news has several times mentioned the party culture in the small fishing village of Henningsvær in Lofoten. A number of catering establishments sandwiched between small houses and rorbuer makes a lot of noise. It doesn’t get any better from the fact that festive tourists may have problems distinguishing between night and day under the northern Norwegian midnight sun in summer. It may be hectic this year too. A weak krone means that many tourists look north. Many permanent residents have been fed up for several years. Last year it spilled over for Martijn Elings, who is head of the Henningsvær Residents’ Association. This is how he described the party-happy night anglers: – They screw up the permanent residents. They are supposed to have fun and spoil it for us. The residents’ association: – Enough is enough This year, Elings sent out a list of demands, wishes and expectations to the festival organizer on behalf of the association. Vågan municipality and the police received the same letter. “After several years of a lot of nuisance throughout the day before, during and after the festival, we think that’s enough,” he writes. He writes, among other things, that the festival should be moved to a weekend in the public holiday – alternatively moved out of Henningsvær. In addition, there are, among other things, demands for security and measures to avoid drunken partygoers in the streets or in outdoor areas. These are the residents’ association’s demands: For “Trevarefest”: The festival is organized over a weekend, preferably during a joint holiday. If this is not possible, the festival would like to be moved to an alternative location outside Henningsvær. We want you to take greater responsibility for the festival participants both during the festival’s opening hours, but also before and after. This through:- Greater effort to prevent festival participants from visibly drinking alcohol on the street and or staying visibly drunk around Henningsvær.- Silent with guards at all times during the duration of the festival, around the clock if necessary, so that party participants do not stay get drunk in the streets or other outdoor areas, especially here in Solvarden. – Cleans up during and after the festival, so that there are no empty bottles, beer cans and rubbish lying around in Henningsvær. To Vågan municipality: Frequent bar checks throughout the festival. Using its management capabilities to ensure that all regulations and the law are complied with. To the police: It is necessary for the police to stay in Henningsvær until all the festival participants have gone home for the evening and there is peace in the village. That they observe ZERO tolerance with regard to, drinking alcohol on the street, staying visibly drunk around Henningsvær, public urination and disorderly conduct. (letter to Trevarefest, Vågan municipality and the police dated 05.05.2023) If “Trevarefest” does not meet the requirements, the residents’ association wants the festival to be moved out of the fishing village in the future. Elings does not want to be interviewed about the case now. But one of the board members replied to news in writing on behalf of the board: – We see and understand that the content of the letter gives the impression that we are negative about the festival as a whole. This was not our intention. They see in retrospect that the letter came out “wrong” and should have been formulated as wishes and not as demands. And that it may have created division. At the same time, she emphasizes that it is not a turnaround operation. The wishes in the letter still apply. Henningsvær residents’ association: – The list of demands creates division – The letter should initially have been formulated as wishes and not demands for Trevarefest. The residents’ association should have been invited to dialogue before this letter was sent and it should have been communicated to all organizers of festivals etc. in Henningsvær. Couldn’t you have taken the dialogue directly with the organizers instead? – Yes, the dialogue should have been held with all organizers of major festivals in Henningsvær. We are a small society, so meeting, having dialogue and finding a good path for all parties are important values. It is clear that this list of demands sent by the residents’ association creates division and a bad atmosphere, instead of dialogue, positivity and development towards a better Henningsvær. Isn’t it understandable that things “got a little out of hand” in 2020, when “everyone” was suddenly going to Lofoten? – Absolutely, and we haven’t seen the same clientele and noise as there was that summer. Was there a lot of noise last year or just the one episode when the festival was over? – Last year’s festival was perceived as orderly. What many remember is the last evening and the nachspielet at Solvarden. This received a lot of focus in the media. Our impression is that the festival went well. There were also many locals who took part in the festival. Aren’t you afraid of ruining the image many now have of Henningsvær, that “it happens there and we want to go there” in the summer? – This letter had no intention of destroying the great image many have of Henningsvær. Henningsvær is a wonderful place to live, live and visit as a visitor. When there are many people, we hope that everyone respects peace and order, especially on weekdays and after 11 p.m. You think that the festival should be moved to a weekend in the public holiday, do you not understand that it is a small festival which in that case loses in the competition with the big ones? – Some have suggested that the festival be moved to a weekend. But we fully understand that the festival wants to organize on weekdays for competition reasons. Do you want to make the same demands for all festivals/events in Henningsvær, Codstock being held in two weeks? – This letter should have been worded so that it hit all festivals. But as wishes and not demands. Do you expect the requirements to be met? – We hope to continue a good dialogue with all organizers of major events in Henningsvær. That we jointly find good solutions that both permanent residents and visitors can live well with. (the board of the Henningsvær residents’ association in an e-mail to news) Mats Alfsen, general manager of the outdoor venue Trevarefabrikken and co-organizer of Trevarefest, says he was not contacted before the letter was sent. – It was stupid that they did not contact us first. It would have been a bit neater and easier to solve if we had just talked together in advance. The festival management has previously organized public meetings and experienced that they have had a good dialogue with the residents. he says. – This was a meeting with an open invitation to everyone, but we should have invited the residents’ association in particular. 2020: “Everyone” was going to Lofoten It was the corona summer of 2020 that it really got “out of control” and Henningsvær came into the media’s spotlight for party noise. This was the year when “everyone” was going to Lofoten. – It was very hard on us and everyone. Strict restrictions on the catering places meant that people to a greater extent made the party themselves. Alfsen says they felt a responsibility for there to be more orderly conditions outside the pubs than there was that summer. That’s why they ran a campaign on social media that made people remember that they are in a small place with permanent residents and who have their daily lives there. Simply a call to good manners. The campaign had an effect, according to Alfsen. As a result, things went more smoothly last year and the year before. Right up to the last day of last year’s festival. When the festival was over, a group gathered and continued the party in an area just outside the settlement. And ahead of this summer, the residents’ association has had enough. And it is particularly in connection with “Trevarefest” that they want a change. It was here that a group of young people gathered after last year’s festival was over. Photo: John Inge Johansen / news Not like other festivals This year’s festival will span three days, from 31 July and 2 August. And it is not like other festivals. It is not organized on a weekend. Therefore, extra life is expected in Henningsvær on days when many of the permanent residents go to work the next morning. Alfsen understands that it can be a bit much for people. – Yes, that is understandable. But people must know that there is a trade-off between the advantages and disadvantages. Forced to take a new round For the organizers, it is indeed a wish that “Trevarefest” should be a high-quality cultural festival. Even if it is in a small place and “only” 1,300 participants. Alfsen believes this is especially clear this year when the internationally renowned Bergen duo Kings of Convenience choose to hold their only concert in Norway precisely at Trevarefest in Henningsvær. This is more difficult to achieve if you choose a weekend and have to compete against the big festivals. – The best artists often prioritize big festivals with high fees. He says the speakers like to come before the weekend, and get to explore Lofoten before they go on stage. Alfsen says many of the residents of Henningsvær have supported the choices they have made. – It has been applauded and supported by parts of the citizens that it is a good priority. But it is an issue that we should take up and consider. This year’s Trevarefest has already been confirmed. but Alfsen says they have to take another round before next year’s festival. – We want the festival to be a positive element that the local population is proud of. Then we have to further develop the good elements together, and improve ourselves. He says it has already been agreed that Trevarefest and the Citizens’ Association will talk together. In the letter with the demands from the residents’ association, both Trevarefest, the police and the municipality are asked to respond with an action plan by 19 May.
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The residents are fed up with drunkenness and noise – have sent a list of demands to the festival – news Nordland
