Thank you for a wonderful Christmas 2023!

Thank you for taking part. Thank you for the company. Thank you for the entertainment. Thank you all! 

Christmas was formally bid farewell in the Christmas town of Hafnarfjörður at a well-attended and successful Threttánda celebration. The staff of the City of Hafnarfjörður would like to take this opportunity to thank you wholeheartedly for the warm and pleasant company during Advent and over the Christmas period, and for your active participation, unique Christmas spirit and general festive cheer.

The Christmas Village in Hafnarfjörður

The Christmas adventure in the Christmas town of Hafnarfjörður began with the Christmas Village in Hafnarfjörður in 2003 and celebrated its twentieth anniversary. Over the years, the Christmas Village has established itself as a nationally renowned and popular marketplace for a variety of giftware, delicious treats, crafts and design, and this year, fewer stallholders than wanted managed to get into the Christmas houses. The Christmas Village was open every Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 17th November until 23rd December.  The Christmas Village and its organisation are constantly evolving, and there is always something new, different and exciting happening there. The main highlights this year were new experience houses on Thorsplan and a Grýla cave! Thousands of visitors came to the Christmas Village this year, which has to be considered magnificent.

The Heart Swell – over 4,000 people skated in the heart of Hafnarfjörður

From 10 November to 23 December, the Heart Rink was open in partnership with the City of Hafnarfjörður and Bæjarbíó. The Heart Rink is a 200-square-metre ice rink for young people of all ages, which was first opened in the run-up to Christmas 2021 to great acclaim. The Heart Rink was located in front of Bæjarbíó and the Hafnarfjörður Library, right between the Christmas Village in the town centre and the light display in Hellisgerði. Numerous visitors came to enjoy time with friends and family ice-skating in the heart of Hafnarfjörður this year, with just over 4,000 people in total.

Best Decorated Houses and Businesses 2023

At the beginning of December, residents of Hafnarfjörður and others were encouraged to put on their big Christmas glasses and send in a tip about those who stood out for their Christmas decorations this year. Five private residences were recognised this year for their ambition and audacity, and for tasteful and beautiful decorations that enhance the beauty of the houses themselves and give the streetscapes a lovely, festive touch. Andrea by Andrea received an award for a beautiful Christmas window display in front of their shop in the centre of Hafnarfjörður, KFC for a festive and stylish decoration that fills the street with true Christmas cheer, and the Hafnarfjörður Music School for a beautiful window display in a prominent location.

Hafnarfjörður's Christmas Magazine 2023: Christmas Town Hafnarfjörður

The Hafnarfjörður Christmas Magazine has now been published for five years and is released in the same week that the Christmas Village opens each year. The Christmas magazine has the sole purpose of introducing the Christmas town of Hafnarfjörður to all interested parties, visitors and passers-by, and to highlight the warmth and diversity that exists among the people and businesses of Hafnarfjörður. This edition has been well-received and is available in digital format all year round. Online edition of the 2023 Christmas magazine

Light splendour in Hellisgerði until February

The light display in Hellisgerði will remain on until February. Thousands of residents and friends of Hafnarfjörður enjoyed bathing in the lights in the town's park this Christmas, just as they have for the past two years. Thousands of visitors made their way through the park this Christmas, enjoying the outdoors and the experience with family and friends. The café in Hellisgerði, Litla Álfabúðin, was open during the opening hours of the Christmas Village, where you could buy fragrant coffee and hot chocolate, many types of exciting teas, cakes and pastries. The Light Festival in Hellisgerði will continue beyond the Winter Lights Festival, which will be held from 1–3 February and will take place in all municipalities of the capital region, among other places. This festival of light and darkness consists of three main pillars: Museum Night, Swimming Pool Night and light art, with over 150 events across the capital region where a number of artists take part in creating a unique atmosphere in the city. More on that later!