Iceland gears up for weekend town festivals including the 27th annual Hrísey Festival

Numerous town festivals will be held across Iceland over the weekend, including the 27th annual Hrísey Festival on the island of Hrísey. As part of the festivities, locals will offer guests garden coffee, mystery tours, and tractor rides.

The Hrísey Festival has long been a staple of life for the island’s residents. Approximately 1500 guests usually attend the festival over the weekend, many of whom have ties to the island. Despite the island’s small population of 165, the number of inhabitants multiples during the festival.

The festival’s schedule is filled with homely charm, beginning with garden coffee at three in the afternoon. “This is a tradition that has developed over the years, with several households inviting everyone to coffee and something to go with it,” says Ingimar Ragnarsson, one of the Hrísey Festival organizers.

The festival program varies and includes a rhubarb festival, group tractor rides, and “Skralli trúður” – a clown who has been entertaining for decades and plans to entertain the islanders over the weekend.

One program item that has sparked much joy is the mystery tour for children, another for teenagers, and finally a punk-themed mystery tour for adults in the evening. Ingimar says they expect a considerable number of guests this year. “When the weather is good, the island fills with people, so it’s largely dependent on what the weather is like.”

The festival ends with an Icelandic outdoor festival classic – a bonfire, lullaby singing, and music.