The biggest bank holiday weekend festival is in Westman Islands
Þjóðhátíð Festival in Westman Islands is by far the largest of the Verslunarmannahelgi bank holiday weekend with between 10.000 to 16,000 people (nearly 4-times the island’s population) attending each year.
Officially, Þjóðhátíð starts on Friday (August 1st 2014) and last until Sunday that same weekend. A number of people like to get a headstart on the festivities and arrive up to five days in advance to hangout, guarantee the best camping spot, and enjoy the things the Westman Islands have to offer. More about Þjóðhátíð festival
World Cup of Tractor Racing and “Strange” boat contest in Flúðir
The tractor rally is held in Flúðir town the first weekend of August every year and is something locals look forward to all summer. This year's annual event will take place the 2nd and 3rd of August. One important rule to note for the the tractors entering the race is that the contestants can not alter their vehicle over 50 horsepower. Below is a cool video highlighting some cool footage from last year's event. In addition to the tractor rally, their will also be a strange boat contest taking place at the festival. This competition is more of a family event where contestants do their best to express their creativivity regarding their strange boat design.
Hekla Center
The Hekla Center houses a contemporary, multimedia exhibition on Mount Hekla. The tutorial helps explain Hekla's history, and its influence on human life in Iceland from the time of the island’s settlement until present day. The exhibition emphasizes the influence of the volcano on the surrounding districts of Landsveit, Holt, and Rangárvellir. The history of these districts is outlined with detailed stories about the people’s struggles with the volcanic eruptions. The Center also includes a restaurant as well as meeting rooms for corporate conferences.
Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon near Kirkjubæjarklaustur
Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon is a magnificent landmark that stretches about 100 meters deep and about two kilometres long. The bedrock in the canyon is made up of palagonite from the time of the Ice Age and is thought to be about two million years old. The Fjaðrá river flows from the Geirlandshraun mountain and falls off the edge of this stunning canyon until it makes it down into Skaftá river. The river is rather shallow and therefore hikers can safely choose to walk inside the canyon. Overall, the grand scenery makes for a great hike, so be sure to experience the Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon if you make your way down to south Iceland.
This is the South Iceland section of Best of Iceland This Week, the only Icelandic guide of its kind. New every week.
The biggest bank holiday weekend festival is in Westman Islands
Þjóðhátíð Festival in Westman Islands is by far the largest of the Verslunarmannahelgi bank holiday weekend with between 10.000 to 16,000 people (nearly 4-times the island’s population) attending each year.
Officially, Þjóðhátíð starts on Friday (August 1st 2014) and last until Sunday that same weekend. A number of people like to get a headstart on the festivities and arrive up to five days in advance to hangout, guarantee the best camping spot, and enjoy the things the Westman Islands have to offer. More about Þjóðhátíð festival
World Cup of Tractor Racing and “Strange” boat contest in Flúðir
The tractor rally is held in Flúðir town the first weekend of August every year and is something locals look forward to all summer. This year's annual event will take place the 2nd and 3rd of August. One important rule to note for the the tractors entering the race is that the contestants can not alter their vehicle over 50 horsepower. Below is a cool video highlighting some cool footage from last year's event. In addition to the tractor rally, their will also be a strange boat contest taking place at the festival. This competition is more of a family event where contestants do their best to express their creativivity regarding their strange boat design.
Hekla Center
The Hekla Center houses a contemporary, multimedia exhibition on Mount Hekla. The tutorial helps explain Hekla's history, and its influence on human life in Iceland from the time of the island’s settlement until present day. The exhibition emphasizes the influence of the volcano on the surrounding districts of Landsveit, Holt, and Rangárvellir. The history of these districts is outlined with detailed stories about the people’s struggles with the volcanic eruptions. The Center also includes a restaurant as well as meeting rooms for corporate conferences.
Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon near Kirkjubæjarklaustur
Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon is a magnificent landmark that stretches about 100 meters deep and about two kilometres long. The bedrock in the canyon is made up of palagonite from the time of the Ice Age and is thought to be about two million years old. The Fjaðrá river flows from the Geirlandshraun mountain and falls off the edge of this stunning canyon until it makes it down into Skaftá river. The river is rather shallow and therefore hikers can safely choose to walk inside the canyon. Overall, the grand scenery makes for a great hike, so be sure to experience the Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon if you make your way down to south Iceland.
