Þjóðhátíð

Þjóðhátíð (English: The National Festival) is an annual outdoor festival held in Vestmannaeyjar, Iceland, on the weekend before the first Monday in August. Locals and guests gather in Herjólfsdalur valley on the island of Heimaey for four days of various events, most prominently big stage concerts, bonfires, fireworks displays and the festival's signature Sunday night crowd singing,[1] led by Vestmannaeyjar local Árni Johnsen a member of the Althing (Icelandic parliament). The crowd singing is the single event of the weekend which draws the most attendees. In 2010 there was a record attendance of between 16,000 and 17,000 on the Sunday night.[2][3]

Þjóðhátíð
DatesThe weekend before the first Monday in August
Location(s)Vestmannaeyjar, Iceland
Years active1874–present
Websitedalurinn.is

Þjóðhátíð was first held in 1874 when islanders were prevented by bad weather from attending the celebration on the Icelandic mainland of the millennium of Icelandic settlement. The festival has grown to become the largest multiday festival in Iceland, and one of the largest annual cultural events in the country.[4][5]

References
  1. Young, Don and Majorie (2008). Iceland Adventure Guide. Hunter Publishing. p. 484. ISBN 978-1-58843-672-6.
  2. "Metfjöldi í brekkunni í gær". Stöð 2 (in Icelandic). August 2, 2010. Retrieved 19 September 2017.
  3. "15 þúsund á Þjóðhátíð í Eyjum". Morgunblaðið (in Icelandic). August 6, 2013. Retrieved 19 September 2017.
  4. "Hvað er að gerast um verslunarmannahelgina?". Morgunblaðið (in Icelandic). August 2, 2017. Retrieved 19 September 2017.
  5. "Um 8.000 manns tóku þátt í brekkusöngnum". Morgunblaðið (in Icelandic). August 3, 2004. Retrieved 19 September 2017.
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