Mærudagar Town Festival is an annual event held in Húsavík on the last weekend of July.
One of the festival’s most cherished traditions is that local residents come together to decorate the town in neighborhood colors. During Mærudagar, Húsavík is divided into three districts, each identified by a different color. The southern part of town, up to and including Uppsalavegur, is known as the Pink District; the town center is the Green District; and the northern part of town, beginning at the old Cooperative Society building, is the Orange District.
Over the years, Mærudagar has become an established and much-loved annual gathering for local residents, their families, and Húsavík natives who have moved away.
The first Mærudagar festival was held in April 1994 as a kind of harvest celebration for the town’s arts and cultural life at the start of the summer season. In 1996, the festival was moved to June and linked to the celebration of Midsummer (Jónsmessa). As the years passed, the festival continued to grow in size and popularity, eventually finding its permanent place on the last weekend of July.
The festival program is always diverse and entertaining. Visitors can enjoy a wide variety of events and activities, combining exciting new attractions with traditions that have become festival favorites. Music plays a central role in the celebrations, and with numerous concerts and performances taking place throughout the weekend, everyone is sure to find something to enjoy.
The joyful reunions of Húsavík residents, whether they live near or far, help create the unique atmosphere of Mærudagar. The area by the harbor is the heart of the festival, and as you stroll through the bustling crowds, it is a delight to see faces light up with joy and surprise as old friends—and sometimes long-forgotten acquaintances—meet again.