ABBA and a Maypole: Midsommarfest Returns to Andersonville

A street festival that taught other Chicago street festivals how to party is returning to nearby Andersonville this weekend.

The 48th Annual Midsommarfest celebrates the neighborhood’s Swedish traditions, combining the old world with the new. F

estival-goers can dance around the Maypole, and then listen to their favorite 80s songs on Clark Street from Foster to Catalpa. The event—running from 5 to 10 p.m. Friday and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday and Sunday—brings more than 50,000 to Andersonville.

Along with international food from 80 vendors, five stages promise a range of local musicians, cover bands and world performers.

Popular Chicago 80s cover band, Sixteen Candles, will kick off festivities Friday night. Other performances by Sidewalk Chalk, Pyro Fighters, Roots Rock Society, Chicago Samba, Eric Himan, ABBA Salute, Get Up With The Get Downs, DJ Voxbox, Kongfuzi can be heard throughout the weekend.

Family-friendly performances are also available at a children’s area. Take the whole crew for face-painting, games and a pet parade.

A $10 suggested donation goes to neighborhood business development through the Andersonville Chamber of Commerce and Andersonville Development Corporation.

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Here’s the full music schedule:

FRIDAY, JUNE 7

• 5:00 PM DJ Dan Luna
  
• 7:00 PM 16 Candles 

SATURDAY, JUNE 8

• 11:30 AM  Gus Giordano Dance School
  
• 1:00 PM  Bonzie
  
• 2:30 PM  Chicago Spirit Brigade
  
• 3:00 PM  Sidewalk Chalk
  
• 5:00 PM  Stann Champion's Roots Rock Society
  
• 7:00 PM  The Spazmatics 

• 11:00 AM  Steve Sebby Band
  
• 12:30 PM  Chicago Spirit Brigade
  
• 1:00 PM  Chicago Samba
  
• 3:00 PM  The Joans
  
• 5:00 PM  Angel Melendez and the 911 Mambo Orchestra
  
• 7:00 PM  ABBA Salute 

• 2:00 PM Ode
  
• 4:00 PM 7th Heaven
  
• 6:00 PM Planet Claire
  
• 8:00 PM Get Up With The Get Downs

• 11:00 AM  Mindy Bartlett
  
• 1:00 PM  Ripley Caine & The Full Moon
  
• 3:00 PM  Manny Capozzi & Fatally Cool
  
• 5:00 PM  Software Giant
  
• 7:00 PM  Eric Himan
  
• 8:30 PM  DJ Voxbox 

• 11:30 AM  Opening Ceremony
  
• 11:45 AM  Traditional Maypole Dance
  
• 12:15 PM  Swedish American Children's Choir
  
• 12:40 PM  Nordic Folkdancers
  
• 1:05 PM  ChicagoSwedish Men's Chorus
  
• 1:25 PM  Merdula Swedish Choir 

• 11:00 AM  Mad Science
  
• 12:00 PM  Ruff n' Stuff Pet Parade
  
• 1:00 PM  Trowbridge Guitar Studio
  
• 2:00 PM  Dream Big Performing Arts
  
• 2:30 PM  Little Linguists
  
• 3:00 PM  Raisin Rhyme
  
• 4:00 PM  LiveWire
  
• 5:00 PM  The Revelettes
  
• 6:00 PM  The Dirty Rooks
  
• 8:00 PM  Torn Soul 

SUNDAY, JUNE 9

• 9:30 AM  Hatha Yoga with Bikram Hot Yoga Midwest - Chicago
  
• 11:00 AM  The Uglies
  
• 1:00 PM  Al Rose
  
• 2:30 PM  Chicago Spirit Brigade
  
• 3:00 PM  The Right Now
  
• 4:30 PM  Windy City Cowboys
  
• 5:00 PM  Rod Tuffcurls & The Bench Press
  
• 7:00 PM  16 Candles 

• 11:00 AM  Deliverance Singers Gospel Brunch
  
• 1:00 PM  Chicago Spirit Brigade
  
• 1:30 PM  Devin Jake
  
• 2:30 PM  Windy City Cowboys 
  
• 3:00 PM  Pyro Fighters
  
• 5:00 PM  Bumpus
  
• 7:00 PM  Rock Candy 

• 2:00 PM  New Invaders
  
• 4:00 PM  Soundtrack Serenade
  
• 6:00 PM  Expo 76
  
• 8:00 PM  This Must Be The Band 

• 11:00 AM  Jeff Brown
  
• 1:00 PM  Ian Wilson
  
• 3:00 PM  Monica Del Castillo
  
• 5:00 PM  Stephen Leonard Band
  
• 7:00 PM  Sami Grisafe Band
  
• 8:30 PM  DJ Moose 

• 12:00 PM Norland Band 

• 11:00 AM  Radio Disney
  
• 12:00 PM  Andersonville Suzuki
  
• 1:00 PM  Goodman Theatre's The Jungle Book
  
• 2:00 PM  Toys Et Cetera Kids Talent Show
  
• 3:00 PM  Dream Big Performing Arts
  
• 3:30 PM  Design Dance
  
• 4:00 PM  Laura Doherty
  
• 6:00 PM  Autumn in Augusta
  
• 8:00 PM  Kongfuzi