4 events you should attend
The cultural programme for June offers experiences that are both moving and engaging, and shows the wide range of what Ål has to offer - whether you're a resident, a cabin owner or a visitor looking for something genuine. The tips are not ranked, but follow the festival programme chronologically - we start with the first event and end with the last.
1. Art, opera and poetry in the blue hour
This year's summer exhibition opens on 14 June The blue hour - an experience that takes you far away from familiar gallery walls. Up in the mountains, at Unde Blåbergo, artists Per Ove Sødal and Katarina Kjelland invite you to a complex and atmospheric opening where art, opera and poetry intertwine with the tranquillity of nature. The exhibition explores the moments of the "blue hour" - the magical light between day and night - and conveys both silence and power through paintings, ceramics and living art expressions.
The audience will have a unique opportunity to experience art in interaction with the mountain landscape, while professional opera singers and poets add an extra dimension to the event. A free bus leaves Ål Kulturhus at 15:00, and the event offers both artistic presence and nature experience in a class of its own.
Read more about the event & book a seat on the shuttle bus
2. Jonsok celebration with bonfire and fellowship
On Midsummer's Eve, 23 June, the village gathers by the riverside to celebrate midsummer. The bonfire is lit at Ål Camping, and the public is invited to a lively and inclusive celebration with a concert, poems, songs and music. Organised by Sundre Vel, Ål IL, Ål municipality and Ål Camping, the Jonsok celebration brings together young and old, well-known and new artists for an atmospheric evening by the river. The event is free and is suitable for anyone who wants to experience the unique magic around the midsummer bonfire.
3. Speed and community for young cyclists
From 23 to 27 June, Hard Rocx TerrengCamp, an activity week for children and young people aged 9 to 16, will be held. It combines adrenaline-fuelled cycling with nature experiences, friendship and summer fun. Participants get to try their hand at pumptrack, trail biking, roller skiing and even triathlon - all under the safe supervision of experienced instructors. For many, this will be a summer memory that lasts a long time.
Read more about the camp and sign up
4. Summer opera in the mountains
For the seventh year in a row, Operalåven invites you to a magnificent outdoor summer opera at Sehl on 28 June, with two performances at 13:00 and 18:00. Here you will not only be served the opera's greatest musical highlights, but also experience a gripping local story in a unique and beautiful setting - in the middle of the peaceful yard among mountains and forests. Soloists Susanne Hvinden Hals, Nils Georg H. Nilsen, Jesper Mikkelsen and Marit Sehl fill the area with their powerful voices, while pianist Monica Tomescu-Rohde and a large opera choir, led by conductor Tori Snerte, provide a rich and powerful musical backdrop.
Two hours before the performances, the area opens to the public. Here you can warm up by the barbecue, buy something cold to drink - and not least enjoy the peaceful surrounding nature. A shuttle bus will be set up from Ål town centre (Sundrehall).
More to look forward to
The cultural programme doesn't stop with June. Already later this summer, there will be more events that leave their mark on the village: Sundrepub and concert with Trygve Skaug in July, and not least Hellbillies on home turf in August. With deep roots in the village, cultural life is a powerful force that offers diverse and inclusive experiences.