Events

What is happening on Westman Islands, Vestmannaeyjar, Heimaey

January

1st of January 2018:
New Year’s Day
6 or 7th of January 2017 The thirteenth
The thirteenth is the 13th day of Christmas, traditionally a festive day in the islands.
A torch-lit parade of fascinating creatures: the ancient Icelandic ogress Grýla and her less than lovely husband and sons, as well as elfs, fairies, demons and trolls join the locals at a huge bonfire and splendid fireworks. Normally this the 6th of January and the festive is held the first weekend after the 6th of January

April

15th of April Puffins arrive
The puffins usually come back home to the Westman Islands in the middle of April. The exact date is dependent on the nature of course.
19th of April 2018 The First Day of Summer
The First Day of Summer is celebrated with a parade from the Town Hall to the Sports Hall. The scouts and the brass band of the islands lead the parade which is followed by some entertainment show by the local amateur theatre.
Whit Sunday weekend 18-20th of April 2018
The weekend of Whit Sunday is cultures weekend in Heimaey, with series of concerts and local artist exhibits.

June

Sailors weekend 2-3th of June 2018
The sailor day festivities are held early in June with a full programme on both Saturday and Sunday emphasizing seamanship connected sports as well as various entertainment for the general public.
Pæjumót – Girls football tournament 14 – 17th of June 2018
Every year hundreds of young girls come to the island to participate in the Pæjumót which is a big football tournament. The girls also take tours and participate in many of the various activites the island have to offer
17th of June 2018 Icelandic National day
17th of June is Iceland´s national holiday. Then the islanders go to a parade with the scouts and the islands brassband and have outdoor festivities, with concerts with local bands performing.
Orkumót 28th of June – 2nd of July 2017
Boys football tournament. Around thousand particpants come to the island to play football and enjoy the unique Westman Islands nature and activites.

July

5 – 8 of July 2018 Goslokahátíð – The end of eruption festival
Celebrating the end of eruption has become a fixed event in the islands´ social life. It is held on the weekend following 3rd of July, the day in 1973 when the eruption was officially declared at an end. On Saturday night the island pubs open their doors and floors to musicians of all descriptions who are encouraged to sing and play to their hearts delight. A great number of former islanders choose this weekend for a visit and you can experience an authentic Westman Islands ambience.

August

3 – 6th of August 2017 Þjóðhátíð – Þjodhatid – Thjodhatid
The Westman Islands’ national festival is unquestionably the best known festival attracting the greatest number of mainland visitors. Held in Herjólfsdalur on the first weekend in August, it is a 3-4 day outdoor festival where having a good time is everyone´s easily fulfilled aim. The whole weekend is packed with entertainment of all description, including the traditional bonfire, fireworks and the famous “hillside sing-along”. Specially built structures fill the valley, not to mention the large white tents of the locals who literally move house during the festival and prove their famed hospitality by welcoming guests for coffee, smoked puffin and sundry other delicacies.

September

The puffling time is an annual event, unique to the Westman Islands. It is impossible to put a more precise date to it than mid-August or early september as it is determined by the pufflings themselves. Leaving their cliff nests they fly into town attracted by the electric lights and discover a harder and considerably more complicated world than they have been used to. Everywhere, however, saviours are waiting: the island children with their cardboard boxes prepared and ready to gather the lost and totally bewildered pufflings and take them down to the shore to release them into the sea.