The Andersonville Chamber of Commerce Welcomes Spring with VALBORG

The Andersonville Chamber of Commerce (ACC) invites the community to gather ‘round the bonfire for the second annual Valborg, a traditional Swedish celebration welcoming the arrival spring on Wednesday, April 30, 2025 from 5 – 8 pm at the Chicago Waldorf School, 5200 N. Ashland Ave. in Chicago. Throw your worries and concerns in the fire while enjoying traditional Swedish songs, family-friendly entertainment and soul-warming soup courtesy of The Dinner Belle. The free, family-friendly event also features eco-friendly and sustainability resources in celebration of Earth Month. To reserve a spot, click here.

Entertainment:

6 pm – 7 pm: Gamelan Naga Biru performs “Saving Spring,” a puppet show blending Scandinavian and Indigenous American folktales, along with an Aesop’s fable adaptation.
7 pm: Traditional Swedish songs with Chicago Swedish Mixed Chorus.
7:20 pm: Fire dancing and poetry performance by The Typewritualist Coelti.

Additional participants:

The Floriography Fellows will offer locally sourced fresh bouquets, dried arrangements, floral jars and small wearables. All of their flowers are dried without the use of chemicals, plastics, or dyes. Everything used to package their floral work is also compostable, furthering their mission to create a sustainable, plastic free, negative carbon footprint floral company.

5411Empanadas selling gourmet, Argentinian-style empanadas.

The Dropped Stitch shop for goods from from Andersonville’s new yarn shop and fiber arts emporium.

Edgewater Environmental Coalition will offer free native seed packets to kickstart your garden! They'll be collecting and sharing seeds from Edgewater's Little Free Seed Libraries, as well as sharing educational resources on gardening and native plants. Joining them will be Edgewater Library with an actual seed library and books to check out!

EbikeCityZen is where modern urban transport meets personal mindfulness in the world of electric bicycles. They transcend the ordinary, offering not just Ebikes, but an intuitive personal transportation journey for every shopper. The culmination of your journey is embracing the Ebike Lifestyle.]]

Everyone's Type Poetry and Performance featuring typewriter poetry.

Fickle Flower Arts celebrates the arrival of spring with whimsical, handcrafted ceramics and jewelry. Created by local artist Jay Goodrich, each piece blends playfulness with Scandinavian-inspired design. Stop by to explore a collection of joyful, one-of-a-kind pottery and wearables that make perfect Valborg keepsakes.

Green Goose Shop is hosting a "prop swap" for trading houseplant propagations, so bring a cutting to take a cutting!

The Institute of Cultural Affairs promotes a just and equitable society by catalyzing sustainable communities and demonstrating sustainable practices to reverse the negative human impact on the planet.

Nothing Bundt Cakes Add something sweet to your Valborg celebration with delicious, handcrafted bundt cakes in a variety of flavors – perfect for spring gatherings and sharing with friends and family. Look out for seasonal specials and samples during the event!

Organizing For Plastic Alternatives is a Chicago-based activist group that is concerned with our ever-growing reliance on single-use plastics. OPA members are working to change attitudes, business practices, and public policies. The shared vision is to live in a world with less plastic.

Swedish American Museum will be on-site with a curated selection of Scandinavian goods for sale, including traditional gifts, books and crafts. Stop by their table to learn more about the museum's programs and events, and pick up information on Swedish culture, heritage and how you can get involved in the community.

Vivant Gardening Services believes that by helping others care for their own spaces it can inspire others to cultivate a better world. They aim to grow more gardeners and wildlife corridors through personal garden coaching, helpful workdays, and stewardship with a focus on native plants and sustainable care practices.

The WasteShed is a non-profit creative reuse organization dedicated to giving new life to art supplies and promoting sustainability. They offer affordable, reused art materials to the public, and provide free supplies to teachers and schools.

About Valborg:

Valborg, or Walpurgis Night (named after Saint Walpurga), is a spring festival in Sweden and Northern Europe celebrated annually on April 30. It signifies winter's end with large bonfires, singing and dancing. Rituals ward off evil spirits and welcome warmer weather. It's a time for communities to unite, enjoy the outdoors and embrace nature's renewal. For additional information, visit andersonville.org/events/valborg.

Special thanks to Valborg sponsor The Floriography Fellows.

About the Andersonville Chamber of Commerce:

The Andersonville Chamber of Commerce fosters a vibrant environment in which Andersonville businesses can thrive by attracting a diverse customer base; providing business support services and advocacy; and engaging in business attraction, long-range planning, and economic development.