Winter Festival in Hafnarfjörður this weekend

The Winter Festival will be held from 2–4 February. The festival takes place in all six municipalities of the capital region. This festival of light and darkness consists of three main pillars: Museum Night, Swimming Pool Night and light art, along with a variety of events where numerous artists take part in creating a unique atmosphere in the capital region.

Museum Night
On Friday 3rd February from 18:00 to 23:00

At the Hafnarfjörður Museum of Local History, the Hafnarfjörður Library and in Hafnarborg, a fun and varied programme will be on offer on Museum Night on Friday evening, the 3rd. February, when numerous museums across the capital region open their doors and offer an entertaining and varied programme from 18:00 to 23:00. The emphasis will be on offering unconventional, colourful and lively events this evening, providing visitors with a new perspective on the museums. The last Museum Night was held in 2020, so anticipation is high. Residents and visitors of all ages can enjoy Museum Night free of charge late into the evening.

At Hafnarfjörður Library appear the face-painters and the ever-popular Bladder, The story The Thorns will be told with shadow puppetry by the artists of the Comedy Theatre, and a romantic and (un)pleasant literary event will take place where the queens of crime fiction and the Crime Novel Newcomer of the Year will chat.

At the Folk Museum Actors will be roaming the Packhouse and bringing the collection to life. You will be able to view amazing artefacts in the dark in the Beggubúð, and the musical group Klassík will be holding a concert at 19:30.

In Hafnarborg A work by the visual artist Þórdís Erla Zoëga will be projected onto the gable of Hafnarborg, the Sunna Gunnlaugs Trio will perform at the 6 pm afternoon concert, and Anna Rós Lárusdóttir will offer a yoga session for everyone amidst the sculptures of the artist Sóley Eiríksdóttir. On Saturday, Hafnarborg is offering a family yoga session at 2 p.m..

Full programme for the Museum Night in Hafnarfjörður

Swimming Pool Night at Ásvallalaug
Saturday 4th February from 5 pm to 10 pm

Ásvallalaug will be open late, with a fun programme on Saturday, 4th February from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m., when swimming will be free in thirteen swimming pools in the capital region. Ásvallalaug is one of them. The events at the pools will be of various kinds, and guests will get to experience a unique and unusual evening in the magical darkness. Light, darkness and joy will be all-pervading, where guests are encouraged to take part by relaxing and enjoying the moment.

Visitors to Ásvallalaug will get to experience a different kind of evening in the pool, where light, darkness and joy will reign supreme. Visitors are encouraged to take part by dancing and singing to begin with, before relaxing and enjoying the moment as the evening progresses. The ever-energetic Zumba instructors will kick off the programme with Aqua Zumba, Hafnarfjörður Swimming Club will host a splash competition to see who can make the biggest splash, and the National Film Archive of Iceland will present a swimming cinema, showing live footage from its collection, including from Hafnarfjörður and across the country, on a giant screen.

Full programme for the swimming pool night at Ásvallalaug

Light trail and temporary artwork

For Museum Night, a work by the artist Þórdís Erla Zoëga will be projected onto the gable of Hafnarborg, as well as the museum's inner wall, so that passers-by, visitors and people nearby can enjoy this temporary artwork. Thordís graduated from the Gerrit Rietveld Academie in Amsterdam in 2012 and has been active in exhibiting both nationally and internationally. In her art, Thordís explores our relationship with the digital world, trends and routines across various media.

Due to the wet weather, it is unfortunately not possible to install the light trail in the Winter Festival's signature colours, green and purple, in Hellisgerði. After the festival, the Christmas lights will be taken down as the sun goes down, so Winter Festival is the last chance to see the light display in Hellisgerði.

Winter Festival Lights Trail will play a key role, as there is a walking route from Hallgrímskirkja down Skólavörðustíg and on to Austurvöllur, which is marked by light installations. These light installations will illuminate the city centre from 18:30 to 22:30 every day of the Winter Lights Festival. Visitors can therefore enjoy being outdoors and an outdoor experience with their loved ones at their own pace.

Have a great time and a happy Winter Festival at home in Hafnarfjörður and across the entire capital region!