What are you most looking forward to this October in Stockholm? We’re having a hard time deciding amongst all the fun, interesting, and exciting events this month! There is good music, food festivals and markets, films and art to see, and spooky Halloween happenings. Whatever you’re into, you can find it in the Swedish capital; pull on that coat and get out there!
Here are the best events in Stockholm this October:
Wednesday 2nd – Sunday 6th October
CinemAfrica Film Festival
This year, a total of 45 films will be shown at various locations in Stockholm for the CinemAfrica Film Festival. The theme this year is “decolonization.” Many of the films have either English text or are filmed in English. You can purchase tickets for individual films, or you can purchase a gold card for 600 SEK, which includes festival opening, membership, and an unlimited number of films during the festival.
Wednesday 2nd October
Stockholm Improv Comedy Club at The Liffey
Every Wednesday night starting on the 2nd, you can celebrate getting over the week’s hump with a little comedy. Watch The Splash perform a fast-paced comedy show made up on the fly! Tickets for the shows can be bought in advance or at the door, for 80 SEK. Who wouldn’t appreciate a midweek laugh? Other dates this month are the 9th, 16th, 23rd, and 30th.
Mapei at Nalen
Mapei is a Swedish-American whose work has been compared to that of M.I.A. and Amanda Blank. Her hit song “Don’t Wait,” well known on its own, gained more popularity when it was remixed by Chance the Rapper. Tickets to her concert are 165 SEK for those under 26 years, and 220 SEK for those over 26.
Thursday 3rd – Sunday 6th October
Stockholm Craft Week
During Craft Week, galleries, studios, and museums around Stockholm and Värmdö will host events, seminars, and exhibitions. Included in this field are everyday objects, sculpture, installations, and more. Are you interested in learning about glass sculpting? What about seeing acrobats perform? Many of the events are free of charge. Some have limited number of seats so peruse the program to ensure you get to the events that excite you the most!
Chew at Ringen Centrum
Chew is a food festival that brings you a variety of opportunities, including food and beer tastings, workshops, and games. The events have different price listings, so be sure to look at the website and book your favorite tastings online. Fingers crossed that we will see you at the Chef’s Table!
Friday 4th – Sunday 6th October
Open House Stockholm
Open House returns to Stockholm for the third year. Take a look at some of the city’s most interesting buildings through free guided tours. Some of these buildings are not available to the public throughout the year and are well worth seeing, whether you’re into architecture, history, or interior design (or, like us, you’re just kinda nosy).
Saturday 5th October
St. Francis Day in Kungsträdgården
Francis of Assisi, an Italian monk born in the late 12th century, had a great love for animals and nature. In celebration of this love, KPN will host a family fair where everyone, and their pets, are welcome. There will be a family blessing, free pony rides, a bouncy castle, and performances.
Sabina von Essen at Magnusson Fine Wine
This exhibit will present work created by artist Sabina von Essen over the past year. Sabina studied engineering, and lacks a formal art education, which works to her advantage. She has the opportunity to create her own rules, to try anything! Sabina’s work reflects her own perspective of Stockholm and the Stockholm Archipelago.
Local Natives at Slaktkyrkan
Local Natives are an indie rock band from Los Angeles, California. They are now on tour with their fourth album, Violet Street. Tickets are 320 SEK.
Sunday 6th October
VinoKilo at Downtown Camper by Scandic
Shop vintage clothes at this pay-by-the-kilo event. There will be a variety of sizes and styles of clothes, as well as accessories. Get your ticket online for free, or pay a small entrance fee at the door. This sale is coming to us from Germany; we are so excited to freshen our wardrobes with some classic vintage pieces!
Southside Johnny & The Asbury Jukes at Berns
This band has worked closely with Steven Van Zandt and Bruce Springsteen – definitely a good sign. They’ve been delivering energetic performance for over 30 years. If you like rock, you want to see Southside Johnny & The Asbury Jukes perform live! Tickets are 495 SEK.
Everything Must Fall at Bio Valentino
Rehad Desai’s documentary Everything Must Fall follows the demonstrations, negotiations, protests, and hopes from the university student movement in South Africa. After the film, which is in English, there will be a discussion about the structures of oppression in higher education. Tickets to the film and discussion are 91 SEK.
Monday 7th – Monday 14th October
Nobel Calling at Nobel Prize Museum
In the beginning of October, the Nobel Laureates will be nominated. In celebration of this, of those who aspire to help humanity, the Nobel Prize Museum will host a week of events to focus on research, science, literature and peace. At the events, which are held at various locations in Stockholm, you will have the opportunity to meet Nobel laureates, scientists and others.
Monday 7th October
Mental Health Evening at Södra Teatern
Take an evening to hear about and discuss mental health. Topics that will be discussed include positive and negative stress, screen time, and anxiety. As the darkness of winter approaches, it is a great time to review how best to care for yourself! Tickets for the event are 350 SEK.
Wednesday 9th – Saturday 12th October
Södertälje International Food Festival
Come and try out dishes from 15 countries! France, Thailand, Greece, Italy and Mexico are some of the countries whose food will be presented at this year’s food festival (previously known as the International Street Market). Tables will be set up in the square so that you can enjoy your meal.
Thursday 10th – Sunday 13th October
Affordable Art Fair at Nacka Strandmässan
The Affordable Art Fair is for seasoned collectors and for first-time art buyers. Artists, both local and international, will be selling their works. In addition to the art, you can enjoy workshops, informational talks, and a chance to relax at the café. Ticket prices vary, depending on when you purchase them and which day you would like to attend. The price range is 95 to 350 SEK.
Thursday 10th – Sunday 13th October
The Baking and Chocolate Festival at Stockholmsmässan
The tastiest festival around! Pastry chefs and chocolate lovers, Magnus Johansson and Tony Olsson, run this festival together for those who are like-minded and appreciate the sweet things in life. You can take a class about chocolate and health, or a course on creating the perfect mousse. Onsite tickets are 190 SEK for one day, and 260 SEK for two days. Purchase your tickets online beforehand for a discounted price.
Friday 11th – Sunday 20th October
Stockholm Jazz Festival
This year’s jazz festival will have approximately 160 concerts around the city. Tickets are sold separately for each concert. Tove and Ingvar Jensen are the owners of the Stockholm Jazz Festival, and they develop the festival throughout the year to create an incredible experience for the attendees. This festival is one of Stockholm’s largest events, and it continues to grow each year.
Friday 11th October
Girls Get Equal at Fryshuset
This free event aims to inspire females. There will be a speech from Linnéa Claeson, a panel about stereotypes, goodie bags, music, and a chance to learn some self-defense from female instructors. We love to see events like this in Stockholm!
Saturday 12th October
Farmers Market in Järna
Buy locally produced foods at this market, while supporting your local community. You will also be able to buy lunch from one of the food trucks at the market. If you’re interested in selling your produce, you can find contact info on the Facebook event.
Lion King at Bio & Bistro Capitol
Come and enjoy the classic Disney film! Simba is destined to be king of his pride someday, but his uncle, Scar, has plans of his own to rule the lion kingdom. The film will be shown with the original English. Tickets are range from 160 to 230 SEK.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YkULiFjPj_U
Ice Cream Brunch at Ljunggren
Ben & Jerry’s ice cream and the Swedish NGO Nema Problema are bringing people together over ice cream to celebrate everything that we share in common as members of humanity. In addition to ice cream, there will be music, and activities that challenge your perspectives of what you share in common with others.
Season Premiere at KIOSK 013
To start off the season, KIOSK 013 is bringing the Spanish artist, Sugar Free, to Sweden for the first time! Sugar Free quickly gained popularity in the underground music community when she and Fonte founded their own event series, Coma. Sugar Free will perform with the KIOSK residents, Cosmo Jonsson, Alex Scott and Max Brennan. To attend the season premiere, you must be a KIOSK member and purchase a ticket, for 220 SEK.
Sunday 13th – Sunday 20th October
Intrum Stockholm Open at Kungl. Tennishallen
Watch a tennis match in a building that brings a historical element to the game. As the week progresses, tickets become more expensive and the matches become more high stakes.
Monday 14th – Sunday 20th October
Monsters of Film
A scary film festival for the spookiest month! If you like horror, sci-fi, the fantastic, the provocative, then you will want to come to see these movies. In order to attend the events, you must be a member. Membership costs 100 SEK. The festival ticket is 100 SEK, which includes most of the films in the festival. Some films do require special tickets bought separately.
Thursday 17th October
Cher at Friends Arena
The last time Cher performed in Sweden was 14 years ago on her “Farewell” tour. She’s back with the “Here We Go Again” tour, tickets for which range from 550 to 1520 SEK.
Kayumari Calling at Noden
Have you tried Free Flow yet? Now is your chance! Free Flow allows you a chance to experience music fully, by remaining sober, being silent on the dance floor so that you can appreciate the music, and being respectful of others. This is a safe environment for you to let out emotions or stress, to connect, to let music engulf you. Free Flow is donation based.
Friday 18th – Sunday 20th October
Halloween at Gröna Lund
In celebration of Halloween, Gröna Lund will open during certain days this autumn. If you miss it this time around, you can also go from 25th October to 3rd November. All of the rides will be open; the park will be decorated for Halloween. Tickets are limited due to the construction of the new roller coaster, so reserve your ticket early!
Friday 18th – Saturday 19th October
Somewhere at the Beginning at Dansens Hus
Talented dancer and choreographer Germaine Acogny uses her family’s history to tell a story of colonialism, oppression, and the future. Acogny’s style of dance is a blend of West African dance from her upbringing, and of contemporary dance and ballet from her time studying in France. Tickets for the show range from 97 to 345 SEK.
Sunday 20th October
SYML at Debaser Bar Brooklyn
Brian Fennell of the band Barcelona broke away to do his own solo music, as SYML. The name SYML is a nod toward his Welsh heritage, as the word means “simple” in Welsh. Tickets for the concert are 180 SEK.
Wednesday 23rd October
Michael Bublé at Ericsson Globe
Inspired by the music of artists such as Frank Sinatra and Tony Bennett, Canadian singer-songwriter Michael Bublé gives us pop songs as well as jazz in the old-school style. Tickets for his show range from 650 SEK to 1450 SEK.
Friday 25th October
Noces/Agon/Rite of Spring at Royal Swedish Opera
In this show, you will see three interpretations of Igor Stravinsky’s work, each choreographed by one of the talented Preljocaj, Balanchine and Béjart. There will also be showings on the 28th and 30th. Ticket prices for this show begin at 110 SEK.
Saturday 26th – Sunday 27th October
Harmoni-Expo at Solnahallen
The Harmoni-Expo fair is bursting with possibilities. This year, the fair will have 300 exhibitors, over 100 workshops and presentations, hands-on treatments, and products available for purchase, such as jewelry, crystals, and self-development books. We can’t wait to have our auras photographed! Tickets for the show are 140 SEK for one day and 200 SEK for two days.
https://www.visitstockholm.com/events/fairs/harmoni-expo–swedens-largest-alternative-fair-for-body-mind–soul/
Saturday 26th October
Story Party at Fandado
Bad dates are something most people end up experiencing; the masterminds behind Story Party take those horrific dating stories and turn them into humor (and thank goodness, because we needed a better way to remember those dates!). So, if you are ready to laugh at others’ stories, and maybe share your own failed dating experience, buy a ticket for 300 – 350 SEK and head to the True Dating Stories comedy show!
Tuesday 29th October
TEDxKTHSalon at KTH Biblioteket
In this TEDx event, Sverker Sörlin, Rebecka Engström, and Loove Broms will discuss climate change and sustainability. Seating is limited, so be sure to reserve your free ticket as soon as possible!
Wednesday 30th October
Woodstock 50 Years at Cirkus
To celebrate the iconic rock festival, Woodstock, eight Swedish artists will perform their own version of their favorite songs from Woodstock. This event is meant to remind us of the feeling and the energy of the original Woodstock. Tickets range from 595 to 1155 SEK.
Thursday 31st October
Midsommar Screening at Bio Rio
Are you looking for a low-key alternative to Halloween? Go to the movies and watch the horror film Midsommar! If you have already seen the film, this screening is the director’s cut, so there is an additional 30 minutes of scary included.
Ongoing in October
This Shared Circle at Färgfabriken
This Shared Circle showcases the work of Chilean artist, Pedro Neda. Neda is based in Helsinki, Finland. His work covers a wide range of media, including clay, paint, music, and more. The exhibit will at times be a working studio to Neda, and at other times, will be a clean gallery space. Entrance to Färgfabriken is 70 SEK.
Microsculpture at Naturhistoriska Riksmuseet
Levon Biss’s insect portraiture takes the microscopic world to the giant format. The British photographer’s work allows us to view the adaptations of insects and their beauty in stunning high-resolution detail. Admission to this exhibit is free.
Teaparty! at Hallwylska Museum
Staffan Bengtsson and Pia Staël von Holstein have collected teapots designed during the 20th century. Some of the teapots on display in this exhibit are more experimental, while others are classic. Many famous Swedish designers’ work is represented. Be sure to explore the rest of the museum on your visit!
Death in Old Town Tour
October is the perfect time of year to go on this scary tour, with everyone getting into the spooky Halloween spirit! This is a free tour that will last about 2 hours, with certain tours in English. On the tour, you will learn about Sweden’s missing WWII hero, the plague in Stockholm, and you will see a stunning view of City Hall and Lake Mälaren.
Homage to Humanity at Fotografiska
Jimmy Nelson has been photographing iconic cultures around the world for over 30 years now. In his photographs, the Dutch-British artist communicates to the viewer that we should be learning from these cultures, and protecting these beautiful remote places. Admission to Fotografiska is 165 SEK.
Night Logic at Prins Eugens Waldemarsudde
On Saturday 5th October, Meta Isæus-Berlin’s exhibit will open for a few months. The work in the exhibit was inspired by the change in the way we see the world during the night, whether it is realizing a painful truth, having bright insights, or questioning what we considered to be well-known. We are certainly intrigued, and can’t wait to see what Isæus-Berlin has created! Admission cost is 150 SEK.
The Arctic – While the Ice is Melting at Nordiska Museet
Opening on Thursday 10th October, the Nordic Museum opens an exhibit about the changes occurring in the Arctic. As climate changes, those who live in the Arctic must adapt quickly and change their way of life. This exhibit gives us the chance to meet those who live in the Arctic by way of several films. This issue that affects everyone, is already dramatically affecting those who live in the northern regions of the world.
If you’re a business or organisation that would like us to add your event to next month’s calendar, please contact us at hello [@] scandinaviastandard [dot] com. Thank you!
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