Page 310 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Sweden

308  TR A VELLERS ’ NEEDS

ENTERTAINMENT IN SWEDEN

The range of cultural events and enter tain­ In parks, palace gardens and amusement
ment in Sweden is large and richly varied. parks, summer is a particularly eventful time,
The whole spectrum is covered from outdoor with artists of every imaginable kind putting
celebrations to mark local customs to top on a performance. Added to that are the
international acts performing in giant countless markets, festivals covering film,
arenas. The seasons have an effect on jazz, music, food, theatre, folklore, and much
what’s on: large city theatres tend to close more besides. Winter brings ski races and
during the summer and launch their new skating, indoor fairs and Christmas markets.
programmes of plays, opera and dance in Nightlife continues all year. There are
late August or early September. Meanwhile, excellent nightclubs and casinos in the major
summer reviews, popular comedies and local cities. Jazz clubs and pubs offer a wide range
historical plays are staged across the country. of live music to suit all tastes.
Sources of Information arena in question, but to ensure
A reliable source of infor mation admission it may be more
is Visit Sweden’s official tourist practical to book in advance,
and events guide on the Internet. with the help either of the hotel
This provides listings for every­ or a tourist information office.
thing from music and sport to Another alternative is to use
seasonal events such as Medieval a booking agency, such as
Week in Visby or the Vasaloppet ticnet.se, which allows you to
ski race in Dalarna. The site has purchase tickets to stage
links to the websites of shows, concerts and sports
Stockholm, Gothenburg and events online. At Box-office Dalhalla’s music stage (see p245) in a
Malmö, but also has details of in Stockholm, tickets can be dramatic quarry near Rättvik
events across the country. purchased over the counter for
Daily newspapers and free various events in Sweden and spectrum of public events.
local papers are an excellent beyond, and tickets ordered via Often such centres are home
source for regional events the event organizer can be to the local theatre company
such as concerts, theatre collected. Many tickets are also and orchestra.
performances and nightclubs. sold via ticket service outlets The major entertainment and
The tourist information offices across the country. event arenas, such as Ericsson
and most hotels also have Globen, Tele2 Arena and the
listings and can often help with Friends Arena in Stockholm,
advice and booking tickets. Major Arenas and the Malmö Arena in Malmö
Cultural Centres and Scandinavium in
In addition to the long­ Gothenburg, have a huge
Booking Tickets established, traditional theatres, audience capacity. International
Tickets for most events can many towns and cities have rock and pop concerts, charity
usually be bought at the box built multipurpose cultural galas and major sporting
office of the theatre or sports complexes offering a wide events are usually held at these
enormous venues.
In the summer, the large
outdoor stages, for example
at Skansen and Gröna Lund in
Stockholm, Liseberg in
Gothenburg and Dalhalla,
between Rättvik and Mora,
attract a wide range of jazz, folk
and classical artists alike.

Theatre
Sweden has almost 500 theatres
spread across the country. Many
are town or county theatres, but
there are also private theatres
with long traditions and small
Sea of people at the Philharmonic’s annual outdoor concert, Stockholm park and amateur theatres.

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Date 7th January 2013
Size 125mm x 217mm