Celebrations and events in Kolding Denmark

Throughout my year in Denmark, there were some events for students but also for the city itself. Even though I used to claim that it was boring (and believe me, it was) now that I think back I can say that I did some cool stuff and I will now list some of them for new students arriving in Kolding (since I am pretty sure that some things will be always organised by both the school and the Kommune).

Study Rock

It is a free concert that students can attend. It is usually in front of SDU University of Southern Denmark, but also students from any other institution are welcome to join, as it is a city event rather than a school event. There are bands performing live and each artist plays a different kind of music. It is held in September, just at the beginning of the school year and some of the guys I know went on the rooftop of one of the buildings close by so that they could see the concert from above, and drink some beer with some friends without having to scream to hear one another.

Welcome To Kolding

This event has the purpose of inform people rather than entertain them. In fact, it is good for new students to attend it. Why? Because first of all free food and drinks are provided at the end, but also because there will be people and organizations talking about the city and what it has to offer. Also sports and different clubs. Denmark is a rainy country and you need to learn how to be busy and spend time indoor rather than outside (even though you can do like Danes do, and bike and sport even in heavy rain, because why not after all.. ).

Kolding Light Festival

This is like a welcoming party for Christmas. It is usually held the first week of December and it is a few days long, as far as I know. I have been there on the last day of it and it was really fun, and also really cool to see how many people decided to go. It was a while that I have seen so many people altogether in Denmark. There were representations on the building in front of the City Hall. The lights were showing really cool graphics, for example, the pac-man. At the very end of the night, everyone moved on the top of the hill to see the fireworks. It was a magical moment, one of my last days of 2016 in Denmark!

(I took this pictures of the Spanish Steps from the Koldinghus hill. )

Julemarked

The Christmas Market is held inside the Koldinghus usually only for a couple of days. You can find food and ornaments for your Christmas tree as well as some pins and little things that you can buy as presents for people.

(This is only one of the many rooms open to the public during the Christmas Markets. )

The Colour Run

This is not a celebration but it is a really famous event that has Kolding as one of its locations. I never attended a colour run before and I wanted to go with my new friends but eventually, everyone decided not to just because it was too expensive for our broken pockets. Sad, isn’t it?

Godset Concert Hall

It is quite small frankly to be a music hall so don’t expect big artists showing up, but American Authors did come and have a concert in it last May, I did not go just because I went on a couple of trips with my friends the same month and decided, again, not to spend more. I also did not because I believe I only know two of theirs songs, one being Best Day of My Life, which I love because I listened to it when I was traveling to New York City.

(This is the venue during a concert I was invited to. )

ESN Parties

Even though Kolding is just one of the Danish destinations for Erasmus students, the Erasmus Network organizes a few parties for students, full-time or exchange students, like the one they had in November 2016 at Club Zweet in “downtown” Kolding.

Design Week & Culture Night

During the Design week there are usually a few exhibitions, Culture Night instead is usually at the end of August and there are a lot of artists playing in different spots of the city, as well as some street art.

I am guessing there are many more events, even around Kolding, but these are only the ones I attended or I knew about. I know that there are a few festivals around the whole nation from time to time and that there is also Carnival in Aarhus. Generally speaking, if you can afford it, there are a lot of things to do and see in Denmark.

- Cristian

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