CPH Post Winter Holiday 2023

WINTER HOLIDAY

Big opportunities this winter holiday

Big Mac, Big Bird, Big Apple, BigFoot, Big Kahuna Burger – there’s a pattern here somewhere, and the same is true of wagon wheels, which grew exponentially in the US in the 19th century.

Not only are they more suitable for rocky terrain, but they’re much easier on the animal, dramatically reducing the required draft size. In the 1880s, they helped frontiersmen to conquer The West; and in the 1980s, they epitomised American largesse.

Given how prevalent that decade is right now – from the synth-pop dominating the charts to the Cold War re-emerging with a vengeance – it seems appropriate that our winter holiday headliner is an ‘80s classic.

There are still loads of tickets available for the

three Hot Wheels Monster Truck shows on February 11 and 12 (see page 5). And if you’re concerned about the environmental impact, you can always turn the whole experience into a lesson on why it’s important not to burn fuels for fun.

1970s revisited too

The Copenhagen Light Festival (see page 4) has got that angle licked. Thanks to the participation of Ørsted, the exhibits only use green energy.

Really, this is just as well, as this year’s edition follows on the back of a concentrated e ort to save energy by turning o the lights at major landmarks and in parks all over the capital region between 12:00 and 05:00.

So while the 1980s are reappearing this half-

term holiday at Royal Arena, it’s in a city where the energy-conserving practices o er a constant reminder of how we had to cope with the oil crises of the 1970s.

The recreation of an exhibition originally staged at the beginning of that decade in Vienna, Giant Billiards (see page 5), additionally reminds us of how small and insigni cant we are in the greater scheme of things: particularly when three metre-wide balls are careering towards our faces at great speed!

Big step outdoors?

If you don’t want to dwell on the past, Danish Architecture Center (see page 6) is the place to be ahead of Copenhagen taking over its responsibilities as World Capital of Architecture for 2023 – perhaps combine your trip to DAC with an early evening visit to the Light

Festival, as there are always a few exhibits in close proximity to BLOX.

The same can’t be said of the Viking Ship Museum in Roskilde (see page 6), although the Light Festival is for the rst time in its history pushing its reach out to the suburbs – most notably Brønshøj, Sundby, Vanløse and Tingbjerg.

Otherwise, like most years, there’s the normal array of indoor pursuits, from art galleries offering drawing workshops to theatres staging performances.

But really, given the mild weather of late, it’s the perfect time to take a ‘Big Step’ outdoors and enjoy some of the fresh-air winter options in the capital for a change. (BH)

Experience a world under the seven seas and enjoy a close encounter with majestic hammerhead sharks and elegant rays at Northern Europe’s largest and most modern aquarium.

It’s February: Let there be light!

The third verse of Genesis, and no, we’re not talking about the first time Phil Collins and Peter Gabriel harmonised on stage, included the immortal line: “Let there be light!”

At some point on the third day of February, a similar command will be issued. And on the fourth, and the fth, and for three more weeks, all the way until February 26.

For the sixth year, the Copenhagen Light Festival is returning to light up Copenhagen with 35 installations, numerous pop-up and thematic events, and a wide selection of guided tours, parties and treasure hunts.

On February 3, it will open to the public at the Royal Danish Playhouse followed by a big concert at Holmens Church. Green-minded, the festival will only use special energy donated by its sponsor Ørsted.

Undeterred by corona and an incredible cold spell two years ago, it keeps on coming back for more, bringing badly needed light into our lives at a time when we need it most.

In the suburbs too No doubt, 2021 was a breakthrough year for the free festival. Completely starved of indoor cultural events due to the pandemic, a record half a million people braved sub-zero temperatures to attend.

It was as if each installation was a giant heat-emitting beacon, drawing in the shivering crowds, warming them up with their sheer wonder.

Primarily set up lining Copenhagen Harbour, this year will include installations in far- ung locations as well, including outer-Copenhagen parks Bavnehøj, Remiseparken and Ørestaden, and even suburbs such as Brønshøj, Sundby, Vanløse and Tingbjerg.

To admire the city centre lights, visitors are inspired to choose from three routes – measuring 2, 5 or 10 km – which they can walk, run or cycle.

Organisers have divided the more than 35 installations into three groups: ‘Artistic’, ‘Architectural’ and ‘Experiences’. The first category is all about the message, the second the spectacle, and the third more family-orientated.

Book early for tours!

“We hope that many Danes and foreigners will again visit Copenhagen during the winter

holiday and spend a few days seeing the installations,” enthuses the

Kongshaug.

“We are attempting to accommodate our guest’s wishes for installations that are of a high artistic caliber and which also provide fun family experiences.”

Kongshaug warns visitors to book tickets for the guided tours as quickly as possible, as they tend to sell out quickly.

Extra tours along the canals have been organised in anticipation of the huge interest – and new this year, there are also beer, wine and dance tours, as well as special arrangements for the visually impaired.

Make sure you download the festival app so you are fully briefed on what is going on.

BEN HAMILTON

festival curator, Jesper

HOT WHEELS MONSTER TRUCK

Feb 11, 11:30 & 18:30, Feb 12, 11:30; Royal Arena, Hannemanns Allé 18-20, Cph S; 280-661kr, ticketmaster.dk

When an American petrol-head placed oversized wheels and a ridiculous suspension on his Ford 5250 pickup truck in 1975, little did he know he would be paving the way to one of the crazes of the 1980s.

And now parents who came of age during that decade can introduce one of their childhood passions to their own kids at the Hot Wheels Monster Truck events, which are taking over Royal Arena on the rst weekend of the winter school holiday.

It promises to be non-stop mechanic fury: three epic performances rendered all the more spectacular in the dark.

Let it glow!

The ‘Glow Party’ is tailored for the whole family to enjoy, but there’s an added bonus for monster truck’s biggest fans: the Crash Zone Pre-Show Party, which starts 150 minutes before the main shows.

Once showtime arrives, the pyrotechnics and lasers will go into overdrive when the likes of Mega Wrex, Tiger Shark, Boneshaker, Bigfoot and Gunkster enter the arena to perform all manner of stunts.

But it wouldn’t be ‘Monster Truck’without some ‘driveovers’. Enter Megasaurus – the giant, car-eating, re-breathing, prehistoric robot that loves nothing better than trampling four-wheeled prey. (BH)

GIANT BILLIARDS

ends Feb 26, open Wed-Sun 11:0017:00, Mon-Tue closed, until 21:00 on Thu; Skovvej 100, Ishøj; over-18s: 140kr, under-18s: free adm; arken.dk

From the 1966 lm Fantastic Voyage to Inner Space 21 years later, there’s always been something appealing about being miniature, and museums know this better than most, often conjuring up exhibits that make visitors feel they are completely tiny.

But instead of being confronted by a massive human spleen or an avalanche of red blood cells, Arken museum this winter has been o ering kids the chance to engage with massive three-metre in atable balls, red at a pretty intense velocity across a huge 225 sqm air mattress.

Duck or let it hit you for the giant thrill, ‘Giant Billiards’ has been winning rave plaudits since it opened in the autumn, and February is the last month in which you can try it out.

Originally from Austria Designed by Haus-Rucker-Co, a rebellious Austrian art collective formed in the 1960s, the exhibition is a re-enactment of the work they originally presented at the Museum of the 20th Century in Vienna in 1970.

The group explained how they “wanted to challenge their contemporaries’ often limiting perceptions of space, break down existing hierarchies of power and create new utopian urban spaces”.

For safety reasons, only children with a height of over 120 cm are permitted to enter, and there can only be a maximum of 15 on the mattress at any time. Under-18s must be under the supervision of a responsible adult. (BH)

Wheels of outrageous proportion

Balls of unimaginable distortion

FEBRUARY AT DAC

BLOX, Bryghusgade 10, Cph K; open daily 10:00-18:00, until 21:00 on Thu; over-18s: 115kr, under-18s: free adm, dac.dk

LOIC PADOVANI

A record 226,000 guests visited Danish Architecture Center in 2022 – proof the complex is one of the biggest attractions in Copenhagen.

Since inhabiting its new home in the BLOX building on the harbour waterfront near Langebro in 2018, visitor numbers have risen four-fold and the public’s awareness of DAC has grown from 54 to 73 percent.

DAC serves as a cultural centre for all those interested in architecture, urban development and design.

Along with the exhibitions and talks inside its walls, it also o ers city walks and guided tours to enjoy and discover noted architecture in the surroundings of Copenhagen.

Wide range of activities

In February, there will be plenty of interesting family-friendly exhibitions – most notably one involving LEGO architecture for the Moon called Space Architect for a Day (Feb 11-19).

Visitors will be challenged to create their own lunar home, strictly built to survive in space, out of LEGO bricks. Should you need it, DAC helpers will provide tips on surviving the hos-

FEBRUARY AT VIKING SHIP MUSEUM

Vindeboder 12, Roskilde, open daily 10:00-16:00; over-18s: 125kr, under-18s: free adm; vikingeskibsmuseet.dk

Travel back to Denmark’s proud Viking past!

Located in Roskilde, Vikingeskibsmuseet is a national ship museum built in 1969 that houses ve original Viking ships from the 11th century. It’s the perfect place to learn the story of the Norsemen who ruled the waves and conquered all.

The boat collection at the museum also includes more than 40 reconstructed vessels – some of which can even be sailed on!

Until the end of April, 45-minute guided tours are available at the museum in English at 11:00 every day.

Coming this Winter

During the Winter Holiday, from February 11 to 26 at 11:00, visitors can enjoy a Viking trading expedition in the company of a chieftain travelling from northern Norway to the South of Denmark.

After that, walk in the footsteps of a maritime archaeologist, who will explain how excavations have been carried out in Danish waters, from the Baltic Sea to the Great Belt.

At the end of the day, at 14:00, discover the Vikings’ colour workshop: a chance to consider

Where the walls can talk!

tile environment, along with inspiration to tap into your imagination and survival instinct. For those more interested in tours (adults: 150kr), guides will take you to Nordhavn (Feb 5) to appreciate the history of the district, to Carlsberg City (Feb 19) to follow the story of

the famous brewing family, or to Kalvebod Brygge (Feb 26) to understand the evolution of the ‘ugliest place in Copenhagen’.

Finally, for those who prefer staying inside, there are two talks (115kr) of note. The rst

regards AI and whether it can help us achieve better architecture (Feb 7, 20:15), and the second evaluates the impact of architecture on our well-being (Feb 23, 18:00). Both talks are free for members of the DAC club.

In the home of the Vikings

the pigments and motifs they preferred in their art.

Not just the Vikings And there’s more than just the Vikings to consider, as there is an entire exhibition dedicated to the Battle of Fehrmarn Belt

in 1644. ‘In Smoke and Flames’ is the result of several years of research to tell the story via a timeline with plenty of twists along the way.

The museum also needs your help to catch the master thief Heidenreich. Team up with

Astrid to chase the thief and solve the riddles.

Mostly recommended for children aged 6-13, the game is played all day long. Make sure you bring a smartphone and download the game app before playing.

LOIC PADOVANI

Wean ‘em on the screens!

Come of age on the stage

BØRNEBIFFEN

All Feb; films at 10:00 & 11:00, Wed-Sun; Cinemateket, Gothersgade 55, Cph K; 30kr entry; dfi.dk

Children aged three to seven are well catered to by Børnebi en at Cinemateket, which ve days a week o ers a steady ow of options in the late morning. Expect mostly Danish classics, such as ‘Cirkeline’, along with a few modern titles.

Making friends at Fastelavn

HOCUS POCUS Feb 10-22, performances 13:00 & 15:00 from Feb 14-18; Skuespilshuset, Sankt Annæ Plads 36, Cph K

Give your children a taste of Danish theatre with this child-friendly performance staged at the capital’s premier venue. Immersed in a fantasy universe, relentless special e ects will ensure their imaginations run wild. This could be the show where their love of theatre begins.

Some tots like it hot!

FASTELAVN PARTIES

Feb 11-19, 11:00-15:00, tour times TBC; National History Museum, Frederiksborg Slot 10, Hillerød; free adm to costumed children

Take a tour around the National History Museum at Frederiksborg Castle and discover why Christian IV wants to ban the holiday! And then beat the cat out of the barrel (only Feb 15 & 19) to earn your treasure. Alternatively, visit Frilandsmuseet at Fastelavn (Feb 11-19, 10:0016:00) to enjoy obstacle courses, ring riding, barrel beating and clown shows.

CHILDREN’S JAZZ SHOW

Feb 4 at 14:00; Sankt Johannes Kirke , Cph N; free adm

Normally in the Copenhagen Jazz Festival, there are dozens of concerts specially aimed at youngsters, but for Vinter Jazz this February, we could only nd one: Børnejazz med Sille og Palle. The duo are the main contributors to DR Ramasjang program ‘Rosa fra Rouladegade’, so they know how to handle a rowdy crowd!

Free admission for kids

Explore architecture

Bring the whole family to exhibitions, creative workshops and great food throughout the winter break