Iceland - Culture Day Fireworks in Reykjavik

Summer in Iceland comes with non-stop bright skies, fertile green landscapes studded with flowers. It’s not only Mother Nature who gets busy during summer in Iceland. Some of the human highlights on offer during June, July and August in Iceland range from Culture Night to the European Swamp Soccer Championships. Add to that marathons, sailing regattas and midnight golf, and Icelandic summers start to look pretty unusual and interesting.

A few weeks later on, Iceland gets festive again for National Day on 17th June. Icelanders declared their independence from Denmark on 17 June 1944. Independence Day starts with formal speeches and a chance to see MPs, the President and ambassadors up close. After this comes the turn of street parties, parades, live music, dance shows, exhibitions and all sorts of riotous fun which stretches long into the night.

Late June also sees Iceland’s midnight golf tournaments which offer competitors the chance to enjoy the midnight sun and compete in a stimulating golf competition at the same time – perfect!

Over the summer there are numerous opportunities for competitive runners to visit Iceland, the largest of which is the Islandsbanki Reykjavik Marathon on 22 August 2009. Reykjavik offers excellent running conditions and the marathon takes place on the same day as the city’s famous Culture Night.

Culture Night is a celebration of the Icelandic capital’s birthday and is packed with goings-on similar in magnitude to those of Independence Day; but with more emphasis on art galleries and museums. The day also differs with the inclusion of a magnificent fireworks display, the likes of which are simply not possible on a bright June night. In 2006 they turned off all the lights along the coastline for the fireworks show creating a magical effect. Boasting one of the few fireworks displays in the world taking place in the middle of summer at 9 o'clock at night.

What is planned for this year? You will have to wait till August to see...at night.