Halloween and Fall break in Stockholm
Publish date: 6 November 2024
Halloween isn't just about ghosts and monsters. In Stockholm, it coincides with the annual Fall break. Here's a selection of spooky and/or family-friendly activities during the week!
Every fall, as the days grow shorter and shorter, Swedish school children get a week off during a Fall break (or Höstlov, as it's called Swedish).
The Fall break is a way for children to recharge their batteries during a week in late October/early November (depending on the year) as we inevitably race towards the darker months of the Swedish school year.
So visiting Stockholm this week you'll probably notice that many museums and attractions have special exhibitions and activities for kids. In other words, a perfect time to visit us, if you're going with the whole family.
The fall break 2025 is October 27-31.
Halloween in Stockholm
As it happens, the Swedish Fall break overlaps with everyone's favorite spooky holiday; Halloween! Although Halloween isn't an old tradition in Sweden (and unlike many other holidays, it's not a bank holiday), the holiday has become more and more popular.
👻Haunted places in Stockholm👻
Gröna Lund's Amusement Park has an annual Halloween festival, transforming the cheerful park into a place of ghoulish attractions and haunted houses. If you're one to dress up in spooky costumes, this year's Shockholm Parade might be for you, departing from Sergels Torg on October 31st. Many museums and attractions are hosting spooky (yet, family-friendly) activities during the week like The Museum of Performing Arts, Skokloster Castle, and Hågelby Park.
Halloween also coincides with All Saint's Day (November 1st), which is a traditional holiday in Sweden. All Saint's Day is a time for reflection and remembrance, which many celebrate by visiting the graves of their friends and family. A solemn walk amongst hundreds of thousands of lit candles in The Woodland Cemetary is a perfect way to spend the afternoon.
Fall break at the library
In recent years the Fall break has been called "Läslovet" ("The Reading Break") to encourage reading and promote books.
This means that you'll also find lots of activities and workshops aimed at children and teenagers at Stockholm's public libraries. You'll find more info about the city's best libraries and bookshops in our guide here!