated. Sweden’s 2025 Eurovision entry, KAJ, is a band from Finland’s Swedish-speaking minority. They are representing Sweden with their song “Bara bada bastu,” a comedic ode to Finnish sauna culture. This song is sung in the Vörå dialect. It’s the first Swedish-language song the country has submitted since 1998.
See below for a compilation of “Bara bada bastu” fan videos from all over the world.
Sunday Fika
Sunday, June 8, 2 – 5 pm
Somewhat simpler and more spontaneous than the Brits’ afternoon tea tradition, Swedish people of all ages and genders are partial to the custom of “fika”, enjoying it casually at work with colleagues or opting for a more elaborate outing with friends at the weekend.
“Let’s do fika,” is one of the most uplifting messages you can receive from a long-lost friend. And the social aspect is as important as the delicious pairing of steaming coffee and sugary pastry – Swedish cinnamon bunsbeing arguably the most popular fika accompaniment.
Event Chairs: Tina and Christine
Red Cross Blood Drive
Wednesday, June 11, 11:15 am – 4:45 pm
Severe Blood Shortage, Donors Urgently Needed
Right now, eligible and healthy donors are strongly urged to make an appointment to provide lifesaving blood products to patients. Please sign up to give now.
To schedule your appointment visit
REDCROSSBLOOD.ORG
USE SPONSOR CODE: SCANDINAVIAN
Sankt Hans Aften Bonfire
Friday, June 20, 7–10 pm
While all of the Scandinavian and Baltic countries celebrate the summer solstice, the way in which each recognize this event varies. In Denmark, the solstice is tied to the feast of Saint John the Baptist, known in Denmark as Sankt Hans (“Hans” being the diminutive for Johannes, or John) and celebrated by lighting a big bonfire.
Originally, the cause for celebration of midsummer arose from a pagan belief that in the period around the summer solstice nature would have reached a peak in the sense that humans, plants, soil, trees and even springs were filled with energy coming from the sun and that from this point on nature’s energy stores would deteriorate as the hours of daylight and sunshine gradually decreased.
On top of the bonfire we’ll put a straw witch. The story goes that when the witch is burnt, she flies to Bloksbjerg in Germany, which was through to be the location of a witch gathering.
- Food and beverages will be available
Event chairs: Hedyeh and Peter
Midsummer Celebration
Sunday, June 22, 1–4pm
Celebrate Midsummer with Ring Dance around the Maypole to traditional Swedish music by Wivan Sundman.
There will be Hot Dogs, Hamburgers, Strawberries, Beverages, Fiskdamm etc for sale.
Fun for all ages.
Event Chairs: Marianne and Jennifer
Christmas Market
Saturday, December 6, 10 am – 3 pm