Masker i Marsken: Needles, nature and community in the marsh
By Signe Hansen | Photos: Kamilla Elming
Due to the festival’s focus on inclusivity across generations, entry is free for children and young people.
Set against the vast skies and open landscapes of southern Jutland, Masker i Marsken is more than a knitting festival. Rooted in nature, mindfulness and local collaboration, it brings together craft and community in a festival that spans generations, with a particular focus on introducing younger audiences to the calming qualities of handwork. For knitting enthusiasts, this is an event that should not be missed.
From its early days, Masker i Marsken has been guided by a clear vision: to create an experience that goes beyond yarn and needles. Today, the festival spans more than 100 events across multiple locations, welcoming thousands of visitors each year. “It was clear from the beginning what it should be about,” says co-founder Marianne Kalb. “Knitting, the marshland, and mindfulness – those three elements have stayed with us from day one.”
Founded in 2021 and launched in Tønder the following year, the festival has grown steadily, now attracting around 3,000 visitors. Alongside workshops, talks and exhibitions, it offers concerts, communal dining and cultural events, creating what the founders describe as a “total experience” where everyone can participate, regardless of budget or skill level.
From a fun idea to a festival in the marsh
The story of Masker i Marsken began far from Denmark, during a mindfulness retreat in Crete in 2021. Here, Marianne Kalb and Kirsten von Wildenradt met two fellow knitters, and what started as a late-night conversation quickly evolved into a concrete idea. “We said: we’d love to make our own knitting festival – and then we did,” Kalb recalls.
Back home, the idea persisted. Within weeks, the group had created a concept, opened a Facebook group and received an overwhelming response, with hundreds expressing interest almost immediately. “There were 500 people in the group over the weekend, all saying yes – where can we buy tickets?” Kalb says.
From the outset, the location was central. The marshes around Tønder were not just a backdrop, but a defining element. “We really wanted to show the place we come from,” explains von Wildenradt. “It’s a unique landscape, and it means a lot to us to share that with others.” What followed was a rapid transformation from idea to reality, driven by professional experience in communication and a strong sense of purpose. Within a year, the first festival was underway.
Alongside workshops, talks and exhibitions, the festival programme includes concerts, communal dining and cultural events.
Experiences shaped by landscape and atmosphere
While knitting remains at its core, the festival is designed as a multi-layered experience. Events range from workshops and talks to concerts and social gatherings, with an emphasis on atmosphere and immersion. Around a third of the programme is free, ensuring accessibility while allowing visitors to shape their own experience.
Nature plays a central role in this. One of the most popular events invites participants to walk and knit at dusk along the Wadden Sea. “You walk out into the landscape, knit as the light fades, and end the evening with food,” Kalb explains. “It brings together knitting, nature and mindfulness in a very direct way.”
Elsewhere, concerts held in historic church spaces create a quiet, reflective setting where music and knitting merge. “People sit together, listening, knitting – it creates a sense of calm without us having to say it explicitly,” says von Wildenradt.
Across the festival, this careful attention to atmosphere is key. Visitors are greeted by volunteers, guided through the area, and immersed in an environment shaped as much by creative energy as by programme.
A festival driven by purpose and participation
Beyond the festival weekend, Masker i Marsken is sustained by a strong commitment to inclusion and engagement, particularly among younger generations. Entry is free for children and young people, and year-round activities introduce craft as a tactile, creative and mindful practice.
For von Wildenradt, the focus is not simply on teaching technique. “It’s not about learning to knit a dishcloth,” she says. “It’s about understanding what happens when you work with your hands – the calm it can create.”
This approach has had a visible impact. From school programmes to informal knitting groups, young people are increasingly engaging with the craft on their own terms. At the same time, the festival continues to evolve, bringing in international designers and experimenting with new formats while remaining rooted in its original vision.
Run as a voluntary, non-profit initiative, the festival is powered by more than 200 volunteers and a deeply engaged local community. For its founders, that collective effort is central to its success. What emerges is not simply an event, but a shared experience – one that demonstrates how a traditional craft can create connection across generations, geographies and ways of life.
Masker I Marsken is named after the beautiful marsh that defines the landscape of Tønder. Photo: Bjarke-Petersen
Web: www.maskerimarsken.dk
Facebook: maskerimarsken
Instagram: @masker_i_marsken
Masker i Marsken takes place 23-25 October, 2026.
Scan Magazine readers can receive a discount on the all-access pass by using the code knitting26 when booking
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