Month by Month - Norway - page 33

Here Comes the Sun
The inhabitants of Longyearbyen in the high-Arctic archipelago of Svalbard must with-
stand the winter darkness longer than any other Norwegians. Their week-long Sunfest, in
early March, is celebrated with special fervour.
Winter's-End Dog-Sledding
Alta's Borealis Alta winter festival in March has concerts and other cultural events aimed
at saying good riddance to winter. The festival also marks the beginning of Europe's
longest dog-sled endurance race, the epic Finnmarksløpet.
April
April has surprisingly few festivals of note and represents something of a
breathing space before the end-of-winter celebrations and action-packed
Norwegian summers. The weather is improving and few tourists are around.
Food & Wine in Stavanger
Stavanger is a port city par excellence and its culinary culture is one of Norway's most
varied. In mid-April, the local love of food and wine takes on special significance with the
Stavanger Vinfest.
May
By May, Norway has a real spring in its step: the weather's warming up, Nor-
way's renowned music festivals get under way and tourists have yet to ar-
rive in great numbers.
Constitution Day
On 17 May the country becomes engulfed in a wave of patriotism during Norway's most
popular nationwide festival. It's celebrated with special fervour in Oslo, where locals des-
cend on the Royal Palace dressed in the finery of their native districts.