Valborgsmässoafton, or Siste april, is known as Walpurgis Night in English. In Lund, it’s known as “Sweden’s largest spontaneous party.” Almost 16,000 people have confirmed their participation in tomorrow’s Stadsparken celebration on Facebook.
Malmö Nation international secretary Lucia Morris recommended that Valborgs first-timers head to Stadsparken with a blanket, a picnik and maybe a few beers.
“It’s just such a great atmosphere,” she said. “Everyone will be there.”
DJs from Radio AF, as well as several sponsored by the city, will play in the park until 16.30. The Lund University choir will sing at 20.30, and at 21.10 the traditional bonfire will be lit.
Student festivities
“There’s a lot of things going on for Valborgs,” Morris said.
Malmö Nation is hosting a few concerts in the afternoon, but tickets have now sold out. Morris said it was unfortunate many international students may have been unaware of events while tickets were being sold.
“If you don’t have plans, just go and meet people,” she advised. “You always meet someone who’s doing something.”
Many other nations have prepared events from breakfasts to parties to sittnings.
“In the evenings, a lot of nations will have a night club,” Morris added.
A city-wide party
No one is actually in charge of the event, but safety measures are installed. The city offers free Band-Aids and water in the park, and all Lund System Bolaget stores close for the day.
“Closing the System Bolagets in Lund has had a good effect, but people go to nearby towns where it is open,” said Lund police inspector Christer Johansson. “I talked with someone who had seen 800 to 900 people on the train, all of them with System Bolaget bags in their hands.
Johansson said police presence in the park will be greater than in previous years.
“It’s going to be good weather, much better than last year,” he said. “That means we’re expecting a lot of people.”
