Uppsala Reggae Festival is the largest reggae festival in Sweden.
It was first held in 2001, but the name was used as early as 1995. Uppsala Reggae Festival attracts attendees of all ages from all over northern Europe. In connection with the 2001 festival, Uppsala was given the epithet "The Reggae Mecca of Scandinavia" by the Swedish National TV4, on the grounds that the festival then was the only festival in Scandinavia specifically dedicated to reggae. The third Uppsala Reggae Festival was awarded that year's cultural award by Swedish National Radio Broadcasting, and the fourth festival featured the largest reggae lineup ever to play in Scandinavia. Since 2002, the festival has been held in August each year in Uppsala, 70 km north of Stockholm. Both in 2004 and 2005, the festival had approximately 10,000 attendees. It started as a one-day festival, but has since expanded to two, then three days.
On January 19, 2007, the company behind the festival declared itself bankrupt, following a number of years with ever-increasing debts. The company chairman however claims that the 2007 festival will go ahead as planned. A new company for the festival was founded in February 2007.
Famous quotes containing the word festival:
“Sabbath. A weekly festival having its origin in the fact that God made the world in six days and was arrested on the seventh.”
—Ambrose Bierce (1842–1914)