A stevna (plural: stevnur) is a regional summer festival in the

Faroe Islands The Faroe Islands ( ), or simply the Faroes ( fo, Føroyar ; da, Færøerne ), are a North Atlantic island group and an autonomous territory of the Kingdom of Denmark. They are located north-northwest of Scotland, and about halfway bet ...

, usually accompanied by or built around national rowing boat championships. The races and regattas are always held on Saturdays, except the Ólavsøka race in the capital of

Tórshavn Tórshavn (; lit. "Thor's harbour"), usually locally referred to as simply ''Havn'', is the capital and largest city of the Faroe Islands. It is located in the southern part on the east coast of Streymoy. To the northwest of the city lies the ...

, which has a fixed date. There are seven official rowing-related''stevnur'':

Stevnur in the Faroe Islands

* Norðoyastevna is held annually in

Klaksvík Klaksvík is the second largest town of the Faroe Islands behind Tórshavn. The town is located on Borðoy, which is one of the northernmost islands (the Norðoyar). It is the administrative centre of Klaksvík municipality. History The first se ...

, usually in the first weekend of June. * Eystanstevna is held in

Runavík Runavík is a comparatively urbanised village in Runavík Municipality, Faroe Islands. It lies on the south half of the isle of Eysturoy. Port Founded in 1916, Runavík has an important port, originally used predominantly by fishing boats but no ...

the second weekend of June every year, and has a rowing race every other year. In the odd years (2005, 2007 etc.) the race is held at the Varmakelda. * Sundalagsstevna is held in a weekend in mid-June in the Sundalagið region. The host town alternates between

Kollafjørður Kollafjørður ( da, Kollefjord) is a village in the Faroe Islands, located on the island of Streymoy. As of 1. January 2022, the village had a population of 828. Its postal code is FO 410. Until 2001 it was a municipality in its own right but is ...

, Hósvík and

Hvalvík Hvalvík ( da, Kvalvig) is a village in the Faroe Islands, located in a valley on the east coast of the island of Streymoy. It is the southern half of a twin-village situated on both sides of the valley. The villages are divided by the river St ...

. * Jóansøka is in the last weekend of June, or the Saturday nearest to the 24 June, which is St John's Day. In the even years it is held in

Vágur Vágur meaning ''Bay'' ( da, Våg) is a town on the island of Suðuroy, part of the Faroe Islands It is situated on the east coast of the island on the Vágsfjørður fjord, and was founded in the fourteenth century. Expansion has meant that the ...

and in the odd years in

Tvøroyri Tvøroyri is a village on the north side of the Trongisvágsfjørður on the east coast of Suðuroy island in the Faroe Islands. Together with Froðba, Trongisvágur, Líðin and Øravík it forms Tvøroyri Municipality. The village is considered ...

. * Varmakelda is usually the first weekend in July in

Fuglafjørður Fuglafjørður is a village on Eysturoy's east coast in the Faroe Islands. Its name means "fjord of birds". The village is at the edge of a bay and expands into the surrounding steep hills. The town centre is located close to the harbour and ...

. A rowing race is held every odd year; in the other years it is held in Runavík. * Vestanstevna is usually a weekend in the first half of July, and shifts between the three towns of

Sandavágur Sandavágur ( da, Sandevåg) is a city on the south coast of the Faroese island of Vágar. The name ''Sandavágur'' means ''sandy bay'' and refers to the sandy beach which used to be much larger than present. From one point in Sandavágur you can ...

Miðvágur Miðvágur ( da, Midvåg), is a village in the Faroe Islands on Vágar. It has been a municipality until 1 January 2009 when it fused with Sandavágur into Vága kommuna. Located on the south coast of the island of Vágar, Miðvágur is the lar ...

and Sørvágur. * Fjarðastevna is celebrated in a weekend somewhere mid-July. In the even years it is held in Vestmanna, whereas in the odd years the host town alternates between

Strendur Strendur ( da, Strænder) is a village on the Faroese island of Eysturoy, located along the Skálafjørður fjord. It is the seat and main settlement of the Sjóvar Municipality. The 2012 population was 785. Its postal code is FO 490. ''Strendu ...

and Skáli. * Ólavsøka is the national holiday of the Faroe Islands with many festivities of all kinds in the capital of

, including the opening of Parliament. Whereas the other ''stevnur'' tend to be more-less regional festivals, this ''stevna'' is a national event. It is held at the 29th of July, whilst the rowing championships are held the wake before, on 28 July. Other stevnur', that do not include rowing regattas, are held in various places, such as the Útoyggjastevna for all the outpost islands, the Sandoyarstevna on Sandoy, and boating festivals for modern boats in various places.

References

{{Reflist Faroese culture Rowing in the Faroe Islands Festivals in the Faroe Islands Summer events in the Faroe Islands