CONTENT LIST FROM THE EDITOR

Welcome to Iceland

Iceland has several holidays per year, 16 bank holidays to be exact, give or take the ones that may fall on weekends. However, most of those are either international, such as Labour day on May 1 or have roots in Christianity, such as Christmas or Easter. There is one holiday however, that’s unique to Iceland. Every year, Icelandic children and workers take a day off to celebrate the arrival of summer, on a holiday known as the First Day of Summer.

It makes sense, really. Winter is a long, cold, and dark affair, but summer is a warm season, and Icelanders draw endless amounts of energy from the summer sun that shines all night long around the summer solstice. What doesn’t make sense is that we celebrate the First Day of Summer in April, which in Iceland is usually a better time to go skiing than to venture out in shorts.

While the temperatures may not accurately represent our sunny mood, that’s no reason to miss out on a summery atmosphere. Instead of going to the beach, find a swimming pool or a bathing lagoon and soak up some rays. Have a fresh and fruity cocktail somewhere with a view over the Reykjavík streets, and add an extra layer of warmth before going on a run, a hike, or whatever your favourite outdoor activity is.

If all else fails, you can always go skiing.

WHAT’S ON — VOLUME 41 — ISSUE 4

Published by: MD Reykjavík ehf.

Laugavegur 5, 101 Reykjavik. Tel.: 551-3600

Contact us: info@whatson.is

Publisher: Kjartan Þorbjörnsson

Distribution: nora@whatson.is

Tel.: 830-3629

Map of Reykjavík: Friðrik Bjarnason

Editor: Gréta Sigríður Einarsdóttir, greta@whatson.is

Content writers: The What’s On Team

Ad sales: Sigurþór Marteinn, sm@whatson.is air, but it’s wintry enough to strap on your skis or snowboard to carve your way down the slopes. Plus, there’s Easter chocolate everywhere you look!

Printing: Kroonpress Ltd.

WHAT‘S ON IN REYKJAVÍK is published monthly, covering events and happenings in and around Reykjavík. Opinions expressed in WHAT‘S ON IN REYKJAVÍK are those of the individual authors. While every effort has been made to ensure the information presented is accurate, prices, times, dates and other information may be subject to change.

Here are What’s On’s tips for this month:

Buy a chocolate Easter egg (and try not to devour the whole thing in one sitting).

Wash down all that chocolate with one of the seasonal Easter beers on tap at a local pub.

Spot the northern lights. Book a tour before the aurora season ends this month!

Celebrate Sumardagurinn fyrsti (the First Day of Summer) on April 20 with a frosty ice cream.

Meet an Icelandic horse. Feel the early spring sun on your face during a horse riding tour.

Listen in on poetry reading during the Reykjavík International Literary Festival!

Relive the 90‘s at The Backstreet Boys concert at Laugardalshöllin!

Zoom across a glacier on a snowmobile!

While you’re checking things off the list, snap some photos and tag #whatsonrvk on Instagram.