Midsommar Fete
Saturday: A daylong party is a must as summer light stretches into the night. Swedes traditionally throw a Midsommar fête at which a flower-decked pole is raised amid singing and dancing. At the American Swedish Institute's family-friendly event, those festivities will be augmented with hand-craft demonstrations, storytelling, outdoor games, face painting, flower arranging and making floral head wreaths. Swedish jazz artist Mary Nelson will perform, and a new exhibition, "Amp Up! The Hagstrom Guitar Sensation," will open with an opportunity to try out the kind of instruments that Elvis and Frank Zappa once played. Traditional Midsommar fare will be available from Fika, the institute's popular cafe. (10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sat., June 20. $5-$10. American Swedish Institute, 2600 Park Av. S., Mpls. 612-871-4907, www.asimn.org.)
Mary Abbe
