At the end of September it’s St Michael’s Day or Michaelmas Day. Until 1773 this day was a holiday in Sweden. The harvest had been gathered and the people celebrated. We want to recreate this tradition and this festive atmosphere, so we are inviting everyone to come to a Michaelmas Day, or a harvest or cultural festival this autumn. Local growers will offer superb seasonal fruit and vegetables and artists will open up their houses and studios to create an Art Night where light is juxtaposed with the pitch black of the night.

AUTUMN - 2007
• Food Festival – Skövde, last weekend of August
• Harvest & Culture Festival - North Skaraborg, Mariestad,
prel. September 21-23.
“Konstnatten” – Night of Art, September 21
“Konstnatten” – Night of Art by lake Östen, September 22
• Mekelsmäss Fair – Falköping, September 28 – October 7.
“Konstnatten” – Night of Art, September 29-30
• Speed, Art & Design - Mariestad oktober 6-7

Harvest- and cultural festival by Göta Canal in North Skaraborg
21-23 September 2006
Welcome to our harvest and cultural festival, taking place at some 40 locations along the Göta Canal between lakes Vänern and Vättern. You can sample homemade pumpkin pie, watch the craftsmen and women as they create their wares and perhaps make something of your own, visit an artist’s studio, pet the animals at a farm and buy locally grown vegetables. After darkness falls, the candles light up the Canal and those who dare can go on a ghost walk or one of the pub nights with singing and dancing in honour of the evening. And don’t miss the Friday and Saturday nights in Mariestad when the town will be filled with culture of every variety.

Harvest festival in Falbygden region and Ulricehamn
28 September - 7 October.
The area between Falköping and Ulricehamn is an old agricultural district with a history going back 6,000 years. The river Ätran winds like a blue ribbon through its scenic valley.
Come to a harvest festival with loads of activities for every taste, across the countryside and in the town. Taste a wide range of locally produced food, listen to beautiful music, take a torch-lit walk along the shore of lake Åsunden, experience all the colours of the countryside and enjoy good art and crafts.
The harvest festival follows the busiest period in the grower’s year. The festival celebrates the productivity of the earth. We taste the fruit of their labour before turning the fresh produce into conserves for the future.
Experience the annual Art Night on 30 September, with exhibitions at a large number of locations around the region and in Ulricehamn.
www.mekelsmass.nu, www.kulturvagen.se
Falköping Tourist Office: 0515-77 70 50
Ulricehamn Tourist Office: 0321-59 59 59

Bed & Breakfast, Höryda gård
Härlunda
532 94 Skara
0511-37 21 67, 0708-44 65 04
 
The accommodation is in one of the wings of the manor house. The forest is right outside. If you’re lucky you can meet Aleces the elk out in the bogs. At the manor house there are horses and you can take a sauna. You’re also close to destinations such as lake Hornborgasjön, the theme park Skara Sommarland, Skara cathedral and the cheese factory Falbygdens Ost.

Bed & Breakfast, Villa Mockeltorp
549 93 Moholm
0506-520 90
  - www.villamockeltorp.se
House in the country, close to Göta Canal, approx. 5 km from lake Viken. Every room has been decorated personally. The accommodation has seven beds, and breakfast is sserved in the adjacent manor house.

Flämslätt Diocese and Conference Centre
540 17 Lerdala
0511-304 40
  - www.flamslatt.com
Hotel and hostel, located in the beautiful Valle region, by lake Flämsjön. Has its own swimming spot. Restaurant. 1 km to golf course. Information on acessability at www.vastsverige.com

Gröna Huset in Eggby
Skärvavägen 3
532 92 Axvall
0511-121 65
  - www.eggby.webbsida.com
A new, small hotel, Gröna huset in Eggby has two to four-bed rooms, all with en-suite bathrooms. Breakfast and self-contained kitchen. 1 km to lake swimming at Näsbadet. About 5 km to Billingens Golf Course, 7 km to Skara Sommarland theme park. Good hiking. Bicycles and boats for hire.

Herrtorps Qvarn
Härlunda
532 94 Skara
0511-37 21 73
  - www.herrtorpsqvarn.se
Self-contained accommodation, plus restaurant, by an old mill on the Flian stream near lake Hornborgasjön. Set among water and gardens, with bridges, paths, arbours and a herb garden. The area around Herrtorps Qvarn is home to a wealth of animals. Bicycle and canoe rentals, beaver safari and fishing. Restaurant and bar.
 
Hotell Norrqvarn, Göta Kanal
548 93 Lyrestad
0501-507 70
  - www.norrqvarn.se
At Norrqvarn you stay by the Göta Canal, in light, newly renovated rooms in the old mill. In 2005 seven rooms and two giant stumps were finished, with a total of 26 beds. Restaurant and summer entertainment. Mini-Canal for the children.

Hällstad Kronogård
Älmestad
523 95 Ulricehamn
tel 0321-80 000
  - www.hallstadkronogard.com
Hällstad Kronogård is located in beautiful countryside in Älmestad, 15 km north of Ulricehamn. Small hotel in a pleasant environment, with nice rooms in one of the wings. Four double rooms and the option of full board.
Food is made from mainly KRAV certified and locally produced ingredients.
Tours with Icelandic ponies are also arranged.

Löfwings Konstnärsvilla
Löfwings Ateljé och Konstateljé
Persberg
521 98 Broddetorp
0500- 49 14 03
  - www.lofwings.com
The artist’s house provides delightful accommodation in the Hornborga region. Consisting of 4 bedrooms, complete kitchen, living room with TV and a sofa bed. Also possible to hire bicycles, buy food for a picnic or for dinner, lunch or breakfast.

Moholms Herrgård
549 92 Moholm
0506- 220 50
  - www.moholmsherrgard.se
Moholms Herrgård is an 18th century manor house located on an island in the Tidan river. Accommodation is in a beautiful park setting, in a wing of the main building. The rooms have showers and toilets. Breakfast room and lounge in the main building. Evening meals can be ordered. Fishing, bird watching and hunting.

Orreholmens Kungsgård
Skörstorp
521 91 Falköping
0515-322 55   - www.orreholmens-kungsgard.se
Once in ownership of Swedish kings, now devoted to accommodation, conferences and a restaurant. The history of the property goes back to the 11th century – its first identified owner being Sigrid Storråda, the Viking Queen. Offering weekend and golf packages. Wine tasting in the mediaeval wine cellar.

Trädhus – Hotell Andrum
Islanna Ladugårdscafé & Lantkök
Ugglum Islanna 521 94 Falköping
0515-72 03 84, 0730-62 33 19
www.islanna.com
Accommodation in a little red cottage with white trim – 6.5 metres up in the crown of a mighty oak tree! Room for 2-4 people. On arrival in your room you’ll find a well-filled bowl of fruit and various delicacies. Breakfast is hoisted up in a big basket, and it consists of only KRAV certified and ecological foods.

Tåtorp Café, Logi och Handel
Göta Kanal
549 93 Moholm
Tel: 0506-530 86
  www.tatorp.se
Ecological hostel, beautifully situated by Göta Canal and lake Viken, halfway between the big lakes of Vänern and Vättern. Boats, kayaks and bicycles for rent. Garden cafe and outdoor articles for sale.
 
Valle Campingstugor
532 92 Axvall
0511 - 621 09
  - www.vallecamping.com
Valle Cabin Village has some 20 self-contained cabins. Located by lake Husgärdessjön in the scenic Valle district. Rafting, and a wood-fired sauna by the jetty. Paintball and fishing packages can be booked.

Vandrarhemmet Öhns Gård
540 15 Väring
0500-44 13 17
  - www.ohnsgard.se
Stay on a real farm. Öhns Gård is an old crown farm from the 18th century. Bring the children – they will enjoy petting the rabbits, feeding the chickens and jumping in the hay. You can also visit for the day, to take part in the farm chores. Located near lake Östen, known for its birds.

Addresses have been taken from the tourist database at www.vastsverige.com and the list is a selection of the accommodation on offer. Errors and emissions excepted. More accommodation, plus information on accessibility can be found at www.hornborgaarea.com