AL V I em ST Th E l F 017 cia e N Sp IA L 2 G E CIA W R PE O S N e:
Peer Gynt Festival. Photo: Peer Gynt AS
A Norwegian festival for every fancy There is about one festival per 6,000 inhabitants in Norway, making Norwegians some of the most eager festival goers in Europe. It is no surprise, then, that international travellers are looking north for top-notch music experiences, interesting foodie fairs and one-of-a-kind events such as the Ice Music Festival in Geilo. By Bente Bratland Holm, head of tourism at Visit Norway
Norway is a festival mecca all year long, offering the likes of the Northern Lights festival and Polar Jazz in the winter, while music and foodie festivals such as Bergenfest and Gladmat last into the bright summer nights. This year we are particularly proud to mention the Peer Gynt Festival in Vinstra, as 150 years have passed since the playwright Henrik Ibsen wrote the iconic play. The festival takes place in the idyllic Gudbrandsdalen Valley every August and provides a fascinating glimpse into Norwegian cultural heritage.
If food is more your thing, we recommend coming to Oslo 22-23 September, when the city is transformed into a feast of food stalls and restaurants under the banner of Matstreif. As the biggest food Ice music festival. Photo: Emile Holba for the Ice Music Festival Geilo
festival in Norway, it allows local producers from all over the country to gather to showcase their best products. While in Oslo, take the opportunity to explore the reasons why the city has been named as the home of one of the most interesting music scenes in Europe, with a great diversity of locations and artists along with a curious audience. We wish you a wonderful, festive stay in Norway! Øya festival in Oslo. Photo: Kenneth Spaberg, visitnorway.com
The Træna festival. Photo: Trænafestivalen
Norwegians are used to festivals on the smallest islets and in sometimes rather surprising locations, whether it is the Træna festival on a small island off the Nordland coast, or Vinjerock, a rock music festival in the middle of Jotunheimen, the mythological home of trolls and giants. 36 | Issue 96 | January 2017
For more information, please visit: www.visitnorway.com