Visby is a small medieval city on the island of Gotland County in Sweden; Almedalen is the city's most well-known park.
 
Each July, the city is host to Almedalen Week -- when 1400 activities are held around the theme of Swedish politics. An amazing week for those who attend, but troublesome for event organizers looking for a suitable space -- few spaces are available, and of the spaces that are, their high costs can be prohibitive.

TEDxAlmedalen held their event during Aldedalen Week and solved their space problem with a creative solution -- hosting their event outdoors.

Organizers had rented a house for Amadalen Week, and hosted their TEDx event in home’s adjacent garden -- 100 people attended and almost 200 watched live on Bambuser.

The home was only about 40 feet from their outdoor  'stage' and had all needed resources --  electricity, internet connection, bathroom. Attendees enjoyed talks sitting on blankets and lounging on benches and chairs; food and drinks were laid out picnic-like on tables.

It may have been the light of the long Swedish summer, but TEDxAlmedalen organizer Joanna Sundstrom said that there was "a shimmering aura over the event."

Swedish author Unni Drougge wrote on her blog that the event reminded her of the early 1970s, when people would meet in parks and hold discussions on their thoughts and dreams.

The theme of the evening was ‘How to get friends, fans and followers,’ and organizers encouraged people to talk to one another.

Said Sundstrom, “It's easier to start conversations with people when it's more spontaneous where you sit. On the ground, in a chair and quite many even stood up. All these things together made a great atmosphere of getting people open-minded for conversations with other attendees,  and for TEDTalks and our great speakers talks.”