Gay festival in US inspired by Iceland

A gay festival in the US has adopted an Icelandic format. One of the main men only events in Seattle takes inspiration from the second biggest queer event in Iceland.

BEARS ON ICE is a grass-root festival, a not-for-profit event that is organized solely by volunteers. “We are about 10-15 people who make sure everything goes as planned. It’s a great group of people who work very well together,” says Frosti Jónsson, one of the organizers.
BEARS ON ICE is a grass-root festival, a not-for-profit event that is organized solely by volunteers. “We are about 10-15 people who make sure everything goes as planned. It’s a great group of people who work very well together,” says organizer Frosti Jónsson.

“I think it’s wonderful. They wanted to create a similar festival to ours in Seattle. We thought it was a great idea, so they went for it,” says Frosti Jónsson, the organizer of the festival BEARS ON ICE, which kicks off today, Thursday September 1st. A bear festival in The US, XL Weekend, has adopted the BEARS ON ICE format, which is more about social networking than just parties.

“They wanted to create a similar festival to ours in Seattle. We thought it was a great idea, so they went for it.”

“The organizers of XL Weekend in Seattle have attended BEARS ON ICE in the past, one of them five years in a row. So I am good friends with them,” Frosti explains, when asked how this came about. “This community of bears is in many sense quite small and we all know someone who’s involved in organizing bear events all over the world.”

Being based on the same format as BEARS ON ICE, XL Weekend is held in the course of a few days and is a mix of social events, sight-seeing and parties. “I’m told around 200 guys will attend this year,” says Frosti and adds that the number of people attending is by no means a focus point in festivals like these.

BEARS ON ICE, which kicks off today Thursday September 1st in Reykjavík with some 200 foreign guests in attendance. A bear festival in Seattle has adopted the BEARS ON ICE format which is more about on connecting like-minded men from all over the world than just partying.
BEARS ON ICE kicks off today with some 200 foreign guests in attendance. A bear festival in Seattle has adopted the same format which is more about connecting like-minded men from all over the world than just partying.

“This is one of the main events in the gay scene in Seattle and the only bear weekend. Like here, there is a certain core group that goes to all events but there are many, many more that take part in the main party on Saturday.

So it’s not only about how big the festival is in numbers. The main objective is that guests return home happy and satisfied after having met other men from all over the world. Social event is a key element in this regard – it’s all about connecting with like-minded men around the world.”

Spicing up the gay scene

BEARS ON ICE has been successful to say the least and is now being held for the 12th year in a row. Frosti has organized it from the very beginning – was there never any doubt in his mind about focusing both on social events and parties?

“No. The gay scene is about more than parties. It’s about networking and socializing and you can do that in more places than at a party in the middle of the night,” he says with a snigger. “Our festival is about creating a social platform where men have the opportunity to meet other men and enjoy

BEARS ON ICE is the only men only event in Iceland.
BEARS ON ICE is the only men only event in Iceland and the 2nd biggest queer event.

themselves together. The group is very easy-going and it’s all about having fun, being yourself and mutual respect. We have no room for drama or attitude.”

Some 200 foreign guests are expected to enjoy the BEARS ON ICE festival this year so the festival has never been bigger. Full event passes are sold out, but they entail full access to all parties, sight-seeing around the Golden Circle, organized tour to the Blue lagoon and a farewell brunch.

“I think there is a room for more diverse events, whether it be men only festivals or other kinds of gatherings.”

But not to worry for those who didn’t snag a pass because the party passes are still up for grabs. With those you can enjoy the Friday party at Ægisgarður and the main party at Gakurinn on Saturday. You can also just show up at the parties and buy tickets at the door.

Frosti says the festival has always gone swimmingly and stands up to it’s goals of being a friendly social event.

Since BEARS ON ICE is a not-for-profit event, the earnings, in case there are any, go to support worthy causes. “We have donated money to the national queer organisation Samtökin ’78 and last year we donated the profit to HIV Ísland,” says Frosti.
Since BEARS ON ICE is a not-for-profit event, the earnings, in case there are any, go to support worthy causes. “We have donated money to the national queer organisation Samtökin ’78 and last year we donated the profit to HIV Ísland,” says Frosti.

“Bars have courted us, so to speak, since we are really good guests. We are extremely tidy and leave the place in almost pristine condition. There is no fuss – we just want to have a good time and give lots of hugs to one another.”

BEARS ON ICE is the only men only event in Iceland and the second biggest queer event. Given it’s popularity, does Frosti think that Iceland is in need of more men only festivals?

“I think there is a room for more diverse events, whether it be men only festivals or other kinds of gatherings. I’ll just mention the awesome Drag Nights with Drag-Súgur which has become quite popular,” he says and adds that he has made quite a few good friends the last years through BEARS ON ICE and is very excited for this year’s festival.

“I’m always excited to get this group over and to spice up the gay scene in Iceland. Everyone who has taken part in BEARS ON ICE in any way has made a lot of new friends all over the world. I know that some men travel to visit guys that they have met here and have their mini BEARS ON ICE gatherings of their own.”

Some 200 foreign guests are expected to enjoy the BEARS ON ICE festival this year so the festival has never been bigger.
Some 200 foreign guests are expected to enjoy BEARS ON ICE this year, so the festival has never been bigger. Photos (except main photo) by Páll Guðjónsson, courtesy of BEARS ON ICE.

Á. Óskarsson
Á. Óskarsson

Á. Óskarsson offers a variety of products and services to sports centers, swimming pools, schools, kindergartens, and the general public. The company specializes in sport-related products, activity-focused games, and a wide range of solutions for sports facilities.

Á. Óskarsson has been involved in numerous big projects related to building sports facilities and has made it their benchmark to offer good quality products and equipment since the company was founded.

See links to social media in the upper left-hand corner

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Á. Óskarsson selur fjölbreytt vöruúrval fyrir íþróttahús, sundlaugar, skóla og leikskóla og einnig ýmsar vörur til einkaafnota. Fyrirtækið selur vörur til íþróttaiðkunnar og leikja ásamt því að bjóða upp á ýmsar lausnir fyrir íþróttamannvirki.

Á. Óskarsson hefur komið að fjölda stórra verkefna við byggingu íþróttamannvirkja og hefur frá stofnun kappkostað að bjóða vandaðar og endingargóðar vörur.

Tenglar á samfélagsmiðla eru í efra horninu vinstra megin.

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    Omnom Chocolate
    - award-winning chocolate maker

      Omnom Chocolate is an Icelandic craft chocolate company based in Reykjavík. We produce handcrafted chocolate from organic cacao beans sourced ethically and sustainably. We’ve developed direct relationships to create premium chocolate with fine flavor cacao beans.

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      In only a few short years, we’ve grown from our 50 sq. m. petrol station space and become an award-winning chocolate maker. Now, with our headquarters in 101 Reykjavík, our chocolate is sent out around Iceland and all over the world.

      At the end of the day, our goal is to make chocolate.

       

      Nasdaq

         

        Nasdaq (Nasdaq: NDAQ) is a global technology company serving the capital markets and other industries. Our diverse offering of data, analytics, software and services enables clients to optimize and execute their business vision with confidence.

        With over 4,300 employees in 39 offices around the world, at Nasdaq we all contribute to the success of the company and its culture, and each one of us has the ability to make a difference. When it comes to our core mission and values, we embrace the role of Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging (DIB) as a fundamental driver of our corporate growth, workplace culture and market development. We strive to create a culture that embraces the power of different perspectives—a culture where people’s unique backgrounds and different experiences helps us fuel innovation and support our clients around the world.

        Our unique position at the center of the capital markets allows us to see firsthand how these values have redefined corporate culture and success, deepening and accelerating our own commitment to champion inclusive growth and prosperity, as we strive to create more equitable opportunities to help people of all backgrounds reach their full potential. Most notably, we published our diversity statistics for the first time in 2020. These metrics serve as a quantitative assessment of where we are today and help determine what strategies we need to adopt to enhance diversity in the workplace. We recognize that we have much work to do, but we are steadfast in our commitment to creating a diverse and inclusive culture—one that reflects the communities in which we live, allows all employees to be their true, authentic selves and fosters individual growth and achievement.

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        Blue Lagoon
        - One of the 25 Wonders of the World

        Named by National Geographic as one of the 25 Wonders of the World, the Blue Lagoon is a shimmering expanse of warmth, relaxation, and rejuvenation. Its unique geothermal seawater
        comes from 2.000 meters within the earth where seawater and freshwater converge in a tectonic realm of porous lava and searing heat. Propelled by extreme pressure, the water ascends to the earth’s surface, emerging enriched with silica, algae, and minerals—the elements that endow Blue Lagoon geothermal seawater with its radiant, healing properties.

        From its humble beginnings in the shadows of a geothermal power plant, Blue Lagoon has evolved into a world of wonder, now encompassing two hotels, three restaurants, three
        geothermal lagoons, a subterranean spa, a renowned line of skin care, a thriving research center, and a wealth of spa and refreshment facilities.

        Achieving harmony with the volcanic landscape, the lagoon and its surrounding architecture embody the unification of the man-made and the natural, and adhere to the highest principles of sustainability.

        The Blue Lagoon. A wonder of the world. A world of wonder.

        Landsbankinn
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        Landsbankinn

        Landsbankinn is a leading Icelandic financial institution. It offers a full range of financial services and is the market leader in the Icelandic financial service sector with the largest branch network.

        The present bank was established on 7 October 2008 but the history of its predecessor dates back to 1886. The bank is owned by the National Treasury of Iceland, which holds 98.2% of its share capital, and other shareholders who own 1.8%.

        Landsbankinn’s strategy is to provide comprehensive financial services that meet customer’s needs. It emphasizes providing exemplary service to customers, developing e-banking for their convenience, increasing the efficiency of support functions, modernizing its technology and ensuring effective utilization of its balance sheet.

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        Landsbankinn wishes to lead the development of a sustainable society in Iceland by integrating economic, social and environmental concerns in its operations. The Bank aims to ensure that both its owners and society at large benefit from its activities.

        It intends to achieve this aim by building solid infrastructure and a strong team of 1.100 employees, by listening to its customers and by respecting and encouraging its employees to actively participate in their community. Landsbankinn was a founding member of Festa, a Centre for Corporate Social Responsibility, and is a member of the UN Global Compact.

        Landsbankinn has been a proud sponsor of the Reykjavik Pride since it was first celebrated in Iceland.

        Dohop
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        Dohop allows people to find the cheapest flights available with just one click. Founded in Reykjavik in 2004, it is the only Icelandic company of its kind and quickly became the go-to tool for finding cheap flights among the locals. Dohop finds the best deals among hundreds of different airlines and online travel agencies, to make sure that the user is getting the cheapest price. Dohop also offers hotel and car rental search engines, so users can make all of their travel bookings from a single website.

        Dohop‘s specialty is finding so-called “self-connect” flight options, which can save travelers money by booking a ticket through two or more different airlines. The ability to look for these self-connect option is what sets Dohop apart from its competition, as it can save people hundreds of dollars on certain routes.

        More recently, Dohop has developed a unique product called Dohop Go!, which allows users to check for the cheapest available flights from their home airport. This tool is perfect for those who are looking for travel inspiration but are not willing to overpay for their flight ticket. Dohop Go! is now available in the Dohop Flights App, both for Android and iOS, along with its traditional flight, hotel, and car search engines. “

        VSÓ Ráðgjöf

           

          VSÓ Ráðgjöf er alhliða ráðgjafar- og verkfræðifyrirtæki sem leggur áherslu á trausta og faglega þjónustu sem tryggir viðskiptavinum hagkvæmustu lausnir hverju sinni, skilar raunverulegum árangri og stuðlar að samkeppnisforskoti.  Á skrifstofum VSÓ í Reykjavík og í Noregi starfar yfir 80 manna samhentur hópur verkfræðinga og annarra tæknimenntaðra starfsmanna.

          Macland
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          Ísey skyr
          - once tasted never forgotten

          Our Story
          Once upon a time, 1,100 years ago in fact, Nordic settlers began arriving in Iceland. They brought with them the skills and knowledge for producing skyr. As time passed, the know-how and recipe for this nutritious food slowly faded out elsewhere in the Nordic region. Luckily, the Icelandic skyr-making tradition continued.

          For centuries, Icelandic skyr formed a cornerstone of the national diet, helping to keep people strong in living conditions that were often harsh. On family farms countrywide, it was the women who nurtured this dairy and passing on both the recipe and the original Icelandic skyr cultures from mother to daughter.

          Ísey skyr builds on this remarkable legacy. It was some of those very same women, the recipients of their mothers’ expertise, who, around 90 years ago, taught Icelandic dairy scientists the art of skyr-making. The production process is more high-tech these days, and the quality standards more rigorous. However, the basic recipe and the use of original cultures to ferment the skimmed milk remain the same. Protein rich, fat-free, creamy and delicious – Ísey skyr is as relevant to consumers now as it was all those centuries ago.
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