Jokkmokk Winter Fair!

In the year of 1605 the Swedish king Karl IX decided that marketplaces should be made in northern of Sweden. During this period of time Jokkmokk as a town didn't exist, but they decided that marketplace for Lule Lappmark should be established here.

In the year 1606 they held their first fair here. On the fairs they also used to baptize, perform marriage ceremony's and even held trials because people already were gathered. They used to hold the fair around 25 of January and it went on for 2 - 3 weeks, but that later changed and became shorter so during 1930s it only went on for 2 days.

In 1955 on the 350 years jubilee of the fair, they decided to make it more tourist friendly so it became 3 days long, the fair booths grow from 20 to 150. The first reindeer rajd ran through Jokkmokk and they also had barn dance. Nowadays the market is always the first Thursday, Friday , Saturday and Sunday in February. In 2005 that will be from the 3 til the 6th of February.

Today the fair is so much more...........Its all the fair booths, exhibitions and sales in schools, shops and other small stores. Its winter activities with sled dogs, moose safari, and reindeer rajd. Its jojk concerts, folks and world music, cock-and-bull stories, the cold, snow and the dark, not to forget the northern light. Its picture views, art exhibitions, evenings with dance and good food. Its a weekend when people come back to Jokkmokk they who used to live here but have moved to other cities. And its a weekend when 35.000 people are visiting us.

Jokkmokk town district is Sweden's second largest district area, its as big as Skåne, Blekinge and Halland together. And on this enormous area we are only just below 6000 people who live and work here. Most of them about 3000 lives in Jokkmokk. In Jokkmokk you can find two hotels,   one youth hostel and two holiday villages for tourists to live on. Then add some private rooms to rent and you will understand that not every one who wants to come here can have a room to stay in during the winter fair.

On our hostel we have 47- beds in 14 rooms, and every year there are 10 - 20 times more people asking for a room to rent. To rent a room to each and everyone of them is impossible.