A celebration in the 100-year-old Hellisgerði

Hafnarfjörður residents and elves celebrate the 100th anniversary of Hellisgerði.

The spirit of a bygone age, of hidden folk and elves, will be all-pervading in Hellisgerði this weekend. Hellisgerði is a lava-field-adorned ornamental garden in the heart of Hafnarfjörður, from which the people of Hafnarfjörður and friends of the town have fond memories and stories from recent decades. From its inception, the garden has served an important community 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, along with visiting the ever-popular Christmas Village in Hafnarfjörður. Legend has it that Hellisgerði is home to one of the densest settlements of elves in Iceland.

„Hellisgerði is one of our pearls, us Hafnarfjörður residents. A park located in the heart of the town centre, a friend to the social life, culture, shops and services that have developed in Hafnarfjörður in recent years. We have placed great emphasis on enhancing and expanding the park, increasing its accessibility and the possibilities for its use. This has certainly been achieved, as is best demonstrated by the number of visitors who come to the garden all year round. There is an open-air café with greenhouses during the summer and at Advent. We have been undertaking extensive renovations and development this summer to mark our centenary, and can now very comfortably host festivals, concerts and parties for all kinds of occasions in a truly magnificent setting in the best location in town.“ says Rósa Guðbjartsdóttir, Mayor of Hafnarfjörður.

Information about Hellisgerði 

Birthday celebration in Hellisgerði on Saturday, 26 August 2023 

Elf Festival in Hellisgerði on Sunday, 27 August 2023 

Sweet tunes, dancing and guidance

On Saturday, a birthday celebration will be held to mark the 100th anniversary of Hellisgerði, and the century-old garden will be filled with sweet sounds, traditional accordion and choir singing, as well as the SE Sextet jazz band playing for dancing to tunes from the 1930s. Dancing will take place throughout the garden, led by accomplished dancers, and guests will be encouraged to join in and enjoy the moment. Rósa Guðbjartsdóttir, the Mayor, will address the guests and unveil a sign about the history and flora of the garden at its heart in Hellisgerði, and guided tours of the area by professionals will also be on offer. You will be able to learn about the origin of 'The Youngest Fisherman' by the pond, hear tales of the hidden folk, and explore the development and history of the garden and the community behind its creation. On Sunday, the park will embrace the whole family with its annual Elf Festival, featuring the Elf Queen, the Elf King, the Book Elf, Benedikt the Farm Elf, and dancing Plié Elves, to name but a few. Guests are encouraged to attend the Elf Festival dressed in their elf costumes. The festivities are open to all and a programme in keeping with the ideas and values the park has stood for for 100 years.

The debating society Magni began systematic cultivation in Hellisgerði in 1923.

The history of Hellisgerði can be traced back to 15 March 1922. On that day, Guðmundur Einarsson, manager of the Dverg timber mill, gave a speech at a meeting of the debating society Magni, in which he asked, „Can the society Magni have an influence on the appearance of Hafnarfjörður?“ In the speech, he answered the question himself in the affirmative, proposing to create a pleasure or flower garden that would be to the credit of Magna and a great adornment to the town. Subsequently, a committee was established within the society, tasked with finding a suitable site for the garden. The committee concluded that the so-called „Hellisgerði“, between Reykjavíkurvegur and Kirkjuvegur, was ideal for the garden, as it already had the beginnings of a small wood. In the autumn of 1922, the Hafnarfjörður town council agreed to provide the society with the requested garden plot free of charge. The following spring, Hellisgerði had been fenced off and systematic planting had begun. In the summer of 1923, a Midsummer's Eve festival was held there to raise funds for the society's activities, and on that occasion, the town clerk, Magnús Jónsson, formally handed Hellisgerði over to the debating society, Magna.

The garden's plan states that its original purpose was primarily threefold. Firstly, to be a place of recreation where the townspeople could enjoy leisure and relaxation. Secondly, to foster an interest among the townspeople in flower and tree cultivation, and thirdly, to preserve unaltered relics of the unique site of Hafnarfjörður. It is safe to say that the original purpose is still reflected in the development and construction of the garden, which today is owned by the City of Hafnarfjörður.