First Day of Summer in Reykjavík

Scouts in the summer spirit

The Scouts will host summer celebrations at four locations around the city.

Reykjavík Family Park & Zoo will buzz with Scout energy, giving families a fun and relaxed outing. Scout troops Skjöldungar, Garðbúar, and Landnemar will host family-friendly activities from 1 to 4 p.m. Children can enjoy bouncy castles, a climbing wall, and a variety of playground equipment. Visitors can also toast marshmallows over a campfire and enjoy the outdoors in a fun, safe setting. The carousel and the rocking ship Elliði will be open, and guests can meet baby goats in the animal pens. The café at Bæjarins Beztu will be open. Regular admission fees apply.Scout troop Árbúar and Árbær Open Air Museum will mark the First Day of Summer with their annual celebration. A parade steps off from Ársel at 12:30 p.m. p.m., led by Scout troop Árbúar and the Árbær and Breiðholt school band. The parade ends at Árbær Open Air Museum, where visitors can join in Scout games. Concessions, popcorn, and cotton candy will be available at Litli Laufás, followed by an evening gathering at Álfóhóll.In Vesturbær, Scout troop Ægisbúar will celebrate the arrival of summer from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Expect plenty of family fun, featuring bouncy castles and vendor stalls selling hot dogs, soft drinks, waffles, doughnuts, cotton candy, and more.

Scout troop Vogabúar in Grafarvogur will celebrate summer in style at the Gufunesbær recreation center. The Grafarvogur school band will perform a selection of pieces during the event.Parades, music, and family entertainment

The Vesturbær and Miðbær school band marks the arrival of summer with its annual marathon fund-raising concert. Festivities kick off with an 11 a.m. parade from Melaskóli, marching through the neighborhood to Vesturbæjarskóli. There, the waffle and popcorn crew will welcome guests with a cozy café atmosphere and live performances by the SVoM bands.A summer celebration will take place in the Fossvogur and Bústaðir neighborhoods. The celebration opens at 11 a.m. with an art exhibit by local preschool children in the Bústaðakirkja church foyer. The entertainment program then begins at 11:30 a.m. with music and dance. Afterward, a parade heads from the church down to Vík, where family entertainment awaits.

The ÍR Víðavangshlaup race takes place for the 111th time this year. One of Iceland's most popular and well-attended 5K races, the Víðavangshlaup takes place in the heart of Reykjavík, featuring running routes that wind through the city center. More Info on the race and city center closuresElliðaárstöð will be the place for genuine family fun this First Day of Summer, offering activities for kids and adults of all ages. The water play area will be turned on, the Elliði café and Elliðaárstöð visitor center will open their doors to valley guests, DJ music will fill the air, Hugmyndasmiðir will host a family workshop in the visitor center, and visitors can join the Reiðhjólabændur cycling program. The Elliðaárstöð family program runs from 1 to 3 p.m., alongside the Reiðhjólabændur Cycling Festival from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

A children's tournament on the First Day of Summer in Grafarholt. The Reykjavík Disc Golf Club, in partnership with Folfarinn, is hosting a children's disc golf tournament on the First Day of Summer at noon at Græninginn in Grafarholt. No disc golf experience is required — beginners and seasoned players alike are welcome, and all young people ages 18 and under are encouraged to participate. Folfarinn will be on-site to lend discs to anyone who wants to give the sport a try, and will offer a 10% discount on beginner sets and children's discs from Discraft. And there is no entry fee!

The Green Walk — nature's day of action — kicks off with a spirited green march from Arnarhóll to Hljómskálagarðurinn park. People will begin gathering at Arnarhóll at 1:30 p.m., with the walk setting off about half an hour later. Iceland's entire nature conservation movement, alongside other organizations, is working hard to make this one of the largest nature walks held in years.UNGI, an international performing arts festival for children, will hold its opening celebration at Hafnarhús Museum on the First Day of Summer from 2 to 4 p.m. Theater group Lotta will perform a lively song medley, and Hringleikur Circus Company will present a new work titled "Sjómennirnir." The festival is held every other year in Reykjavík in conjunction with the Children's Culture Festival. The program features Icelandic and international performing arts shows for children and young people, along with smaller events.

On the First Day of Summer, visitors can also catch the exhibit "Íslensk skrímsli og kynjaverur lifna við" (Icelandic Monsters and Mythical Creatures Come to Life) at the National Museum of Iceland, presented as part of the Children's Culture Festival. The exhibit features work by seventh-grade students from Laugalækjarskóli and third-, fifth-, and sixth-grade students from Grandaskóli, offering diverse and imaginative interpretations of Icelandic mythical creatures. The students' work is displayed in the children's and family space at the National Museum of Iceland.The BIG BANG music festival brings a lively musical program to Reykjavík City Library Gerðuberg and Sigursvein's Music School in Hraunberg in Breiðholt on the First Day of Summer. Music for all ages and workshops at the library.