Saturday 9 August

Day of the Grand Opening

09.00 - 12.00 The last ships arrive and we wish them welcome
19.00 - 19.30 Opening ceremony
20.00 - 23.00 Captain`s dinner, Håkonshallen
23.00             Grand fireworks

* Marketplace with salestands and servingplaces located in the festivalarea.
* Maritime stands at the flowermarket/Blomstertorget

The official opening of the Tall Ships’ Races 2008 Bergen will commence at 19.00 from the stage on Bryggen.

Bryggen will also host the official opening of the “Coastal Saga Weeks” 2008 at 12.00. This marks the start of several weeks of coastal culture in Hordaland and Gulen.

A parallel event, the Veteran Music Corps Festival will begin at Torgallmenningen at 10.30. 

Bryggen Stage

12.00-23.00

12.00  Opening of the “Coastal Saga Weeks” 2008 with

            Minisjantifantane, Saltfishfourty, Orkney

            SongShop, Kevin Henderson and Gest.

            Speeches by Defence Minister Anne-Grete

            Strøm-Erichsen, City Commissioner Henning Warloe

            and head of the “Coastal Saga Weeks” Bjørn Myhren

14.00   Veteran Music Corps

14.40   Bergen Academic Male Voice Choir

15.20   Sund Trekkspelklubb (accordion music)

16.20   Alverflaten Jazzband

17.30   Nordic Cadet Meeting (NOCA) 

19.00  The official opening of the Tall Ships’ Races 2008 Bergen

            The Norwegian Army Band, Bergen (NABB),

            Sigurd Sele, and cadets will perform.

            Speeches by City Chief Commissioner Monica Mæland,

            and Knut Western from Sail Training International

19.30   Berven akustisk (acoustic music)

20.20   Alverflaten Jazzband

21.30   Concert and sing-along with the

            Norwegian Army Band's Big Band, Bergen (NABB).

            Conductor and trumpet soloist Frank Brodahl,

            soloist singers Torhild Sivertsen and Egil Eldøen

23.00  Firework display from Bergenhus Fortress 

Torgallmenningen Stage

10.30-23.00

10.30   Official opening of the Veteran Music Corps Festival.

            Speech by Mayor Gunnar Bakke

11.30   Skjold/Nesttun Janitsjar Showband

11.55   The Hermansen Brothers & Co

12.25   BUL Ervingen folk dance group

13.15   Bergen International Folk Dance Club (BIF)

14.00   Breistein Male Voice Choir

14.30   Cape Horn Shanty Choir

15.00   Bergen Male Voice Choir

15.30   Tide Male Voice Choir

16.00   Løvstakken British/American folk/rock

16.30   Norwegian Band Federation (NMF)

            Hordaland's Music School

17.30   Bergen West Dance Club

18.00   Kongshirden (medieval re-enactment group)

18.20   Frie duellister (Western Martial Art Club - medieval fencing)

19.00   Intermission for opening ceremony on Bryggen Stage

20.05   Arna Musical Theatre Group

20.35   Action Man

20.55   Åsane Seahawks Cheerleaders

21.15   New Age Ninjas

21.30   Action Man

22.00   Absence

22.30   Peder, Skekk, Black, Simons Snorkel

23.00  Fireworks display, Bergenhus Fortress

Vågsallmenningen Stage

14.30-23.00

14.30   DJ

15.00   Ophelia Hope

15.50   Joe Frog

16.40   Combo Candombe

17.10   DJ

18.15   Rasteira

18.45   Intermission for opening ceremony on Bryggen Stage

19.40   Ophelia Hope

20.30   Joe Frog

21.00   DJ

21.40   Combo Candombe

22.30   Rasteira

23.00  Fireworks display, Bergenhus Fortress

The Cultural Programme is produced by UNISON

AS and the Cultural Offices in Bergen.