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We are looking forward to a traditional Constitution Day celebration this year.
17 May celebrations in Stavanger
In Short
Information in other languages

How to participate in our 17 May Constitution Day celebrations
17 May («syttende mai») is Norway´s Constitution Day. On 17 May 1814, Norway´s constitution was signed in Eidsvoll and each year this anniversary gives us all a chance to celebrate that we live in a free and democratic country.
Everyone is welcome to participate in the celebration of syttende mai. It is a day of fun, community, flags and parades. This is also a day to celebrate Norway´s cultural diversity and we are glad that we can celebrate together with many other nations. There are people representing over 170 different nationalities in Stavanger.
We hope that this information will make it easier for those of you from other cultures to participate and experience this great day for our country.
Helpful information
Dress code: On syttende mai we dress up in our best clothes. Many Norwegians wear the national costume called bunad. It is common to pin ribbons of red, white and blue, the colours of the Norwegian flag, on your left chest-area.
Check the weather report and be prepared to bring along a raincoat, a warm jacket or an umbrella. The parades always go, rain or shine.
Flag: Get hold of a small Norwegian flag that you can keep with you during the day. Norwegians usually wave the flag and say HURRA!
Key phrase: «Gratulerer med dagen» means literally «Congratulations with the day!» Respond with «Gratulerer med dagen». We may greet those we meet with these words and a smile, even if we do not know them.
Public holiday: All shops and public offices are closed on 17 May but many restaurants and bars will be open in the city centre on this day.
Driving: Try not to use your car in the city centre because many streets will be closed off due to the parades. Take the bus, cycle or walk. Plan your travels in advance. Everybody is outside celebrating on this day.
Watching the parades: Find a place along the parade routes. See maps online or in the 17 May booklet. You may greet people in the parade by shouting HURRA or HIPP, HIPP HURRA! and waving your flag.
Russ: The city centre will be full of youth wearing red and blue costumes. These are russ, final year high school graduates who have been up all night celebrating.
The main program
10:00 Barnetoget, the main Children's Parade starts from the Radisson Blu Atlantic Hotel by lake Breiavatnet
10:00 Children's Parades in several of Stavanger´s neighbourhoods
After the parades, many primary schools offer celebrations with food sales, games, speeches and live music
11:30 Church service at St. Petri church
12:45 Borgertoget (Citizens' Parade) from the cathedral to the concert hall. Everyone is welcome to take part in the parade
13:00 Celebration outside Stavanger concert hall with food sales, speeches, live music and other cultural elements
13:15 The russ have their own parade from Stavanger Stadium along Eiganesveien to the city centre.
16:00 Folketoget (People's Parade) starts from the Radisson Blu Atlantic Hotel by lake Breiavatnet
Folketoget is the final community event. Normally it finishes by 18:00. People often have private events like barbecues and social gatherings after the parade.
Barnetoget, the main Children's Parade
The parade starts from the Radisson Blu Atlantic Hotel at 10:00.
The route:
- Politiet
- Brannbilen
- Flaggborgen v/ speiderne
- Stavanger Janitsjar
- mai komiteen
- Utvalg for oppvekst og utdanning
- The British International School of Stavanger
- Jernbanens musikkorps
- 100 års jubilant St. Olav videregående skole
- Stavanger katedralskole
- 110 års jubilant Våland skolekorps
- Våland skole
- 110 års jubilant Storhaug skolekorps
- Storhaug skole
- 95 års jubilant Nylund skolekorps
- Nylund skole
- Svithun ungdomsskole
- Steinerskolen
- International School of Stavanger m/ korps
- Byfjord skole
- 70 års jubilant Tasta skolekorps
- Tasta skole
- Tastaveden skole
- Tastarustå skole
- Vardenes skole
- Vardenes skole skolekorps
- Teinå skole
- 70 års jubilant Kvaleberg skolekorps
- Kvaleberg skole
- Kristianslyst skole
- Auglend skole
- Auglend og Tjensvoll skolekorps
- Tjensvoll skole
- Ullandhaug skole
- KF skolen
- Madlamark skolekorps
- Madlamark skole
- Gosen skole
- Hafrsfjord skolekorps
- Hafrsfjord skole
- Madlavoll skole
- Revheim skole
- Stavanger musikkorps av 1919
- Svithun videregående skole
- Eiganes skolekorps
- Eiganes skole
- Lassa skole
- Kannik skole
- Buøy skole
- Buøy skoles musikkorps og Roaldsøy skoles musikkorps
- Roaldsøy skole
- Johannes læringssenter
- Kampen skolekorps
- Kampen skole
- Wang Ung
Folketoget (People's Parade)
Starts from the Radisson Blu Atlantic Hotel at 16:00.
Route:
Participants:
- Brannkorpset
- Flaggborgen med speiderne
- Stavanger Janitsjar
- 17. mai-komiteen
- Kommunestyret, ungdommens kommunestyre og kommunedelsutvalgene
- Rogaland teater. 75-årsjubilant
- Barne- og ungdomsteateret. 65-årsjubilant.
- Stavanger Hockey
- Stavanger Oilers.
- Stavanger karateklubb. 50-årsjubilant.
- Tjensvoll FK 12.
- Kvaleberg skolekorps. 70 års jubilant.
- Universitetet i Stavanger
- Norsk Folkehjelp Stavanger
- Jåtten skolekorps
- Stavanger stupeklubb
- Song- og spelkorlaget av 8. mars
- Speidere i Stavanger
- Jernbanens musikkorps
- Brodd IL
- St. OIav videregående skole. 100-årsjubilant.
- Stavanger Sandnes Skøyteklubb
- Storhaug skolekorps. 110-årsjubilant
- Stavanger innebandyklubb
- Tastavarden håndballklubb
- Stavanger kunstløpklubb
- Hundvåg Håndball. 50-årsjubilant.
- Stavanger roller derby klubb. 10-årsjubilant.
- Nylund skolekorps. 95-årsjubilant.
- Forus og Gausel idrettslag
- Stavanger Skateklubb
- Tasta skolekorps. 70 årsjubilant
- Viking håndballklubb bredde
- Viking Stavanger håndball
- ConocoPhillips Janitsjar
- Stavanger skiklubb
- Stavanger offshore tekniske skole
- Stavanger Brass Band. 40-årsjubilant.
- Madla IL
- Stavanger Blues Club
- Stavanger Cheersportklubb
- Straen gymnastikk- og turnforening
- Litauisk forening i Rogaland
- Siddis trim og turnforening
- Tasta brass
- Stavanger strikk og drikk
- Natteravnene i Stavanger sentrum
- Mannskoret VSOP
- Stavanger amatørteater
- Trommetruppen Tromlingane. 20 årsjubilant
- Tasta Håndballklubb. 60-årsjubilant.
- Stavanger lotteforening
- Frelsesarmeen i Stavanger
- Stavanger Taekwon-Do Klubb
- Stavanger sykleklubb
- Nord-Jæren sportsdanseklubb
- Idrettslaget Pol
- Stavanger musikkorps 1919
- Stavanger Røde Kors
- Showakademiet
- Stavanger fekteklubb
- Frisinn Sportsklubb. 90-årsjubilant
- Musikkorpset Gjallarhorn
- Stavanger turnforening
- Stavanger turistforening
- Di Voksne af Roaldsøy. 20-årsjubilant.
- Hafrsfjord sykkelklubb
- Stavanger kulturskole
- Stavanger rugbyklubb
- Ukrainsk forening i Rogaland
- Chinese Association in Rogaland
- Thai buddhist forening dans
- Stavanger tennisklubb
- Stavanger Freestyledisco
- FC Show//Siddis sportsklubb
- Hundvåg Cheerleading IL
- Stavanger basketballklubb
- Mannskoret Canentes Sus Barbatus
- Vardeneset ballklubb
- Stavanger drill
- Stavanger IF fotball
- Hinna fotball
- Stavanger svømmeklubb
- Viking FK
- Stavanger Roklub
- Vidar FK.
- Steps dansestudio