Festivals and celebrations

Welcome the summer sun with a spate of creative and cultural events
Word to the wise: Remember that although it may be summer, this is still Scandinavia so bring your waterproofs as well as your sunglasses.

After a bitterly cold and dark winter, by May the sun is out and Oslo comes back to life with a packed period of festivals and celebrations.
The season starts with "Syttende Mai" (17 May), Norway's National day which sees locals of all ages donning the traditional "bunad" dress and taking to the streets to parade and sing songs in commemoration of the signing of its constitution in 1814. This is followed by the National Music Day (first Saturday of June) which offers a well curated line up of hundreds of artists in day of free open-air concerts across the city.

For serious musos with a penchant for jazz, Oslo's Jazz Festival is a first class gig, bringing both big name and emerging jazz, Latin, blues, gospel - and even some electronica - artists. Øya Music Festival is one of Europe's premier music events with a reputation for being super friendly and very diverse. The line up is dominated by home-grown talent, but its headliners tend to be major international acts.

Meanwhile Film fra sør, an acclaimed film festival, brings together the best films and filmmakers from Asia, Africa and Latin American cinema in a unique 10 day event in August.