Island Round-Southern Norway June 19, 2026

Today we want to visit the Slinningsbålet in Ålesund, which is the Midsummer fire in Ålesund. We will again travel through beautiful nature, crossing the island of Hareidlandet, from there taking the car ferry to Suiesund, then continuing through the beautiful city of Ålesund, to Slinningsholmen (which is also part of the city of Ålesund) where the Slinningsbålet is erected every year and lit on Midsummer's Eve.

One of the most famous and tallest Midsummer fires in the world is lit every year in Ålesund on the Saturday closest to the feast of St. John (June 23).

Slinningsbålet – the tallest fire in the world

Slinningsbålet is known for its former world record as the tallest bonfire built by humans. In 2016, it was added to the Guinness Book of Records with an impressive height of 47.4 meters – although the record has since been broken. Nevertheless, Slinningsbålet remains a spectacular sight, and the construction – entirely without tools or machines – is truly unique. Perhaps most impressive is that it is built by young people.

A long tradition

In the past, there were many Midsummer fires in Ålesund, and each neighborhood tried to build the tallest and most beautiful one.

However, in recent decades, Slinningsbålet has become the undisputed king of all bonfires – not just in Ålesund but throughout Norway. People from around the world come to witness the construction and experience the spectacle of the flames. For the young people who build the fire, teamwork, a sense of community, and preserving a valued tradition are at the forefront.

Built by youth with leftover materials

What makes this fire so special is the fact that it is completely handmade – by local youth, without cranes or special tools.

Every year on May 1, a group of young people aged about 13 to 22 years starts building from the peninsula of Hessa in Ålesund. They use disposable pallets that local businesses would otherwise throw away – instead, they donate them for the fire.

The youth work every evening after school – in all weather – until the fire is completed on the Saturday closest to St. John's Day (June 23). It requires hard work, discipline, and knowledge – skills passed down from generation to generation.

There is always one person who takes on the responsibility – the so-called “fire chief,” usually someone with particularly much experience.

The Saturday around June 23

The fire is lit on the Saturday closest to June 23 – at 9:00 PM. It takes a while for the flames to engulf the entire tower. When it finally collapses, the crowd cheers enthusiastically – and hundreds of boats in the fjord honk in joy.

The Midsummer fire tradition

The tradition of lighting a fire on Midsummer night dates back to ancient pagan festivals for the summer solstice. Later, it became part of the Christian celebrations for the feast day of John the Baptist (in Norwegian: Sankt Hans). The fire was meant to drive away evil spirits and symbolized purification and the power of nature.

In modern times, it has become a social event – with dancing, games, and communal meals around the fire. Collecting materials in the weeks beforehand is a fixed part of it.