Celebrate Midsommar at Seattle's First-Ever Kubb Tournament
In honor of the Midsommar holiday, the National Nordic Museum invites you to get outside and play one of the Nordic region's favorite lawn games!
Midsommar, or the Summer Solstice, is one of the biggest holidays in the Nordic Region, and at its core is about being outside and celebrating that the best part of the year still lies ahead. Often considered the true National Day of Sweden by locals, what better time to play some Kubb and celebrate summer in Seattle?
What is Kubb?
Kubb (pronounced “koob”) is a fun lawn game of Swedish origin played by two opposing teams. It is a great game for people of all ages, and a wonderful way to get outside and enjoy a bit of friendly competition.
Kubb is played often in the Nordic countries, but is growing in popularity in the United States.
Never played before?
Don't worry! This tournament is for all ages and experience levels. Kubb is a simple and fun game that requires a combination of strategy and skill.
For new players, we will hold a Learn to Play Demonstration from 10:30-11:00am on the day of the tournament.
How to Play
There are many variations of how Kubb is played, but we will be playing by the rules used at the U.S Kubb National Championships in Eau Claire, WI.
Rules at a Glance:
The goal of Kubb is to knock down all of your opponent’s wooden blocks, called Kubbs, and then the King by throwing wooden batons. Once Kubbs are knocked over, they are thrown back into the field and must be knocked down again before play continues. Teams must first clear all these “Field Kubbs” before attempting to knock down the remaining back-row Kubbs. Once all of an opponent’s Kubbs have been knocked down, a team can then try to topple the King in the center of the field to win the game.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Kubb, sometimes known as "Viking chess", is a popular lawn game throughout the Nordic region.
While people love to debate the origin of the game, popular legend claims that the game originated with the Vikings, specifically on the Swedish island of Gotland. It's said that the throwing batons and blocks used today are representative of the arm, leg, and skull bones used in the game's infancy, but this may only be lore.
Today, kubb is played with only a few simple, wooden pieces with one goal: be the first to knock down your opponents blocks (kubbs), and then the King Kubb in the middle of the pitch.
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Teams will consist of 2-3 players. If you have more than three interested participants, please split into separate teams and enjoy some friendly competition between each other.
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The Midsommar Kubb Tournament is open to all ages. Kubb is a wonderful way to get the family out of the house and enjoying the summer sunshine! Please note that participants should be comfortable tossing a wooden baton up to 9 yards.
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While there are several different ways to play kubb, for this tournament we will be following the rules used at the U.S Kubb National Championships in Eau Claire, WI. Please visit their website for an in-depth rule guide, or watch their How to Play video up above.
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Our Midsommar Kubb Tournament welcomes all players, including complete beginners! If you have never played kubb before, be sure to join us for our Learn to Play Demonstration at 10:30am on the day of the tournament. We will help teach you the rules and some tips for success.
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We will break for lunch in the afternoon. Please bring a packed lunch with you, or plan to grab something at a local restaurant in Magnolia. We will have a list of restaurant recommendations if you need help deciding where to eat!
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Yes, there are public restrooms located at the Magnolia Community Center, across the street from the tournament.
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The exact timing of the tournament is subject to change depending on registration numbers, but entrants can expect to play multiple 30 minute games of Kubb!
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We will have prizes available throughout the tournament, as well as a raffle drawing for all participants. Stay tuned for details on the prizes!
