Processions

FLAG PROCESSION: STARTS ON FESTPLASSEN 10.40 AM

The Flag Procession is for schools, boys’ drill corps, scouts, and “russ” (upper secondary school senior students). Participants meet at their various schools and march to the gathering on Festplassen. Then, the procession continues through the city centre and passes the Main Procession. The Flag Procession ends on Koengen, which sports a big, safe children’s area so that parents can watch and celebrate the rest of the procession and collect their children afterwards. This creates a much neater procession than if parents were to “dally” along after the children.

Note: plaques are awarded to the best contributions in the Flag and Main Processions! Consult the guidelines to see what the jury is looking for. Winners will be contacted by telephone and the award ceremony is held at the Viking Ship at 11 pm, after which a firework display ends another glorious day in Bergen.

The order of the flag procession is found here

MORNING PROCESSION: STARTS IN DREGGEN 7:00 AM

The 17 May celebrations in Bergen are off to an early start: The first procession starts already at 7 am from Mariakirken (St. Mary’s Church), accompanied by a 21-gun salute, “Ja, vi elsker” (Norway’s national anthem), and of course the Bergen city song (“Udsigter fra Ulriken”). Everyone is welcome to join the procession, which is headed by the Norwegian flag. More and more people have discovered the Morning Procession to be a fun tradition accompanied by catchy marching-band music and traditional cheers for the Norwegian sailor and President Christie along the way. The Morning Procession concludes with speeches on Festplassen.

MAIN PROCESSION: STARTS ON KOENGEN 10:15 AM

As the name implies, the Main Procession is the biggest event on 17 May. The city’s associations, corporations, government agencies, and others participate here carrying banners and performing. The Committee for 17 May ask that as many as possible wear uniforms or other costumes typical of their group, such as sport’s kits or dancing costumes. The procession lines up at Koengen. Please find the line-up plan below. Those who wish to join the procession must follow their assigned starting-routes. There are dedicated guidelines for participating in the Main Procession. The success of this procession depends on everyone following these guidelines. The Main Procession ends on Festplassen where speeches are held from the Viking Ship.

MAIN PROCESSION LINE-UP PLAN

Fire department, City Council, and military and armed Forces
Maritime, trade, craft, and industrial organisations
Cultural, youth, village, and singing organisations
Humanitarian, nursing, philosophical, and abstinence organisations
Sports associations
Science, school, state, and municipal organisations

TORCHLIGHT PROCESSION: STARTS AT BERGENHUS FESTNING 10:15PM

The torchlight procession will be arranged as usual. Meet up in Borggården on Bergenhus at 10:15 p.m. for lighting of torches. Processon starts at 10:30 p.m. Finishes at Festplassen at 11:00 p.m.