CRUICE NORTH 2014
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Northern Lights Festival, Tromsø.
Photo: Visit Tromsø
LOFOTEN
Lofoten hosts several major festivals
during the summer months. The Lofotr
Viking Festival takes visitors back to
the Viking Age with appropriate food,
clothing, stalls and activities. The festival
takes place at the beautiful Lofotr Viking
Museum, which is built on the site of an
ancient chieftain’s house dating from the
Viking Age.
The Cod Fishing World Championship
is the major event of the year in Lofoten.
The competition based in Lofoten’s
“capital”, Svolvær, attracts thousands
of leading fishermen for several days
of competition in late March. In typical
North Norwegian style, the festivities
overshadow the actual competition. To
put it bluntly, there is a three-day party!
Another festival worthy of mention is
the Lofoten International Chamber Music
Festival. It is marketed as the world’s
most beautiful chamber music festival
on the basis that the beautiful Lofoten
scenery provides the backdrop for all the
events. The festival is spread throughout
the entire archipelago, and the many
visitors it attracts can enjoy both world-
class music and nature.
BODØ AND BRØNNØYSUND
Classical music is also paramount in
Northern Norway’s second largest city
Bodø (population 49,000), which is
located on the other side of the Vestfjord.
The Nordland Music Festival is held in both
summer (August) and winter (March). As
an added bonus, the Bodø International
Organ Festival takes place in April.
Our southernmost cruise destination
is Brønnøysund, a small port with a
large, beautiful and seemingly endless
archipelago. Several music and cultural
festivals linked to the Vega Archipelago
World Heritage Site take place here.
Worthy of special mention is the
Torghattmessa, an annual trade fair with
a lively atmosphere.
This is what natives of Northern Norway
are renowned for – along the entire coast.
Northern Norway – It’s truly a different
story!
