Christmas Market opens at Austurvöllur and lighting of the Oslo Christmas Tree
The Christmas Market at Austurvöllur opens tomorrow, Saturday, Nov. 29 at 1 p.m. The market has grown since last year, with more vendors offering a diverse selection of crafts and festive Christmas goods.
Mayor Heiða Björg Hilmisdóttir will formally open the Christmas market. Musical performances will feature the Vesturbær and city center school band playing several songs, and who knows if the Yule Lads might make an appearance? The market will be open all weekends in December and December 18–23. Everyone is welcome!
Christmas lights lit on Oslo Tree at Austurvöllur square
The lights on the Oslo Christmas Tree will be lit during a ceremony at Austurvöllur on the First Sunday of Advent, Nov. 30 at 4 p.m. The Lighting of the Oslo Christmas Tree marks the start of the Christmas celebration for city residents.
For decades, the city of Oslo gave Reykjavík a Christmas tree as a symbol of the cities' friendship, shared traditions, and Christmas joy. Though the Oslo tree now comes from Heiðmörk, this hasn't changed the friendship; instead of a Christmas tree, Oslo city officials give books to primary schools in Reykjavík.
The Christmas tree was recently cut down in Heiðmörk. The tree is a Sitka spruce standing just over 12 meters tall, decorated with 6,800 lights, 120 golden Christmas ornaments and topped with a beautiful Christmas star.
Austurvöllur will have a festive atmosphere, with music, singing, and the Yule Lads taking center stage.
Program:
The Reykjavík Brass Band will play Advent and Christmas songs starting at 3:30 p.m.
Unnsteinn Manúel and Salka Sól with their band will perform beautiful Christmas songs.
City councilor Sirin Stav will deliver greetings from Oslo and present translated books that will be donated to primary school libraries in Reykjavík.
Heiða Björg Hilmisdóttir will give a speech of thanks, and 11-year-old Norwegian-Icelandic boy Johann Anda will help light the tree.
The Yule Lads Gully Gawk (Giljagaur) and Bowl-Licker (Askasleikir) will sneak into town to sing and entertain the children.
Actress Katla Margrét Þorgeirsdóttir will host, and the program will be interpreted in sign language.
Everyone is welcome!