Crayfish Dinner Party

Looking for a fun date night? Like discovering new cultural dishes? Enjoy a summer evening at the American Swedish Historical Museum while indulging in Swedish favorites including a buffet of crayfish, Swedish meatballs, potatoes, cheese pie, salads, dessert, and a glass of aquavit outside under our decorated tent. 

The Swedish tradition of feasting on crayfish in the last month of summer dates back about 100 years. At one time the lakes of central Sweden were filled with crayfish, but overfishing decimated their population. Finally, the government prohibited the catching of crayfish except during a short time in late summer. After going the whole summer without the delicacy, the return of crayfish to the dinner table in August became great cause for celebration. Crayfish parties in Sweden are often held out of doors in the moonlight with big paper lanterns and festive colored lights strung for decoration. Paper napkins, hats, bibs and paper plates all have a crayfish motif. And everyone raises their glass of aquavit to sing traditional Swedish drinking songs.