Gladmatløype Hekkan

Information in English

Let’s celebrate all that is good!

Gladmat means Happy Food in Norwegian. Gladmat has since it’s start in 1998 established itself as Scandinavia’s leading food festival.

Gladmat is an important ambassador for food culture and enjoyment all year through and aims to be Norways most important meeting place for chefs, food producers, and foodies.

Exhibitors rubbing shoulders in Vågen, the best of the best from Pedersgata, all gathered in one location, Malt & Humle showcasing it’s craft brewery and cider selection in Ledaal Park…It’s time to slip on your comfiest shoes and enjoy this Party for the People and Food Extravaganza right here in the heart of Stavanger!

Finally, we are able to gather adults and children alike to enjoy all types of culinary experiences at various meeting points at this year’s Gladmat. One thing is for sure: there is an incredible amount going on over the course of the four-day festival! You can enjoy culinary courses, watch chefs competing against each other, participate in chili-eating competitions, sausage-eating competitions, visit kitchen gardens, help round up sheep, enjoy a picnic in the mountains, cycle through the picturesque region of Jæren and stop to eat along the way, enjoy the entertainment, listen to culinary experts, attend lunches and dinners, etc.,etc…!

The programme which is available on our website provides a comprehensive overview of all that is happening. Take advantage of it to plan your chosen experiences and events at this year’s Gladmat Festival. I hope and feel sure that you will find a wealth of fun events – as well as delicious food.

A little information on this year’s programme

Boiling Point // Kokepunktet
Welcome to a brand-new festival arena at Strandkaien! A large tent behind Shed 6 will set the scene for entertainment, inspiration and learning – and YOU are invited! Here you will find our kitchen theatre, culinary competitions, Aftenbla-bla live, food producers, Happy Little Chefs offering free courses for children and young people and last but not least, this summer’s most enjoyable mingling event – our Kitchen Party!

A lot of fun – and delicious food!
Gladmat is host to activities not only in the city centre but also further afield. This year’s programme includes visits to exhibitors, various restaurant events, sheep-rounding, picnicking trips organised by the Tourist Board, kitchen garden visits, cycling expeditions through Jæren and Gladmat trails at various locations around town.

Opening hours
Vågen/Market Square: 11 am – 9 pm (some stands will close at 6 pm and some will remain open until midnight.)
Pedersgata: midday – 10 pm.
Malt & Humle, Ledaalsparken: midday to 10 pm.
Guest harbour for small boats: 11 am – 7 pm.

Go for green
Here are a few easy ways in which you can make your trip to the festival more sustainable: Use the recycling stations and aim carefully, so that more waste can be turned into renewables. By eating up your food, your will help us to keep our carbon footprint as low as possible. Use public transport, cycle or walk, where possible. Read about how we plan to become Norway’s most eco-friendly food festival.

How to get to Gladmat
The Gladmat festival attracts approximately 250,000 people to the heart of Stavanger over the course of four days. Whether you are travelling from another part of the country, from another part of the county or from another area of Stavanger, we have gathered information for you in this section which we hope will help to make your journey as smooth as possible.

Cycling to Stavanger
Stavanger is a great city for cycling, with excellent cycle paths and plenty of parking facilities for cyclists. For the duration of the festival Stavanger’s county council is providing supervised parking for cyclists at Kongsgård. The facility will be open daily from 29th. June until 2nd. July, from 11am until 9 pm. Cyclists using the facility do so at their own risk and are personally responsible for ensuring that their cycle is properly locked with it’s own designated lock.

Travelling by train to Stavanger
Stavanger’s train station is located in the heart of the city centre. Go Ahead offers several daily services on Sørtorget from Kristiansand and Oslo, whilst Jærbanen will transport you swiftly from Egersund, Jæren or Sandnes to Stavanger.

Travelling by bus to Stavanger
Buses travelling to Stavanger from out of town generally make their final stop at the town’s bus and train terminal at Breiavatnet, which is just a short five-minute walk away from the festival location in the centre of Stavanger. Check the various bus companies’ timetables for further information on departure times.

Travelling by plane to Stavanger
Stavanger airport, Sola, is an international airport offering domestic and international departures daily. The airport is approximately a 20-minute drive from Stavanger city centre and is served by both airport buses and the local bus network.

Travelling by car or by motorcycle to Stavanger
During the Gladmat festival most of the city centre car parks tend to fill up quickly early on in the day. If you are travelling by car, we recommend that you find a parking spot a little outside of the centre and complete the last part of your journey either on foot, on a rental cycle or by bus. The most central parking facilities for motorcycles are located in the festival area and will not normally be available for use during festivals.

Travelling by boat to Stavanger
In cooperation with Stavangerregionen Havn IKS, we are delighted to be able to welcome small boats to the guest harbour daily from 11 am until 7 pm during the festival.

Places to stay
Stavanger offers a wealth of accommodation options to suit every budget. We would like to take this opportunity to recommend our own partner hotels: Clarion Collection Hotel Skagen Brygge, Clarion Hotel Stavanger and Hotel Victoria.