Saint Hans in Skelager Church

A family afternoon with a bonfire, jazz and sausages on the grass

There is a special kind of Midsummer's Eve where it's not about the political angle of the bonfire speech or finding the right place to sit with your wine glass. The kind where the kids run around with painted faces and the neighbor you rarely talk to suddenly sits next to you on the carpet talking about popcorn. Skelager Church is holding their annual Midsummer's Eve party on Tuesday, June 23rd, and it's exactly that kind of afternoon.

It starts at 4:15 p.m. with games, face painting and a popcorn machine in full swing. Fifteen minutes later, the bonfire speech is given, the fire is lit, and everyone sings along to Shu-bi-dua's Midsummer Song. There's something touching about hearing it in chorus, even when some of the voices come in crookedly on "we love our country."

At 5:00 p.m. the trust buffet opens, and the Tescha Quist Jazz Quintet plays. They have their own interpretations of jazz standards and bossa nova, and the combination of jazz and barbecue sausages is more harmonious than you might think. Dinner is barbecue sausages in three versions, pork, chicken and veggie, with salads and bread. It costs 40 kr. per adult and is free for children under 13. Draft beer and canned soda are sold for a tenner, and everything is settled on MobilePay according to the trust principle.

The evening features ladder golf, soap bubbles, can tossing and a game of kings in the courtyard, and around 19 p.m. the attention turns back to the bonfire, where marshmallows are roasted. If you're left with room to move around, there's a chance to watch the confirmation candidates take revenge on the priest in a game of football.

No registration is required. Just bring your blanket, picnic basket and family.

See also our complete overview of St. Hans in Aarhus 2026 with all bonfires and events in the city.

Practical information:

• Location: Skelager Church backyard
• No registration required
• Price: 40 DKK per adult for barbecue, free for children under 13
• Draft beer and canned soda: 10 kr.
• Payment based on the trust principle via MobilePay
• Bring: blanket, own tableware and glass for water
• Chairs can be found for those who have difficulty sitting on the grass.

Opening hours:

• 4:15 p.m.: games, face painting and popcorn
• 4:30 p.m.: bonfire talk, bonfire, singing and draft beer
• 5:00 PM: Tescha Quist Jazz Quintet and the trust buffet opens
• 7:00 PM: Marshmallow bonfire and football game

Photo: AI illustration, Aarhus Inside