Student Orchestra Festival

The biggest event in Linköping this spring has to be the StudentOrkesterFestivalen students from all over Sweden have decended on the city.

Linköping already has a very large student population, the university here is well known. This weekend they were out and about on mass cycling around the streets with their overalls, different colours for different programs, usually with bag of beer cans in the distinctive blue, purple or green bags from Systembolaget as they head off to a party or to drink under the sun in the park.
This festival is held every secondyear in this city. The parade through the city is the main attraction, thousands of locals lined the street to watch the various bands and floats.

Party with fire.


Mario brothers, a band and roller hockey - crazy...

May Day Weekend

The last night of April is Walpurgis Night held to mark the end of winter. Not such a large bonfire as last year, but this one was in the middle of the river/canal at Tannefors locks. Lots of singing and a celebration with fireworks to welcome spring.

The next day, I for a longer cycle south of Linköping to Sturefors on what was a very warm day for May. It took me down through the town of Sturefors, to this palace where I met the Kinda Kanal, another canal joining different parts of Östergotland.

I followed this canal from Sturefors, through six different sets of lock gates back to Linköping. Photos and the route can be found here (requires Google Earth).