Christmas Starts in the Umeå Region: A Festive Celebration of Markets, Dining, and Culture
The Umeå region’s tourism industry is inviting visitors to a diverse and record-large Christmas celebration featuring Christmas markets, delightful holiday meals, and atmospheric concerts. Here are some of this year’s highlights:
Charming Christmas Markets
The Christmas market season in Umeå begins on November 22nd at the interior design store ”Ett hus blir ett hem” in Holmsund and continues with around twenty markets until the third advent. Highlights include:
- December 6th: Christmas market on Pilgatan
- December 6-7th: Olofsfors Bruk’s festive market
- December 14th: Traditional market at Vindelns hembygdsgård focusing on local crafts
Festive Dining Experiences
Christmas dining remains a central part of holiday celebrations, with the Umeå region offering a wide palette of unique taste experiences:
- Sävargården: Traditional Christmas table with local ingredients
- Presteles Trädgårdscafé: Vegetarian and vegan Christmas options
- Granö Beckasin: Five-course Christmas dinner in a scenic natural environment
”We hope to start a new tradition that we feel is missing in Umeå. A perfect start to the day with family, friends, or colleagues,” says Viktoria Andersson, CEO of Clarion Hotel Umeå, about their daily Christmas breakfast from December 1-24.
Christmas Experiences in Umeå City Center
Umeå city center will become a gathering place for holiday activities for all ages, including:
- Santa Disco
- Santa Run
- Outdoor cinema
- Digital treasure hunt
First Advent on November 30th will feature a Christmas tree lighting and official holiday speech at Rådhustorget, followed by an outdoor children’s film screening.
Music and Cultural Highlights
The region offers an exquisite selection of Christmas concerts, including:
- December 7th: Sarah Dawn Finer’s Winterland show
- December 10th: The Soul of Christmas with Samuel Ljungblahd, Linnea Henriksson, and Sabina Ddumba
- December 19-21st: Refused’s farewell concerts
”We want to create more reasons to visit Umeå city center and spread Christmas joy in the winter darkness,” says Elin Jonsson, center developer at Visit Umeå.
For more information, visit the Christmas in Umeå Guide.
