Scandinavian Culture Calendar: November 2024
By Karl Batterbee
Arctic Festival. Photo: Siggi Anton - Visit Greenlan
From ABBA to the Arctic and from gaming to great nights out, there’s plenty of entertainment happening across the Nordics in November to warm our hearts. Here’s just a sample of what you can get up to if you find yourself in Scandinavia this month.
Arctic Festival (2 and 3 November)
At this year’s Arctic Festival, guests will be able to learn all about the beautiful region at the top of the globe, as well as the rapid developments and changes the Arctic has been experiencing in recent years. The festival is free of charge to enter, and there will be events for all ages, as well as a focus on cultural exchange and understanding. You can meet artists and organisations working with the Arctic, buy a work of art or a good book to take home, and even sample some Arctic cuisine.
Nordatlantens Brygge, Copenhagen, Denmark
Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra – Film Music Concert. Photo: Kaupo Kikkas
Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra – Film Music Concert (8 November)
Concertgoers are encouraged to dress up as their favourite superhero and take part in an entertaining hour filled with spectacular music known from Hollywood. Played on the night will be film music from the likes of Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, The Little Mermaid, The Lion King, Super Mario, The Pirates of the Caribbean, Aladdin and Moana. Leading audiences through the concert will be Kevin Haugan, known from the worlds of both TV and theatre.
Oslo Konserthus, Norway
Night Photography in Stockholm. Photo: Patrik Lindqvist
Night Photography in Stockholm (until 6 December)
This nighttime walking tour of Sweden’s capital doubles up as a how-to guide for taking the snazziest pictures while you’re out and about during the darker hours. Together, your group sets off on a stroll through Stockholm to explore its plentiful inspiration for your eye. The city skyline takes on a new kind of majesty at night, and you’ll soon discover the night-time nooks and crannies that can be captured magically on camera.
Stockholm, Sweden
Night Photography in Stockholm. Photo: Patrik Lindqvist
Etnosoi! Festival (until 15 November)
The annual Etnosoi! Festival in Finland is an initiative like few others, celebrating the different musical cultures that exist around the world. Concerts, club nights and side events are taking place throughout the country, offering Finns an insight into sounds from afar. Established in 1988, the idea of the festival is to inspire audiences to explore new cultural adventures and showcase music from around the globe, especially performers who have rarely, if ever, performed in Finland.
All across Finland
Etnosoi! Festival. Photo: Ondrej Irsa
Kaarlo Stauffer: Adventure (until 17 November)
Finnish artist Kaarlo Stauffer is known for his collage-like paintings based on old family photographs, but a new departure is evident in his new exhibition Seikkailu (Adventure). Mysterious islands, caves, castles, seascapes and other familiar elements from classic adventure stories recur in many paintings in the Adventure exhibition. And visitors will find that many of his new paintings unfold unassumingly as landscapes quietly beckoning the viewer to embark on a visual adventure of their own.
Helsinki Contemporary, Finland
Kaarlo Stauffer: Adventure. Photo: Jussi Tiainen
Vi Elsker ABBA – Waterloo (until 14 December)
Currently drawing in the crowds at Christiania Teater in Oslo is a large-scale tribute to one of the world’s most popular music groups of all time. 2024 marks 50 years since ABBA had their big breakthrough when they won the Eurovision Song Contest with the song Waterloo. Until mid-December, an all-star cast consisting of Inger Lise Rypdal, Ben Adams, Lise Karlsnes, Atle Pettersen and Charlotte Brænna will share the stage to pay tribute to the music of ABBA.
Christiania Teater, Oslo
Vi Elsker ABBA – Waterloo. Photo: Fredrik Arf
Play Beyond Play (ongoing)
Tekniska Museet in Stockholm has created an experience where you can not only try your favourite computer games and explore their history, but also step into, and let yourself be immersed by, the most popular games throughout the generations. The Play Beyond Play exhibition occupies over 1,000 square metres of gaming discovery; from a gaming portal to a gaming demo, and even an exploration into the world of cosplay. A must-visit for any gamers out there.
Stockholm, Sweden
Play Beyond Play. Photo: Tekniska Museet
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