Taste of Iceland Festival 2022 in Denver – May 12-15

Denver welcomes the Taste of Iceland Festival from May 12 to May 15, 2022.  All events, aside from the Icelandic Culinary Experience at Coohills, are free to the public.  Seven days prior to each event, registered guests will receive an email to offer them early bird access to the ticket system to claim their ticket(s) for guaranteed entry. The following day, general tickets will be available. Those who register after capacity has been reached can sign-up for the wait list. 30 minutes prior to each event, waitlisted attendees will be granted access on a first-come, first-serve basis until maximum capacity has been reached.

The schedule of events includes: 

• Icelandic Culinary Experience: Hosted daily starting at 5 p.m., from May 12th – May 15th, at Coohills, located at 1400 Wewatta Street
• Reykjavik Calling Concert with Icelandic Musicians, Lón, RAKEL, Salóme Katrín & ZAAR, and DJ Hermigervill: Thursday, May 12th, from 7 p.m. – 11 p.m., at Globe Hall, located at 4483 Logan Street 
• Icelandic Mile High 5K With 66°North: Friday, May 13th, at  5:30 p.m., starting at Coohills, located at 1400 Wewatta Street
• Boogie on the Bridge: Friday, May 13th, at 7 p.m., Coohills, located at 1400 Wewatta Street
• Secret of the Sprakkar with Iceland’s First Lady, Eliza Reid: Friday, May 13 at 6:30 p.m., at Tattered Cover Book Store, located at 1991 Wazee Street
• Elemental Sound Bath and Icelandic Provisions Snack Bar: Saturday, May 14th, at 10:00 a.m., at Ironworks, located at 25 Larimer Street
• Cocktail Class Presented by Icelandic top shelf brands, Reyka Vodka and Ólafsson Gin: Saturday, May 14th from 4 p.m. – 6 p.m., at Mercantile, located at 1701 Wynkoop Street, #155
• Lamb Film Screening: Sunday, May 15th at 12:00 p.m., Landmark’s Chez Artiste Theatre, located at 4150 E Amherst Ave,
• Wheel of Prizes Presented by Icelandair: Held once daily, at various events (additional details below), participants will have the opportunity to win a variety of prizes, including a trip for two to Iceland!

Icelandic Culinary Experience:

Hosted daily starting at 5 p.m. from May 12 – 15 at Coohills, Icelandic Chefs Ingi Thorarinn Fridriksson and Arnar Páll Sigrúnarson, will work in partnership with Tom Coohills to design a four-course menu of traditional Nordic fare, inspired by some of the most beloved dishes at Blue Lagoon’s Lava Restaurant. The prix-fixe menu is $80 per person, with an optional wine pairing for an additional $50, per person.

Reservations can be made on OpenTable or by calling (303) 623-5700. The menu includes:

• Arctic Char
       Icelandic wasabi, geothermal rye bread, cucumber, soya, skyr
• Icelandic Cod
       Langoustine, tomato, barley
• Icelandic Lamb
       White cabbage, caraway, carrots, mushroom sauce
• Icelandic Provisions Skyr
       Liquorice, raspberries, mint, oat crumb

Reykjavik Calling Concert: 

Reykjavik Calling Concert: 

The Reykjavik Calling Concert will celebrate Icelandic music, with performances by Lón, RAKEL, Salóme Katrín & ZAAR, and DJ Hermigervill. Having previously released EPs and albums independently, RAKEL, Salóme Katrín & ZAAR came together for their 2022 collaborative album, While We Wait. This eclectic album marks a new creative era for each artist as they combine their styles for a new sound. The trio behind Lón bring together new Americana with their Icelandic roots for Nordic take on folk music.

Secret of the Sprakkar with Eliza Reid with Iceland’s First Lady, Eliza Reid: 

Celebrate Iceland’s rich storytelling tradition with a talk hosted by First Lady of Iceland and co-founder of the Iceland Writers Retreat, Eliza Reid. Eliza will discuss her critically acclaimed book ‘Secrets of the Sprakkar,’ and how she explored the cultural roots of Iceland’s attitude towards equality and examined how her home country can continue to progress. 

Icelandic Mile High 5K With 66°North:

In partnership with Iceland’s premium outdoor brand, 66°North, attendees can get out and run the Cherry Creek Path. Runners will receive a 66° North running shirt before the 5K, and post run, will enjoy Icelandic drinks and flatbreads at Coohills restaurant.

Boogie on The Bridge:

DJ Hermigervill will welcome guests to boogie on the bridge to Icelandic music curated to keep your feet moving, while Olafsson Gin’s Brand Ambassador, Tóta, shakes and stirs Olafsson Gin signature cocktails. Guests must be at least 21 years old with a valid ID to attend and consume alcohol. 

Elemental Sound Bath and Snack Bar: 

Icelandic Energy Healer, Jósa Goodlife, will take attendees on an elemental journey beyond time and space, with a deeply relaxing and uplifting program with healing sounds from nature that will leave guests feeling rejuvenated. Attendees will receive a yoga mat, courtesy of Icelandic Provisions, a facial towel and skincare, from Blue Lagoon, a blanket and eye mask, compliments of Icelandair and water from Icelandic Glacial.

Following the Sound Bath, guests are invited to grab an Icelandic Provisions Skyr Can, which is an Icelandic yogurt that has sustained Icelanders for nearly 1,000 years! Icelandic Glacial water will also be available.

Icelandic Cocktail Class:  

A two-hour Icelandic Cocktail Class hosted by Reyka Vodka, as well as Ólafsson Gin’s Brand Representative and Mixologist, Tóta at Mercantile. DJ Hermigervill will welcome guests, and Reyka Vodka and Ólafsson Gin representatives will then make four different cocktails using the different Icelandic spirits. Attendees must be at least 21 years old with a valid ID to attend and consume alcohol.

Lamb Movie Screening:  

Guests can enjoy the directorial debut from Valdimar Jóhannsson, in this dark and atmospheric folktale. A childless couple in rural Iceland make an alarming discovery one day in their sheep barn and soon face the consequences of defying the will of nature. Lamb was considered for the 94th Academy Awards as the official submission of Iceland for the Best Foreign Film category. 

Taste of Iceland’s Wheel of Prizes:

Presented by Icelandair, the Wheel of Prizes gives participants the chance to win a range of prizes, including Blue Lagoon skincare, an Icelandic Wool Blanket rom Icelandic Lamb, Wool Scarf from ISAVIA, a year’s supply of Icelandic Provisions’ Skyr, cases of sparkling and still water from Icelandic Glacial, a Reyka Vodka package, Olafson Gin Package,  a Tindur Shearling jacket and Surtsey Knit Cap from 66°North, Landsvirkjun’s  Nordic Wasabi Gift Box, or the grand prize, a trip for two to Iceland from Icelandair, including a stay at the Silica Hotel at the famed Blue Lagoon and a 72-Hour City-card from Visit Reykjavík!

People can sign up for a chance to win 50 minutes before the spins take place at the times listed below: 

• May 12, sign up at 6 to spin at 6:50 PM, prior to the Reykjavik Calling Concert
• May 13, sign up at 6 to spin at 6:50 PM, prior to Boogie on the Bridge in front of Coohill
• May 14, sign up at 3 to spin at 3:50 PM, prior to the Cocktail Class
• May 15, sign up at 11 to spin at 11:50 AM, prior to the Lamb Screening at Chez Artiste

Taste of Iceland’s 2022 events have previously been held in Washington D.C., and Boston, MA. The tour will continue in other North American cities including Denver, CO; Seattle, WA; Chicago, IL, and Toronto, Canada. 

Website: https://www.inspiredbyiceland.com/events/