CULTURAL EVENTS AND FESTIVALS

Reginedagan (Regine Days)

The Regine Days festival celebrates fairytale writer Regine Normann, who was born in Bø and spend a part of her childhood and adolescence here. She was an established and well-known author in Norway during the first decades of the 1900s. Today she is renowned for her fairy tales that depict the rich coastal culture, fantasy and legends which were a vital part of her upbringing.  Her life history represents an extraordinary existence for a woman of her era.

The Regine Days festival has several permanent events on the agenda, and they focus on Regine’s life. Each year there are guided trips to Sinahula – the mountain cave where Regine (whose nickname was “Sina”) used to hide her manuscripts from her husband, an older parish sexton who did not approve of his wife’s writings. The Fairytale Trail and theatre workshop Fykomfei are also part of the annual programme. The festival has a richly varied and all-around programme of events that suit people of all ages and are held in venues spread across the entire community. Very many former residents of Bø who have moved elsewhere make sure they spend their holiday weeks at exactly the time of year when they can come back and enjoy the festival. The population of Bø doubles at the end of July because of this. (The festival is currently working to launch a brand new website. (Link to be provided later)

Rock Mot Frafløtting (Rock Against Depopulation)

Rock mot Frafløtting (RMF) is an annual rock festival arranged by Bø Youth Club each autumn. The festival is alcohol and substance-free and offers activities for children, a rock marathon and individual concerts in the evenings featuring well-known artists. The festival has its own web pages rockmotfraflotting.no

Vetten Opp (To the Summit of Vetten)

Vetten opp is a sports event that everyone can take part in. As a kickstart for the Regine Days, this uphill race is organized by the Bø Sports Association in the end of July. The course runs through one of the region’s decidedly most popular hiking routes starting at Brenna, via the Lodge Cabin and up to the summit of Vetten, 467 metres above sea level. The first leg of the route runs along historical terrain up along the oldest known road in Bø. It offers varied and good hiking terrain all the way. The vista from the summit is indescribable. You simply have to experience it yourself. For more information and to sign up, visit vettenopp.no 

Arctic Sea Kayak Race

Arctic Sea Kayak Race (ASKR) is Vesterålen’s very own kayaking festival. ASKR is a meeting place for competition paddlers, leisure kayakers and novices for an enjoyable week of fun, socializing and learning in beautiful natural surroundings. There are courses, planned outings, and contests – Friday, the entire day is devoted to competition.  There is also a “rest day” during the festival, a day set aside for various activities on land. They have boats for hire, both single and double kayaks. For more information and to sign up, visit askr.no

Vesterålen Food Festival

Vesterålen Matfestival is a regional food fest for the entire family. The event profiles food ingredients, food products and culinary experiences from all municipalities and covering all the Vesterålen islands. For further information, see vesteralenmatfestival.no

Further information about events

Click here for a list of other cultural events in Bø and in Vesterålen.

Vesterålen Kulturkalender