How to Make the Most of Valborg

07:00 It all starts bright and early with a ‘champagne breakfast’ in Ekonomicum park. My advice is not to get there too late but to aim at being there by 9:30 / 10:00 at the latest as normally the park is full of people and it is hard to find a place to sit. You might think that this is impossible as the park is so big, but trust me it happens - I’ve seen it with my own eyes.

10:00-12:00 Water rafting in Fyris river Watch 450 brave rafters battle it out to see which rafts manage to get past the waterfalls, and which will collapse before the finish line at Islandsfallet and Stadsparken. Be sure to get there in time if you actually want to see the action up close as it is one of the most popular Valborg events.

13:30 Time to head up Carolina hill and wait under the balcony of Carolina Rediviva library. While the band Wijkmanska Blecket plays on the steps of the library, keep an eye on the countdown clock that will be ticking down the seconds to 15:00.

14:45 If you were too late for the concert make sure to be under the balcony at this time. Everyone will be staring at the massive countdown clock on the library balcony; souvenir pins with ‘Valborg in Uppsala 2017’ will be distributed to a lucky few present. A few minutes before 15:00, senior members of the university will crowd onto the balcony and the Vice Chancellor will wave her white student cap and then put it on. Everyone around her on the balcony and below her on the streets, which for the occasion are all closed to traffic, wave their hats too and put them on.

15:01 Put traditional Student cap on (or an imaginary one), it is time to go down the hill to the nations for the Champagne Gallop This may seem a bit of a silly and slightly posh tradition but the idea is to go to the nation’s gardens, have a massive outdoor party with bands and DJs performing live. The name of the celebration is due to the fact people buy lots of sparkling wine, not original champagne as we are students after all, spray each other and drink it from the bottle (although most of it tends to get sprayed at people). You need ID and Nation or Guest Card plus cash to pay at the door. You are not allowed to bring your own champagne, or any liquid with you as you will be able to buy whatever you need within the nations. If you want to make sure you get into the nations arranging the gallops (Stockholm’s, Snerike’s and Östgöta’s) you might want to consider getting in line a lot earlier than 15.01 though, as it’s a very popular event.

18:00 The Champagne Gallops finish and people leave the nations to go home, have a hot shower and change clothing after being drenched by sparkling wine for the last three hours. After that there are normally a series of free outdoor events all across Uppsala including DJ sets and mini concerts in most student areas. There is a famous one in Trianglen, near the ICA Folkes - Rackabergsgatan area. There will also be plenty of BBQs and outdoor parties throughout the weekend all over Uppsala.

21:00 If you fancy something a little more cultural and intellectual to redeem your soul from three days of hardcore partying, the castle is the place to be. You can also take the opportunity of sending a video or two to the parents to show them how you take part in traditional celebrations within the oldest university in northern Europe. nbsp;Up at the castle by the Gunilla Bell tower, the President of Kuratorskonvent nbsp;will hold the traditional ‘Spring address’ which will be broadcast live on Swedish national radio and television. To follow, as the light fades, you can enjoy a free concert by ‘Allmänna Sången’, a world famous mixed choir which dates back over 180 years. What better way to end Valborg than listening to a great choir live and being able to say that you ’watched the sunset over the castle on the hill’, although I doubt they will actually sing Ed Sheeran’s latest hit.

22:00 If the choir inspired you to keep partying, back in the nations the base is booming, again Most nations have the entire house open and normally lines are epic as many want to keep partying all the way into the night. Check the link below with the schedule to find out about all the nations which have clubs.

04:00 (on the following day) the last student nations which are still open turn the music off and the lights back on officially ending the parties. Reality is, that many will go and get fast food and after that, student corridor parties and similar spontaneous gatherings all around Uppsala take place until insane hours. nbsp;

For the complete list of the ‘Champagne Gallop’ parties taking place in the different nations, as always, check out the Valborg in Uppsala website. nbsp;