Velkomin/Welcome to Islendingadagurinn

The first Icelandic Festival in Manitoba was held in Winnipeg in 1890, and was held there annually until 1931 when it moved to Gimli in 1932, and has been held there since.

The Icelandic Festival of Manitoba "Islendingadagurinn" as far as we have been able to determine, is the second oldest continuous ethnic festival in North America. Islendingadagurinn translates to day of the Icelanders.

The Icelandic Festival of Manitoba takes place in Gimli, Manitoba, on Treaty One Territory and the traditional lands of the Anishinaabeg, Cree, Oji-Cree, Dakota, and Dene Peoples. These lands are the homeland of the Métis people. We are grateful to gather, work, and live on this land. 

VISION

To promote a global awareness of the Icelandic Festival of Manitoba as the premiere North American destination to celebrate Icelandic culture and descent.

MISSION

The Icelandic Festival of Manitoba is a volunteer organization dedicated to promoting and sustaining interest in Icelandic culture and descent, primarily through an annual family oriented festival.

HISTORY

1890

The first Icelandic Festival Parade was held on Saturday, August 2nd, 1890 on Nena Street in Winnipeg (now Victor), South of the First Lutheran Church at 10:30am. It was led by the Infantry School Band, followed by four men in traditional Icelandic costume, carrying flags. They were followed by other men, then teenagers and children, but due to the terrible rainstorm the day before, most women rode in rented carriages to avoid the muddy roads. The parade left the First Lutheran Church to travel east on Ross St., south on Isabel, east on Notre Dame, north on Main St. and east on Rupert St. into the park by 11:30. Games and sports events then took place at the park, and the actual celebration began at 2:30pm.

1898

At first, the Icelandic community could not agree on a date or a name for the festival. It was debated that July 16th would be a good date, since that was the day that the explorers in 1875 had reached Winnipeg. However, this date was of no significance to Icelanders in Iceland, and would alienate them from the celebrations. Thus, during a meeting on May 28th 1898 at the Northwest Hall, August 2nd, a historically significant date for both North America and Iceland was accepted to be the date for the festival.

August 2nd was chosen for the festival date because on that day, in 1874, the first Icelandic celebration in North America had taken place, and, in Iceland, a new constitution had been accepted. Early August was also convenient for farmers, as seeding was over, but harvest had not yet begun.

1910

By 1910, all disputes regarding the Islendingadagurinn in Winnipeg had passed and the event was firmly rooted in the community.

1924

In 1924, the tradition of selecting a woman to be the Fjallkona began. The Fjallkona (Maid of the Mountain) is Iceland, and the Icelanders are her children. Mrs. Sigrun Lindal became the first Fjallkona of Islendingadagurinn. At the festival, the selected woman sits on her elevated throne, clad in the beautiful and dignified formal Icelandic costume of a white gown, green robe with ermine, golden belt, high-crowned headdress and white veil falling over the shoulders to the waist. Two maids of honour, formerly clad in plain Icelandic costume with tasseled skullcaps, are now dressed in white. In former years, these maids of honour were known as Miss Canada and Miss America.

1932

1932 was the first year that the festival was officially brought to Gimli. Originally only to be an experimental move, the members of the Gimli community were eager to participate in the event. Gimli Park offered not only the aspects Winnipeg parks were missing such as outdoor space and shelter in case of rain, but it also offered a location quite within reach of other smaller Icelandic communities such as Selkirk, Arborg and Hnausa. At first, the major problem was arranging transportation to Gimli from Winnipeg. The committee of 1932 arranged with Winnipeg Electric Co. to supply 3 large busses, for a cost of $125.00, and additional buses at $35.00 each for transportation to the festival. Also, the C.P.R. agreed to negotiations of offering return fares at a cost of $1.25 per person.

1941

In 1941, the two weekly newspapers printed a questionnaire for the pioneers to fill out and return to the secretary of the festival committee. Individuals who had been in North America for fifty years or more were introduced at the Gimli celebration and honoured accordingly.

CURRENT

Over the years, not many things have changed regarding the festivities. Even the parade and traditional program are at approximately the same time of day as they were over 100 years ago. The Icelandic Festival still exists today largely due to the efforts of hundreds of volunteers, who we are very grateful for. We know that the rich history of this event has only begun.

This information was acquired from the book Saga Islendingadagsins Islendingadagurinn: an Illustrated History published by The Icelandic Festival Of Manitoba. Written by historian Jónas Thór.

Past Presidents

  • 1890 - Wilhelm H. Paulson
  • 1891 - Sigtryggur Jonasson
  • 1982 - Paul S. Bardal
  • 1893-96 - Arni Frederickson
  • 1897-99 - Baldwin L. Baldwinson
  • 1900 - Skapti Brynjolfsson
  • 1901-03 - Sigfus Anderson
  • 1904-05 - Baldwin L. Baldwinson
  • 1906 - Skapti Brynjolfsson
  • 1907 - John J. Vopni
  • 1908 - Sigfus Anderson
  • 1909 - Thordur Johnson
  • 1910 - Arni Eggertson
  • 1911 - Olafur S. Thorgeirsson
  • 1912 - Joseph B. Skaptason
  • 1913-14 - Thomas H. Hohnson (Hon. 1915)
  • 1915 - H.M. Hanneson (Lt. Col. 1917, M.P.)
  • 1916-17 - Dr. B. J. Brandson
  • 1918 - Dr. M. B. Halldorson
  • 1919 - John J. Vopni
  • 1920 - Throsteinn S. Borgford
  • 1921 - Hannes Petrusson
  • 1922 - J.J. Bildfell
  • 1923 - Hannes Petursson
  • 1924 - Thordur H. Johnson
  • 1925 - Bjorn Petrusson
  • 1926-29 - John J. Samson
  • 1930-31 - Rev. Runolfur Marteinsson
  • 1932-33 - Dr. August Blondal
  • 1934 - Rev. J.P. Solmundsson
  • 1935-36 - G.S.Thorvaldson (Sen. 1958)
  • 1937 - Fridrik Sveinsson
  • 1938-39 - John J. Samson
  • 1940 - Sveinn Palmason
  • 1941-42 - Dr. B.J. Brandson
  • 1943-44 - Hannes
  • 1945 - G.F. Jonasson
  • 1946-48 - Steindor Jakobsson
  • 1949-52 - Rev. V.J.Eylands (D.D. 1953)
  • 1953 - Jon K. Laxdal
  • 1954 - Barney Egilson
  • 1955-56 - W. Snorri Jonasson
  • 1957-58 - Eric Stefanson, M.P
  • 1959 - Prof. Haraldur Bessason
  • 1960-61 - Helgi Johnson
  • 1962-63 - John J. Arnason
  • 1964-65 - S. Aleck Thorarinson
  • 1966-67 - Erik Stefanson, M.P.
  • 1968-69 - Jakob F. Kristjansson
  • 1970-71 - B. Valdimar Arnason
  • 1972 - Brian L. Jakobson
  • 1973-74 - Dennis N. Stefanson
  • 1975-76 - Ted K. Arnason
  • 1977-78 - Ernest Stefanson
  • 1979-80 - Terence P.J. Tergesen
  • 1981-82 - Maurice C. Eylofson
  • 1983-84 - Harald K. Goodmanson
  • 1985-86 - S. Glenn Sigurdson Q.C.
  • 1987 - Brian L. Jakobson
  • 1988-89 - Lorna J. Tergesen
  • 1990-91 - Frederick W. Isford
  • 1992-93 - Arthur P. Kilgour
  • 1994-95 - Larry Markusson
  • 1996-97 - Connie Magnusson-Shimnowski
  • 1998-99 - Susie Erickson Jakobson
  • 2000-01 - Harley Jonasson
  • 2002-03 - Timothy G. Arnason
  • 2004-05 - Sandra Sigurdson
  • 2006-07 - Tami (Jakobson) Schirlie
  • 2008-09 - Robert Arnason
  • 2010-11 - Kathi Thorarinson-Neal
  • 2012-13 - Janice Arnason
  • 2014-15 - Cameron Arnason
  • 2016-17 - Robert Rousseau
  • 2018-19 - Grant Stefanson
  • 2020-22 - Jenna Boholij
 
logo - Icelandic Festival of Manitoba

Icelandic Festival of Manitoba

Festival Gift Shop / Office 

Winter Hours 
*Temporarily closed - please call or email to arrange an appointment if required*

General Inquiries:
Phone: 1 (204) 642-7417
Email: info@icelandicfestival.com

107-94 1st Avenue
Gimli, Manitoba, R0C 1B1