The summer of 2023 is set to be the most expensive holiday summer of all time for Ola and Kari Nordmann. A bad krone exchange rate and stiff prices make the holiday trip unattainable for many. And it’s not just foreign holidays that cost a lot of money. A day at the family parks here at home can also be an expensive pleasure, as news wrote last week. However, there are opportunities for families to experience joy, culture, holidays and festivals without paying a penny. See list at the bottom of the article. Hurts dad’s heart Photo: Theodor Aasland Valen / news Father of two Jarle S. Piil is among the many Norwegians who are struggling financially in these times, and who cannot pay for a holiday this summer. – Now that the whole economic situation is bad, I don’t have the opportunity to take my children with me on holiday. The father of two says it hurts the father’s heart not to be able to pay for a holiday for the family. – It is a very sad situation. I think it is very important that they get a trip and with all the memories. “Imagine, Dad, that we were on that trip. Do you remember?”. It makes a big impression on the souls of the children and myself. Red Cross: – We are unable to help everyone Pernille Lemming, head of Red Cross care, says there are more people than ever who cannot afford to pay for a holiday this year. VOLUNTEER: Pernille Lemming in the Red Cross thinks it’s a shame that they are unable to help all those who cannot go on holiday this year. Photo: Knut-Øyvind Hagen / news That is why the Red Cross organizes free holidays all over the country. – Local associations create days out in the woods and fields, out at sea, up in the trees, where you eat good food and enjoy yourself together. To get a break. And then you get something great that the children can tell about back at the nursery school and school. They also have the free family offer “Holiday for all”, with 73 holiday stays around Norway. This year there are 6,000 applicants and just under 4,000 places. But the offers are not enough. – We cannot help everyone. In recent years, we have seen a growing need, but the need is extra large this year. Although we have increased our offer, we are unable to deliver. Experiencing it for the first time Lemming says that there are many who are in this situation for the first time. – It is completely new for many families to have this challenge, that they are unable to pay the bills. And then it’s the holiday, or the pleasant holiday days, that have to come to an end. She believes that it will be a new way of thinking for all of us, that so many Norwegians are left out, also on the holiday front. – So it is extremely important that there are offers for them, so they can be included. Because they are already outside in so many other areas. Mini holiday in a day It is not only the Red Cross that offers free holiday activities, but also commercial players. FESTIVAL MANAGER: Jarle Ring believes the free festival A walk in the park is more important than ever. This year it comes to seven cities. Photo: Knut-Øyvind Hagen / news A Walk in the park is Norway’s largest free family festival. The festival was born out of a desire for a low-threshold offer that is free, inclusive and fun for the little ones. This summer, the festival visits the cities of Drammen, Hamar, Stavanger, Oslo, Lillestrøm, Moss and Fredrikstad. – The purpose of the festival is to arrange a free day in the park for families with children. Everyone should have the opportunity to come and experience great offers from the entertainment scene and activities, says festival manager Jarle Ring. He says that they work with municipalities and commercial partners who share the same values. And Ring believes that the offer and the festival are extra important this year. – The way the situation has become now, A walk in the park can help you get a little mini-holiday in one day, which is free. See pictures from A walk in the park in Drammen: A great opportunity for the little ones to learn to skateboard. A mascot is included when there is a festival for children. The little girl will look great with paint on her cheek. A teddy bear is nice to have when you are small and at a festival. The little boy has flair with the Frisbee. Inviting neighbor Pernille Lemming to the Red Cross encourages Norwegians to be fellow human beings and take those who are struggling with them. – Imagine if we could all be a little better at inviting the neighbors who are at home all summer. She says it doesn’t have to be so grand. – You can go to a park, on a boat trip, or to the lake to swim. If we are just a little good at bringing someone along, it will be a pleasant summer for everyone. GRATEFUL: Father and daughter appreciate that they are going on a local holiday trip to Langedrag nature park via the Red Cross. Photo: Theodor Aasland Valen / news Although it will mostly be a summer at home for father of two Jarl S. Piil and the children, they are happy and grateful to be chosen for a week’s holiday trip to Langedrag nature park in Telemark, via the Red Cross. The trip is part of the Red Cross’ offer Holiday for all. The father of the family would have liked to see that everyone who is struggling could experience the same. – I wish that everyone had the opportunity to take part in such trips as the Red Cross organizes. And I am happy that I am one of the lucky ones who have been chosen to be part of that trip. FROGNERBADET: You can have a cheap and wet experience at Frognerbadet in Oslo this summer. An adult can pay a single ticket of NOK 160 and take three children with them for free. Photo: Oslo municipality 10 free festivals and offers Here are some free festivals and holiday offers for families all over the country. Blaafarveværket in Åmot is open all summer, and most of the children’s services are free. The Norwegian Museum of History in Oslo offers a summer school for young archaeologists. Frognerbadet in Oslo allows up to three children to enter for free if an adult has bought a ticket. Minipride 23 June to 1 July is an offer for children and young people during Oslo Pride. Children’s summer in Stavanger in weeks 26–32 has free daytime services with over 80 weekly activities. Science Camp in Trondheim 27 to 30 June offers free workshops and teaching services Senja children’s festival 1 and 2 July offers activities such as open walking, horse riding, rowing, climbing and works of art. Barnefolk 5 to 9 July is Førde Festival’s program for children and families with children, with courses and concerts. Many of the performances are free. Småspurvar (Ragnarok) at Bryne is a free festival on 8 July. The fair festival in Oslo 18–20. August is a free family festival, with music, dance, theatre, crafts and food from around the world.
ttn-69
More Norwegians than ever cannot afford to go on holiday and the Red Cross is unable to help everyone – news Culture and entertainment
