Gimli Icelandic Fest marks 150 yrs of friendship between Iceland, Canada

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The town of Gimli was alive with colour, culture, and community spirit over the August long weekend, as the 136th Icelandic Festival of Manitoba (Íslendingadagurinn) wrapped up Monday. This year’s festival marked a historic milestone: 150 years since the first Icelandic settlers arrived in Manitoba, establishing the community of New Iceland on the western shores of Lake Winnipeg.

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The theme for this year’s celebration, “Woven Together: 150 Years, Iceland and Canada,” captured the spirit of the event, which welcomed thousands of visitors from across the country and around the world for four days of music, heritage, traditional foods, and Viking flair.

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The presence of international dignitaries, including the President of Iceland, Halla Tómasdóttir, and Canada’s Ambassador to Iceland, Jenny Hill, highlighted the enduring bond between the two nations.

“As an immigrant from Iceland myself, this festival holds a special place in my heart,” said President Tómasdóttir during Monday’s traditional program in Gimli Park. “Íslendingadagurinn is where our culture, heritage, and hospitality come to life. It’s where families gather to reconnect, celebrate, and create memories that span generations.”

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Tómasdóttir delivered the Toast to Canada during the ceremony, while Ambassador Hill offered the Toast to Iceland.

“This year’s celebration is especially meaningful as we mark the 150th anniversary of the great migration of Icelanders to Canada,” said Hill. “Canada is proud to be home to the largest Icelandic diaspora in the world – and Gimli stands as a symbol of resilience, heritage, and the enduring spirit of those early pioneers.”

Tómasdóttir took part in festival activities throughout the long weekend, marking the 150th anniversary of Icelandic settlement in Manitoba. (photo credit: Embassy of Iceland in Canada)

Festival organizers echoed the pride and meaning of this historic year. “This year, we’re proud to welcome guests from both North America and Iceland,” said Sigrun Asmundsson, president of the Icelandic Festival of Manitoba. “A heartfelt thank you to our visitors from Iceland — your presence adds meaning and joy to this anniversary year.”

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The festival, first held in Winnipeg in 1890 and permanently moved to Gimli in 1932, has become one of Canada’s longest-running ethnic celebrations. Visitors this year were treated to a packed schedule of events, with returning favourites and new additions reflecting both tradition and innovation.

Among the most anticipated attractions was the Viking Village, where re-enactors demonstrated 800 A.D. Norse life, weaponry, and crafts. The Magnús Classic Strongman competition returned for its fourth year, drawing crowds to the Viking statue as athletes tested their mettle under the guidance of four-time World’s Strongest Man, Magnús Ver Magnússon.

New to the festival this year was the Íslendinga-Derby fishing competition at Gimli Harbour, a nod to the shared maritime heritage of Iceland and Lake Winnipeg communities. Also debuting was Moon Shine Nights at Johnson Hall — a cocktail reception featuring Icelandic and Manitoban musicians, local spirits, and traditional canapés.

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Cultural programming was front and centre, with genealogy workshops at the New Iceland Heritage Museum, a 56th annual art show, and hands-on Icelandic embroidery and folklore sessions at the

Culture and Heritage Pavilion. Children delighted in painting fairy houses for the Huldufólk, or hidden people, while meeting Gimli’s own costumed characters Snorri and Snæbjörn.

The Icelandic Fashion Show drew a full house as the Annríki group from Iceland presented a newly crafted Fjallkona dress and a restored headpiece — gifts from the women of Iceland to the women of New Iceland. “This generous gesture is a powerful symbol of the sisterhood and cultural bond between Iceland and New Iceland,” said Tómasdóttir.

Live music filled the air from Friday to Sunday, with acts including Mise en Scene, Lindy Vopnfjörð, The Lemons, and Icelandic artists Benni Hemm Hemm and Snorri Helgason. The Sunday Alternative Folk Festival brought an energetic crowd to Gimli Park, while food vendors, artisans, and the Wonder Shows Midway added a festive buzz across town.

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Sunday also featured poetry readings, traditional choral music by Icelandic men’s choirs, and a bustling Vingólf Beverage Garden, where patrons participated in the now-iconic “Get Dinged” Viking challenge involving dried fish, a shot of Brennivín, and a battle cry of Íslendingadagurinn!

Monday morning’s parade, one of Manitoba’s largest, was led by Parade Marshals and local curling champions Kadriana and Colton Lott, while the final evening wrapped with fireworks over Gimli Harbour.

President of Iceland Halla Tómasdóttir visits various attractions at the Icelandic Festival of Manitoba in Gimli on the August long weekend, 2025. The president joined in cultural celebrations marking 150 years since Icelandic settlers arrived in New Iceland. (photo credit: Embassy of Iceland in Canada)

President Tómasdóttir praised the dedication behind the scenes: “This celebration wouldn’t be possible without the year-round dedication and effort of so many. To our amazing volunteers — you are the heart of Íslendingadagurinn. To the festival management team, staff, sponsors, and donors — your support fuels every part of this event and allows us to carry it forward year after year.”

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Festival-goers who missed out can still enjoy new exhibits at the New Iceland Heritage Museum and sample local cuisine, including Lake Winnipeg pickerel, at eateries throughout town during the month of August.

As the crowds head home and Gimli returns to its usual pace, the memories of this landmark festival — and the historic ties it commemorated — will live on.

“Together,” said Tómasdóttir, “we all keep the spirit of Icelandic culture alive and thriving in Manitoba and beyond.”

— Ty Dilello is a reporter for the Winnipeg Sun.

Have thoughts on what’s going on in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada or across the world? Send us a letter to the editor at wpgsun.letters@kleinmedia.ca.

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