Hafnarfjörður residents and elves at the annual Elf Festival

Legend has it that Hellisgerði is home to one of the largest concentrations of elves in Iceland.

Hellisgerði was at its most beautiful in the crisp sunshine and embraced the whole family on Sunday at the annual elf festival, where the Elven Queen, the Elven King, the Book Elf, Benedikt the Homestead Elf, and dancing Plié elves took centre stage, to name but a few. Guests took up the challenge to attend the festivities in elf costumes, complete with elf ears and a flower crown, and people of all ages could be seen throughout the garden in outfits with flowers in their hair. A rough guest count came to 2,000, and it was very crowded during the festivities. It is safe to say that the spirit of a bygone age, elves and fairies, reigned supreme in Hellisgerði during the Elf Festival. Children and curious little ones enjoyed climbing the lava field and resting in the lava boulders scattered throughout the garden. The youngest fisherman always captivates, calling the children over for a spot of splashing and getting wet in the fine weather.

A playground for people of all ages.

Hellisgerði is a lava-field-adorned park in the heart of Hafnarfjörður, from which the people of Hafnarfjörður and friends of the town have fond memories and stories over the past few decades. From the outset, the park has served an important social role as a green space, a place for gathering, and a venue for experiences and play for people of all ages. In recent years, Hellisgerði has established itself as a world of light and wonder during Advent, and thousands of visitors have made their way to the park in the run-up to Christmas, alongside visits to the ever-popular Christmas Village in Hafnarfjörður. A café in the Little Elf Shop is run in the garden during the summer and on the Advent weekends.