A magnificent four-day Winter Festival will be held from 2nd to 5th February. H\u00f6fu\u00f0borgarstofa organises and runs the Winter Festival, now in its 16th year, and the festival takes place in all six municipalities of the capital region. This festival of light and darkness consists of four main pillars: Museum Night, Swimming Pool Night, Snow Celebration and Light Art, along with over 150 events where numerous artists take part in creating a unique atmosphere in the city. All these events are free of charge, and children under 16 also get free entry to the Snow Party in Bl\u00e1fj\u00f6ll. .<\/p>\n
Around twenty buildings in the capital region will be illuminated in the signature colours of the Winter Lights Festival, green and purple, in addition to which light art installations will be featured on several key buildings in the capital region; Hallgr\u00edmskirkja, Harpa, Reykjav\u00edk Town Hall and K\u00f3pavogur Church. The municipalities of the capital region will also illuminate key buildings such as Bessasta\u00f0ir, L\u00e1gafell Church, Gr\u00f3tta Lighthouse and the Hafnarfj\u00f6r\u00f0ur Folk Museum. Never before have so many taken part in this interplay of light and darkness. As part of the festival, street lighting in the city centre will be switched off on Sunday, 5th February, from 9 p.m. to 10 p.m. This is to draw attention to the concept of 'dark sky quality' and to allow people to experience the night sky in its clearest form. The main purpose of the Winter Festival is to entertain people in the capital region and to give them the opportunity to enjoy culture, art, sport and the outdoors in their own municipality and\/or visit their neighbours in a nearby one. Orkusalan is the main sponsor of the Winter Festival this year.<\/p>\n
Winter Festival Programme: <\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Winter Lights Festival will be opened on Thursday, 2 February at 19:40 with the unveiling of the light art installation 'Creation of the Land' on Hallgr\u00edmskirkja. The work is by the artist Ingvar Bj\u00f6rn and is composed of footage from various volcanic eruptions in Iceland, for example at Holuhraun (2014-2015). At the same time, a sound piece will be premiered, which includes a reading of all the largest volcanic eruptions in Icelandic history. Mayor Dagur B. Eggertsson will open the festival. After the opening, a light horse ride for children and young people will set off from the Hallgr\u00edmskirkja church, proceeding down Sk\u00f3lav\u00f6r\u00f0ust\u00edg and on to Arnarh\u00f3ll. There, people will have the opportunity to stroke the horses and talk to the riders. At the same time as the opening ceremony, a total of nearly 30 buildings across all municipalities in the capital region will be illuminated in the signature colours of the Winter Lights Festival: the colours of the Northern Lights, green and purple. The buildings will be bathed in the lights during the Winter Festival.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Museum Night will be held on Friday evening, 3rd February, when 45 museums across the capital region will open their doors from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m., offering a fun and varied programme. Residents and visitors of all ages can enjoy over 120 events of all shapes and sizes at museums across the capital region. You can, among other things, go to a hot dog party in the Garden Pavilion at the Ger\u00f0arsafn in K\u00f3pavogur, make ghost masks at the Seltjarnarnes Library, and attend the opening of an exhibition of works by Ilmar Stef\u00e1nsd\u00f3ttir at Hafnarh\u00fasi\u00f0, do yoga at Mosfellsb\u00e6r Library, hear a thrilling folktale at the Whale Show, see a light circus at the Gr\u00f3finborgarb\u00f3kasafn, visit the archaeological cellar at Bessasta\u00f0ir, see real Vikings at the Saga Museum, go on a treasure hunt at the Design Museum in Gar\u00f0ab\u00e6r, visit a seer or take part in a ghost tour at the \u00c1rb\u00e6r Museum, see the Northern Lights at Aurora Reykjav\u00edk, look at coins at the Central Bank, see the ghosts of the past at The Other House, see real blacksmiths and Vikings at the Settlement Exhibition, listen to punk bands at the Punk Museum or go stargazing at Hafnarfj\u00f6r\u00f0ur Library. The Museum Night Game takes place in all the museums, where visitors can answer light-hearted questions and win annual museum passes, beautiful gifts from the museums, and other fun prizes. A special Museum Night bus will run between the museums throughout the capital region, making it easier for visitors to get around. This year, the Museum Night bus will have an unusual format, with the National Film Institute of Iceland hosting screenings on board, where you can see material that is not often shown to the public. The Museum Night Bus will be based at Kjarvalssta\u00f0ir. <\/p>\n See the programme for Museum Night in Hafnarfj\u00f6r\u00f0ur HERE<\/a><\/p>\n On Friday, 3rd February, the Brekkusprettur cycling race will be held at 7 p.m. on Sk\u00f3lav\u00f6r\u00f0ust\u00edgur. It is a test of the participants' sprinting power above all.<\/p>\n Swimming Pool Night will be held on Saturday evening, 4th February, with free swimming from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. at nine swimming pools in the capital region. Visitors can experience a unique evening in the swimming pools, where light, darkness and joy will be the order of the day. This year's programme is extremely varied, with activities including yoga, dance, synchronised swimming, swimming kayaking, water polo, Improv \u00cdsland and a concert by J\u00f3n J\u00f3nsson. The swimming pools taking part in this year's Swimming Pool Night are: \u00c1lftaneslaug, \u00c1rb\u00e6jarlaug, \u00c1svallalaug, Kl\u00e9bergslaug, L\u00e1gafellslaug, Laugardagslaug, Salalaug (Sundlaugin Vers\u00f6lum), Sundlaug K\u00f3pavogs and Seltjarnarneslaug.<\/p>\n See the Sundlaugarn\u00e6tur programme in Hafnarfj\u00f6r\u00f0ur HERE<\/a><\/p>\n On Saturday, 4th February, the WOW Northern Lights Run takes place for the first time. It is a fun run where participants will be fitted with illuminated wristbands that flash in time with their running rhythm. The run is 5 km and starts at Harpa at 7 p.m., then proceeds through the city centre. There is no timing for the run, which is being held for the first time. Further information can be found at: www.nordurljosahlaup.is<\/a> <\/p>\n We celebrate snow and bright weather in Bl\u00e1fj\u00f6ll on Sunday, 5th February, for the final day of the Winter Festival, where residents of the capital region are invited to enjoy a fun programme of events from 10 am to 5 pm. Free lift access for under-16s and a 20% discount on ski hire. Food and drink offers in the cafeteria. <\/p>\n The Winter Festival concludes with the blackout of the city centre from 9 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Sunday, 5th February. This is done to draw attention to the concept of 'dark sky quality' and to allow people to experience the night sky in its clearest form. Power will not be cut off to residential properties, and it is at the discretion of residents whether or not to switch off their lights during the specified time. It should also be noted that this blackout will have no effect on security systems, and all traffic lights in the city will remain operational.<\/p>\n\n
Winter Festival Opening Night \u2013 Fireworks at Hallgr\u00edmskirkja and a Light Horse Ride <\/h4>\n
Museum Night <\/h4>\n
Hill sprint <\/h4>\n
Swimming pool night <\/h4>\n
Northern Lights Run WOW <\/h4>\n
Snow celebration <\/h4>\n
Darkening of the city centre <\/h4>\n