The Weekend: The Christmas Village opens with singing, a splendour of lights and adventures
The time has come! The Christmas town of Hafnarfjörður comes to life with the opening of the Christmas Village at Thorsplani at 5 p.m. today. Ahead is a weekend full of Christmas atmosphere, music, crafts, and treats. Yes, Hafnarfjörður embraces the family during Advent.
The Christmas village opens with the lighting of the Cuxhaven Tree.
The Christmas village opens at 5 p.m. on Friday, and at 6 p.m. a festive programme begins with the Hafnarfjörður Brass Band and the Karlakórinn Þröstur male voice choir. The highlight will be at 6:30 p.m. when the lights are switched on the Cuxhaven Christmas tree, a gift from our German twin town. Uwe Santjer, the Lord Mayor of Cuxhaven, will switch on the lights. Clarissa Duvigneau, The German Ambassador, the Mayor of Hafnarfjörður, Þórður Þórarinsson, and the main representatives of the Hafnarfjörður–Cuxhaven twinning association will also be present at the lighting ceremony.
The Book Elves, Una and Snotra, will then take over at 6:40 p.m., bringing adventure and joy to children and adults. Yes, they will be hosting this fantastic opening evening. On Saturday at 4 pm, the Lotta Theatre Company will be performing a fun song medley in the Christmas Village.
Christmas presents, treats and crafts
A wide selection of crafts, design, gourmet products and Christmas gifts will then be available in the beautiful Christmas houses on Thorsplan. This is the perfect opportunity to find something unique for your Christmas stocking, enjoy some delicious food and meet up with friends and acquaintances.
The Yule Lads will be out and about. Grýla will also be roaming the town on Sunday. The ice rink at Ráðhústorg will be open, the funfair by the Venus House on Strandgata will offer entertainment, and in Hellisgerði you can sit down at Helliskaffi and enjoy the magical surroundings.
Opening hours of the Christmas Village
- Friday 5–8 pm
- Saturday 1 pm–8 pm
- Sunday 1pm–6pm
- All about the opening weekend at the Christmas Village
Polish culture, music and arts
Polish Day will be celebrated at the Hafnarfjörður Library on Sunday from 1 pm to 5 pm. Polish culture and diversity will be celebrated, and guests are invited to get to know the cultural world of our Polish friends.
On Friday at 5 p.m., Elías Rúni will present the graphic story. The first time in the series The Lead-up at the Library. At 6 p.m. on the same day, the guitarists Björn Thoroddsen and Andrés Þór will take to the stage at the Hafnarborg Afternoon Concerts.
On Saturday from 1 pm to 3 pm, Hafnarborg and GETA are hosting a multilingual klepon-making workshop where guests can learn about an Indonesian tradition. An anime club for 14- to 16-year-olds will also be held at the library from 3 pm to 5 pm.
New exhibitions at Hafnarborg and the Little Gallery
Two new exhibitions have been opened at Hafnarborg. Styrmir Örn Guðmundsson is exhibiting Thoughts and Beili Liu presents The flow of water. It's ideal to pop into Hafnarborg and enjoy the art while taking a stroll around at Christmas.
The exhibition is also on display in the Little Gallery. Descent by Heimi Snæ, from 12th to 15th November.
A trip to the museums, swimming and a pleasant stroll around the town centre.
The Museum of Hafnarfjörður offers a journey back in time. Pakkhúsið, Sívertsens-hús and Beggubúð are open over the weekend from 11 am to 5 pm, and admission is free.
The town's swimming pools are also a great destination for those who want to start the day with a swim or enjoy some time in the hot tubs. Ásvallalaug and Suðurbæjarlaug welcome visitors.
And of course, it's ideal to stroll around the town centre, pop into the shops, enjoy a cup of coffee or a good meal, and soak up the Christmas atmosphere that is now beginning to fill the town.
Let's stretch the weekend into the next week.
On Monday, the Hafnarfjörður Library offers the open preschool Memmm from 12 pm to 2 pm, and Monday Crafts from 4 pm to 6 pm.
On Tuesday, the sensory play session Planet will be at the library from 2–4 pm, the sewing and design workshop Kit/Cosplay from 5pm–6.45pm and the book club Síðan for 16–25-year-olds from 5.30pm–6.30pm at the Innovation Centre by the Stream.
The three educational evenings We are the village for parents of teenagers will be held next week. The first evening is on Tuesday, 17th November, when Karen Bluth will give the lecture. The Power of Being Your Own Best Ally at Flensburg School.
On Thursday, 19th November, Jólahjarta Hafnarfjarðar, the heated tent behind Bæjarbíó, opens, where togetherness and a good atmosphere will be the priority during Advent.
We are the Christmas town of Hafnarfjörður! Now we enjoy being together, rejoicing and welcoming Christmas to our town.