What
goes on in Iceland?
OCTOBER
ICELAND AIRWAVES Music Festival http://www.icelandairwaves.com/
Iceland Airwaves takes place the third weekend of October
every year. Iceland Airwaves 2007 is scheduled from
Wednesday, October 17th to Sunday, October 21st.
Where?
Airwaves is all about downtown Reykjavík. This
is where most of the musicians live and breath so that
is where the festival should take place. Maintaining the
tradition of cutting-edge music, all night parties and
general debauchery.
Tickets
The festival ticket is actually a wristband that grants
access to all concerts that are part of the festival,
subject to venue capacity. Currenty tickets can be bought
as part of flight packages through Icelandair outlets
in Europe and America. Single festival tickets will
go on sale mid-September online and in local record shops
in Reykjavik.
DECEMBER
CHRISTMAS celebration in Iceland starts Christmas Eve
and, traditionally, last until 6 January. Christmas,
or jól [pron. yole] in Icelandic. Christmas presents
are opened up on Christmas Eve, after a family dinner.
On NEW YEAR’S EVE, Iceland is all about fireworks.
We have the ambiguous reputation of spending the most
money per capita on fireworks of European countries; the
amount reaching a new hight in 2006 with approx. 5.8 million
EUR spent on fireworks. Our excuse is that the financial
profit goes to Icelandic rescue teams, who are the biggest
(and only?) vendors. And it’s great to witness.
It’s like a huge work of art, with tens of thousands
as contributing artists.
FEBRUARY
ASH WEDNESDAY – Children dress up and often go to
a costume party hosted by their schools, or downtown to
show off.
MARCH
BLUES FESTIVAL in Reykjavík around Easter Time.
http://www.blues.is/english.htm
APRIL
SUMARDAGURINN FYRSTI is the “Official” First
Day of Summer – according to the old calendar (which
only had two seasons; winter and summer). Parades and
festive programs usually play a part on this day, and
the weather may even be nice.
MAY
Listahátío – ART FESTIVAL in Reykjavík.
In 2008, the Festival will be 15 May – 5 June.
http://www.artfest.is/
JUNE
SJÓMANNADAGURINN – The Shipmen’s Day.
First weekend in June.
NATIONAL DAY on 17 June.
Middle of June: MIDNIGHT GOLF TOURNAMENT in Akureyri;
the Artic Open, a popular tournament that tees off at
midnight, at a golf course which was once said to be the
world’s northernmost 18-hole golf course.
JULY
EISTNAFLUG Metal Festival in Neskaupsstaour, eastern part
of Iceland http://www.eistnaflug.is
AUGUST
GAY PRIDE – The closest thing we’ve got to
a Carnival. Reykjavík City Center is alive from
the start of the Gay Pride Parade around 14:00 (2:00 pm.).
Tens of thousands come to the see the parade and the program
following it, regardless of sexuality, social status or
age. Children welcome.
Usually on 2nd weekend of August; the weekend after the
so-called Verslunarmannahelgin.
FISKIDAGURINN MIKLI – The Great Fishday in Dalvík,
50 km. north of Akureyri, Northern Iceland. On this day
this town of 1500 people receives over 25.000 visitors
to enjoy a free fish buffet sponsored by the local fishing
industry, and fish soup by the inhabitants of Dalvík.
MENNINGARNÓTT – Cultural Day / Evening. Again,
Reykjavík City Center becomes alive with activity
planned by the committee of Cultural Night or by induviduals.
Usually on 3rd weekend of August
REYKJAVIK JAZZ FESTIVAL, last weekend in August
http://www.jazz.is
http://www.jazz.is/festival_eng.htm
SEPTEMBER
LJÓSANÓTT – Light Nights in Keflavík
and Njarovík, ca. 45 km. southwest of Reykjavík.
http://www.ljosanott.is/
ALL YEAR ROUND
Have you ever taken a swim on a dark December evening/night,
while it’s snowing?
OUTDOOR SWIMMING POOLS can be found in virtually any town
in Iceland, and the water is geothermally heated so it’s
always around 24°C, all year round. And where there’s
a swimming pool, a hot tub or two can usually be found
as well. The hot tubs are usually 37°- 42°C warm.
THE ICELAND SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA is widely considered to
be one of the leading Nordic orchestras. http://sinfonia.is
Concerts given on Thursdays throughout the winter, and
sometimes on Saturdays as well.
Their webpage in English : http://sinfonia.is/default.asp?page_id=2201
SING IN A CHOIR – Most churches in Iceland have
a choir, and then there are various other choirs in larger
communities. Many secondary schools have a choir, and
there’s often a possibility for young people to
join even though they’re not attending the school.
THE CULTURE HOUSE http://www.thjodmenning.is/index_english.htm
INTERCULTURAL CENTER, in central Reykjavík
http://www.ahus.is
THE NATURAL MUSEUM of Iceland http://www.natmus.is/
WHERE TO GO – WHAT TO SEE ?
GLYMUR in Hvalfjördur; the highest waterfall in Iceland.
GULLFOSS (the waterfall) and GEYSIR (the hot spring) offer
a spectacular sight. The roads are not always open in
the midst of winter, though.
GO HIKING ! In the capital area of Iceland, you can go
on a 2-4 hour hike on Esjan and Helgafell, and Keilir
is not that far away.
From the middle of May and throughout September you can
visit VIDEY ISLAND just outside of Reykjavík. It
is a unique site that combines history, culture and nature,
and is only a few minutes away from the city
by boat.
Archaeological excavations have disclosed the fact that
the island was inhabited already in the 10th century.
It was the site of an Augustine monastery from 1225 to
1539 and a centre for pilgrimage in the middle ages.
There are hiking paths around the island, which is also
renowned for its varied bird life. At least 30 species
of breeding birds have been counted on the island. http://www.visitreykjavik.is/displayer.asp?cat_id=402
And if the winter is cold, you might even catch a glimpse
of the NORTHERN LIGHTS (Aurora Borealis)
