One of my favorite Chicago street festivals each year is Andersonville Midsommarfest. I am drawn by the wide range of musical acts that perform there, delicious food from the likes of Reza’s and Andie’s, and mojitos. Another wonderful aspect of this particular street festival is the diversity of people that it draws. I’m always surprised by it. Pick a demographic and I would be shocked if you didn’t find it. I even saw some Amish people once!

I love the festival so much, in fact, that I have no complaints about it. Well, with one exception. In the weeks that lead up to it people are constantly screwing with the name as well as the purpose for the festival. Mid Summer Fest!? But it’s not even half way through June! Well I am here to correct you – so that you don’t continue to annoy me. (I like to call this good service through self-service, or self-service through good service. Pick a direction.)

Well it isn’t Mid-summer Fest or Midsummerfest or Middle of the Summer Festival, it is Midsommarfest! And Midsommarfest is celebrated around the time of the summer solstice – that is – the longest day of the year. This happens to occur in June on the 20th or 21st. Well now that you know what the deal is with the timing – why is there a street fest in Andersonville to celebrate it?

Andersonville has historically been the area of Chicago with the highest concentration of Swedes. Sure, the eldergays and lesbians have moved in along with families looking to be close to the city and the red line but still be able to afford a 2-bedroom, but the neighborhood is still flocked with Swedish heritage. From the Swedish American Museum Center to well-known Swedish Bakery and even Ann Sather’s, a large number of Andersonville’s businesses are or once were Swedish-owned. So how does this link in to a street festival? Well, as you might expect, the Swedish celebrate a festival this time of the year and have going as far back as pre-Christian times when the holiday was a fertility festival. I always thought that maypole looked a little like a penis… And there you are dancing around it!

So please, the next time you start typing “Midsummer…” – hit back space a few times and spell it correctly. In the end it is all about going out and having a good time this weekend, but you should at least have a passing knowledge of what you are celebrating before gorging on Falafel and chugging Miller Lite (neither of which, mind you, are in any way Swedish).

 

PS: For cheap beer hit up Simon’s Tavern. They usually have a great special on drinks!