Thank you for a wonderful Christmas 2022!

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 Threttándahátíð at Ásvellir, held in collaboration with the football club Haukar. The staff of Hafnarfjörður Municipality would like to take this opportunity to thank you wholeheartedly for the warm and pleasant company during Advent and over the Christmas period, and we are grateful for your active participation, unique Christmas spirit and general Christmas 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 the Christmas Village will therefore be 20 years old this year. Over the years, the Christmas Village has established itself as a nationally known and popular marketplace for various gift items, delicious treats, handicrafts and design, and this year, fewer stallholders than wanted managed to get into the Christmas houses. Opening hours at the Christmas Village were extended this year, with a fifth opening weekend added as well as a Friday opening.  The Christmas Village and its organisation are constantly evolving, and there is always something new, different and exciting happening there. Thousands of visitors came to the Christmas Village this year, which has to be considered magnificent.

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

From 10 November – 30 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 people of all ages, which first opened in the run-up to Christmas 2021 to great acclaim. The rink's location was changed this year, and the Heart Rink was situated in front of Bæjarbíó and the Hafnarfjörður Library. The new location creates a pleasant link between the Christmas Village in the town centre and the light display in Hellisgerði. Around 4,000 people came and enjoyed spending time with friends and family on the ice rink in the heart of Hafnarfjörður this year.

Best Decorated Houses and Best Decorated Street 2022

On St. Lucia's Day, awards were presented for the best-decorated houses, best-decorated businesses and best-decorated street in Hafnarfjörður, which actually houses small boats rather than houses. At the beginning of December, residents of Hafnarfjörður and other interested parties were encouraged to put on their big Christmas glasses and send in a tip about those who stood out in this year's Christmas decorations. Eight detached houses received an award this year for their ambition and boldness, and for tasteful and beautiful decorations that enhance the beauty of the houses themselves and give the streetscapes a lovely, festive touch. The Little Design Shop received an award for a beautiful Christmas display in front of a shop in the centre of Hafnarfjörður, Fjörukráin for a festive and colourful decoration that fills the street with true Christmas cheer, and Flensborgarhöfn for the beautifully decorated boats that give both the harbour and the Hamar a very festive appearance.

Hafnarfjörður's Christmas Magazine 2022: Hafnarfjörður, the Christmas Town

The Hafnarfjörður Christmas Magazine has now been published for four 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 of highlighting the warmth and diversity found 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 2022 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 in line with the opening hours of the Christmas Village, where visitors could buy fragrant coffee and hot chocolate, many varieties of exciting teas, cakes and pastries. The Light Festival in Hellisgerði will continue beyond the Winter Lights Festival, which will be held from 2–5 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 numerous artists take part in creating a unique atmosphere in the city. More on that later!