🇸🇪 🇬🇧 🇩🇪
Events & Shopping

Sweden's Biggest Harvest Festival

Sweden's Biggest Harvest Festival
… from the house Get directions

Every year on the last weekend of September, Öland transforms into one enormous harvest celebration. Ölands Skördefest is Sweden’s largest harvest festival — over 900 events spread across the entire island, drawing nearly 250,000 visitors. The festival has been running since 1997, reviving the old Michaelmas tradition of celebrating the end of the growing season.

What to Expect

The festival is island-wide. Wherever you see the symbol — a pumpkin on a stack of straw — you’re invited in. You drive between villages, farms, studios, and harbors, each offering something different.

Food & Drink

The pumpkin is the gastronomic icon. Farm shops open their doors, food markets pop up everywhere, and restaurants serve special harvest menus. Local produce takes center stage — pumpkins, potatoes, beans, onions, mustard, and more.

Art & Crafts

Konstnatten (Art Night) on Friday and Saturday evenings is a highlight — artists across the island open their studios, lit by torches along the roads. Ceramics, glass blowing, painting, woodcarving, and blacksmithing are all on display.

Family Activities

Pumpkin painting, pony rides, bouncy castles, ghost bingo, outdoor cinema, and steam train rides through Böda forest.

In Borgholm

The inauguration ceremony takes place right here in Borgholm. During the festival weekend, expect a harvest procession on the square, fireworks on Saturday evening, and “Fårets 3 dagar” (The Sheep’s 3 Days) at Borgholm Castle with sheep shearing, wool crafts, and a flea market.

Practical Details

  • 2026 dates: Inauguration 23 September, festival 24-27 September
  • Cost: No general entry fee — the festival is open and free to explore. Individual venues may charge for specific activities or workshops.
  • Getting around: Drive between venues at your own pace, or join an organized bus tour.
  • Program: The full schedule is published on skordefest.nu (primarily in Swedish). You can also browse highlights by region on en.oland.se.
  • Traffic: Expect heavy traffic on the Öland bridge and main roads, especially Saturday. Pick a region (south, central, or north) per day rather than trying to cover everything.

If you’re visiting in late September, don’t miss this. It’s the best way to experience Öland’s food, crafts, and village culture all at once.

Website: skordefest.nu