Other Cultural Activities During the Festival

Market Place

There will be markets with stalls selling a variety of  goods at Bryggen and Vågsallmenningen, from Friday to Monday.

Among other things, you can buy the official Tall Ships' Races 2008 Bergen merchandise.

At Øvre Vågsallmenningen, the Nordlandkoret (Choir) invites you to the Northern Norway stand, where  food, music and handcrafts from that part of the country are on offer.

Open Ship

Most of the bigger ships will hold open ship for a few hours each day, and in particular, on Sunday 10 August, and Monday 11 August. Open ship will be advertised on posters along the quayside in front of the individual ships.

This activity is free of charge, but in some cases, you may be asked to make a donation.

Culture Galore

In addition to the staged events every day, there will be surprise cultural events for the public along the quaysides, in the music pavilion and around the city. Let yourself be amazed!

Coastal Culture at Bergen Coastal Heritage Centre and Veteran Boats on and alongside the Flower Market

Bergen Coastal Heritage Centre will present a variety of old rowing, sailing and motor boats. They will also demonstrate ancient crafts and display traditional products that form the core of Western Norwegian coastal culture.

The activities will be concentrated around the Flower Market and the high points will be between Friday and Sunday. On Sunday and Monday, some of the Veteran Boats will arrive and moor in the same area. You will have the opportunity to take mini-trips on boats belonging to the Coastal Heritage Centre on Saturday and Sunday, and on some of the veteran boats on Tuesday, during the Parade of Sail.

Veteran Music Corps Festival

SATURDAY, 9 AUGUST at 10.30 – TORGALLMENNINGEN STAGE, WITH PROCESSIONS FROM OTHER VENUES

The Nordnæs Battalion Old Boys' Band is playing host to the Veteran Music Corps Festival in Bergen and  has decided to hold the festival during  The Tall Ships’ Races 2008 Bergen. Almost 600 Veteran Music Corps musicians will do their best to make their mark on the city. The official opening of this event will take place on the Torgallmenningen Stage on Saturday, 9 August at 10.30. Processions will leave Klosteret and Rasmus Meyers Allé at 10.00.

NOCA – The Nordic Cadet Meeting

SATURDAY, 9 AUGUST at 17.30 – BRYGGEN STAGE, WITH PROCESSION

The Nordic Cadet Meeting will be held in the period 7-10 August. This event is a sports competition between cadets from the Naval Academies in Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Finland. Almost 400 cadets will participate and will undoubtedly also make their mark on the city during The Tall Ships’ Races 2008 Bergen. They will conclude their events with a closing ceremony on the Bryggen Stage on Saturday at 17.30.

Coastal Saga Weeks

SATURDAY, 9 AUGUST at 12.00 – BRYGGEN STAGE

The Coastal Saga Weeks 2008 takes place from 9 August to 14 September. The Coastal Saga Weeks is the largest coastal cultural event in Norway, involving 20 municipalities from Sveio in the south to Gulen in the north.

In the course of this year's Coastal Saga Weeks, people will be able to experience coastal culture and teeming crowds in many shapes and forms.

Roughly 150 different events have been planned in the 20 municipalities, but Bergen kicks off the Coastal Saga Weeks by hosting the opening during the Tall Ships’ Races 2008 Bergen.

The Tall Ships’ Races 2008 Bergen Church Service

SUNDAY, 10 AUGUST at 11.00 - MARIAKIRKEN

The church service will be held in English.

Crew Parade and official prize award ceremony

SUNDAY, 10 AUGUST – CREW PARADE 17.00-18.00.

CREW PARADE FROM KOENGEN TO TORGALLMENNINGEN WHERE THE PRIZE AWARD CEREMONY TAKES PLACE

The Crew Parade starts from Koengen and ends up at Torgallmenningen.

Up to 3,000 crew members and others will join the parade, which will add colour to the city landscape.

The parade will make a stop on the way, and the ships will salute their crews by blowing their horns.

PRIZE AWARD CEREMONY 18.00-19.00

Earlier in the day, the crews will have competed in various sports activities. The awards ceremony will take place right after the Crew Parade, from the stage at Torgallmenningen. Entertainment by Storm Weather Shanty Choir.

Kindergarten Project – “adopt a ship” and stage programme

MONDAY, 11 AUGUST at 12.30 – STAGE PROGRAMME AT TORGALLMENNINGEN

In collaboration with Den kulturelle bæremeisen (pre-school culture programme), several of the city’s kindergartens have adopted their own sailing ship and have worked on sailing ships projects. On Monday, 11 August, the children will dress up, visit “their ships” and then take part in the cultural programme at Torgallmenningen, including taking to the stage as part of Terje Isungset’s concert at 12.30.

Shanty Contest

MONDAY, 11 AUGUST, 16.00-18.00 – BRYGGEN STAGE

Shanties and sailor songs: This song tradition was practised by the world’s first “rockers”: the young and hardy sailors from the great days of sail! Bergen will be a “shanty port” and focus on giving the crews and the public a chance to become more familiar with this song tradition. The Shanty Contest for the crews will be one element in achieving this.