The merry month of May brings all sorts of treasures, not least of which is the sun! You can finally take your child out without a snowsuit, stay in the parks for hours and perhaps even venture a toe in a splashpool! If you’re looking for more organised fun, here are the Your Living City top picks on activities with children in Stockholm for May.
Picture-book festival at Junibacken
The main Stage will host Bröderna Lindgren, Dockteatern Tittut, Boulevardteatern and Junibandet med vänner! The workshop tent will feature monster creation with Martin Widmark; cut-and-paste crafts with Lisen Adbåge and alphabet-fun with Nina Ulmaja. At the recital tent , you hear a lot of familiar voices, including Jujja Wieslander, Ulf Stark, Lena Sjöberg and Per Gustavsson. You are also welcome to visit our Signing Station to meet the guest stars, ask questions and get a book signed!
Maisy Mouse or (Molly Mus for Swedish readers) fans will be delighted to learn that Lucy Cousins is visiting Sweden for the very first time. She’ll be running a workshop, where children can see firsthand how Molly is drawn out from Lucy’s pen. Kids can try at drawing and colouring too, with the author on hand to lend her expertise.
When: Saturday 25th and Sunday 26th May from 10:00 to 17:00
Where: Junibacken, Galärvarvsvägen 8, 115 21 Stockholm
Age Group: 0-8 year olds
Cost: Adult – 145 SEK; Children (2-15 year olds) – 125 SEK; Under 2s – free
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Horses and Royal Icing Exhibtion at Skokloster
Special tours of the horse in the centre; pony rides and petting the animals at Skokloster Pet & Garden. Kristyrianerna is an art installation in icing, which consists of four obelisks and a middle piece with Carl Gustaf Wrangel’s portrait – all decorated in icing with gold leaf and beads!
When: Thursday 9th to Sunday 12th May; 11:00 to 16:00
Where: Skoklosters slott, 746 96 Skokloster (1 hour drive from Stockholm)
Age Group: all ages
Cost: Adults – 70 SEK; Children (up to 18) – free. Guided tour 40 SEK
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Stockholm Truck Meet 2013
A fair for all truck nuts! On-site there will be exhibitors who will share their expertise in their respective fields. There is a great variety of trucks involved in the Stockholm Truck Meet; everything from beautiful, ornate vintage vehicles to muscular and mechanically impressive cars. Come and join the event with the most horsepower under one roof!
When: Friday 10th and Saturday 11th May:
Friday from 09:00 to 23:00
Saturday from 09:00 to 18:00
Where: Stockholmsmässan, Mässvägen 1, 125 30 Älvsjö (pendaltåg: Älvsjö)
Age Group: suitable for all ages
Cost: Friday: SEK 100; Saturday: 150 SEK; Both days: 200 SEK. Children under 15 get in free with a paying adult.
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Samurais and Geishas at Östasiatiska museet
How does one show courage? What is beauty? We explore these themes through examining samurai and geishas, with particular regard to what they wear. Come and try a kimono! We will also make traditional fans in the Ateljé Draken (Material cost: 40 SEK)
When: Sunday 5th May from 12:00 to 16:00
Where: Östasiatiska museet, Tyghusplan, 111 49 Stockholm (Best way of getting here is via bus 65)
Age Group: 4-12 year olds
Cost: Over 18s – 60 SEK; Under 18s – free
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New funfair opens at Kaatach
Come and try some of our rides at our new funfair, Minitivoli! Fly on our helicopter, take a drive in the Mini-jet taxi or jump to the sky with our new trampolines; there’ll be lots more to enjoy but it’s a secret for now. At the opening ceremony at the end of May, we will have face painting (30 SEK) from 12:00 to 17:00, godisregn at 14:00 (free) and balloon characters!
When: Opening Ceremony is Friday 31st May from 10:00 to 19:00; Minitivoli will be open for the whole summer season
Where: Kaatach lekland, Energivägen 2B 135 49 Tyresö (bus 875 or 816 from Gullmarsplan)
Age Group: 2-10 year olds
Cost: On this day: Adults – Free; Children from 2 to 17 years – 120 SEK; Children from 1 to 2 years – 50 ;Under 1s – Free.
Each new ride costs 20 SEK to try or you can buy 6 rides for 90 SEK.
Street Dance for Children
Try out hiphop! Fun and energetic dance classes for children where they can challenge their body control, rhythm and style from street dance expression under the direction of street dancers and dance educators Lovisa Owen and Emelie Empo Enlund. Separate sessions for 3-6 year olds and 7-9 year olds.
When:
3-6 year olds (45 minutes):
11th May at 10am and 11am
12th May at 10am, 11am and 1pm
15th May at 10am, 11am and 1pm
7-9 year olds (60 minutes):
11th May at 3pm and 4pm
12th May at 2pm and 3pm
15th May at 2pm and 3pm
Where: Lilla Scen, Dansens Hus, Barnhusgatan 14, 111 23 Stockholm (T-bana: Hötorget)
Age Group: 3-9 year olds
Cost: Free. Book in advance.
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Childhood Day at Gröna Lund
Large stage show in the presence of HM Queen Silvia. All entrance fees for the day goto the World Childhood Foundation. Onstage, we will see Martin Stenmarck, Danny Saucedo, Glada Hudikteatern, David Lindgren, Timoteij and… Sean Banan!
When: Sunday 26th May at 16:00
Where: Gröna Lund, Lilla Allmänna Gränd 9, 115 21 Stockholm
Age Group: suitable for all ages
Cost: Over 6s – 100 SEK; under 6s – free
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Det gyllene skeppet: Opera for Youth
In 2013, the Royal Swedish Opera is celebrating the 100-year anniversary of the birth of composer Benjamin Britten, composer of The Golden Vanity. In this production from the La Monnaie opera house in Brussels, director Caroline Petrick has created a frame narrative that raises questions of group dynamics, belonging and exclusion. All those taking part on stage are school pupils from Adolf Fredriks Musikklasser.
In a derelict part of town, rival gangs of children and youths hang about. They tell the old tale of the ship, The Golden Vanity, that sails the North Sea, filled with treasure. The crewmen – mainly inexperienced children – grow terrified as a pirate ship approaches. One young sailor wonders what he might win if he can save them. The captain promises gold – but will he keep that promise?
In Swedish, with songs in English. Show lasts 50 minutes.
When:
Monday 13th May – Premiere: Free Showing!
Saturday 18th and 25th May at 13:00 and 15:00
Tuesday to Thursday, 21st to 30th May at 10:00 and 13:00
Where: Kungliga Operan Gäddviken, Kvarnholmsvägen 56, 131 31 Nacka (bus 402 from Slussen)
Age Group: 10-13 year olds
Cost: Adults – 260 SEK; Children (up to 16 years) and Students (up to 26) – 110 SEK. Free to see the première showing on 13th May at 18:00
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Family Sunday at the Architecture Museum
5th May: På egen risk!
Explore the risks in our environment in the exhibition ‘Hazard Centre’. Then build models on the theme of danger and risk. The exhibition invites reflection and encourages children to think and act in a safe manner. Family program starts at 13.00 the exploration of the Risk Centre. Construction in the studio starts at the latest at 15.00.
Sundays from 12th May to 6th June: Bygg så högt du kan!
Try to build a house as tall as you can! We have lots of different papers in many different colours and paper tubes that are perfect for tall towers. Family program starts at 13.00 with a display of models of tall buildings. Build the houses in the studio at the latest at 15.00.
When:
Where: Arkitekturmuseet, Exercisplan 4, 111 49 Stockholm (Bus 65 towards Skeppsholmen from Centralen)
Age Group: 4-14 year olds
Cost: Adults – 60 SEK; Under 19s – free. Free tickets are distributed to the children at 10.00 the same day. Limited seats.
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Dress up as a real princess
Exclusive testing of Queen Christina’s princess dress. Come and try what it’s like to be a real princess in the Royal Armoury.
When: Saturday 11th May, 11:00 to 13:00
Where: Livrustkammaren, Slottsbacken 3, 111 30 Stockholm (T-bana: Gamla Stan)
Age Group: 4-12 year olds
Cost: Adults – 90 SEK, Children (under 18) – free
