Culture Night program shortened and security increased

The program for Reykjavík Culture Night will end an hour earlier than in previous years, and security will be stepped up with the aim of making the event more family-friendly.

“In our view, Culture Night is a family festival, and that’s why we’ve taken the step of ending the program an hour earlier than last year. We believe that finishing at ten o’clock is more family-friendly than finishing at eleven,” said Björg Jónsdóttir, project manager for Culture Night, in an interview with mbl.is .

“Our message is that families and friends can come together downtown, enjoy a wide range of events, and then simply all head home together. Into town together, and home together — that’s our emphasis.”

Björg also stressed that parents are responsible for their children and teenagers, making it important to take them home when the program ends.

Curbing youth drinking

Jónsdóttir added that security will be tighter this year, partly to curb rising youth drinking in recent years and the increase in serious violence among young people.

“We will have more so-called patrol groups, consisting of community police and staff from youth centers. They’ll be walking around to support and assist young people, to be there for them as a source of help and trust,” Björg explained, adding that police and other emergency responders will also have full teams on site.

Finally, she pointed out that it should be easy for families to get home after the festivities, which conclude with a fireworks display at Arnarhóll at 22:00.

City buses will run free of charge from downtown to all neighborhoods after the event.

Culture Night takes place next Saturday. The program and further information can be found on the festival’s .