Dates are approximate. Check with the local tourist office before making plans to attend a specific event.

January

Northern Lights Festival, Tromsø. Classical and contemporary music performances by musicians from Norway and abroad. Visit www.nordlysfestivalen.no for details. Late January.

February

Kristiansund Opera Festival. Featuring Kristiansund Opera's productions of opera and ballet, plus art exhibitions, concerts, and other events. Visit www.oik.no for details. Early February.

March

Holmenkollen Ski Festival, Oslo. One of Europe's largest ski festivals, with World Cup Nordic skiing and biathlons, international ski-jumping competitions, and Norway's largest cross-country race for amateurs. Held at Holmenkollen Ski Jump on the outskirts of Oslo. To participate, attend, or request more information, contact Skiforeningen, Kongeveien 5, Holmenkollen, N-0787 Oslo 3 (tel. 22-92-32-00; www.skiforeningen.no). Early March.

Narvik Winter Festival. Sports events, carnivals, concerts, and opera performances highlight this festival dedicated to those who built the railway across northern Norway and Sweden. Visit www.vinterfestuka.no for details, or call tel. 76-95-03-50. Second week of March to mid-April.

Birkebeiner Race, Rena to Lillehammer. This historic international ski race, with thousands of participants, crosses the mountains between Rena and Lillehammer, site of the 1994 Olympics. It's a 53km (33-mile) cross-country trek. For details, call tel. 41-77-29-00 or go to www.birkebeiner.no. Mid-March.

April

Voss Jazz Festival. Three days of jazz and folk music performances by European and American artists. Visit www.vossajazz.no, or call tel. 56-52-99-11 for details. First week of April.

May

Bergen International Festival (Bergen Festspill). A world-class music event, featuring artists from Norway and around the world. This is one of the largest annual musical events in Scandinavia. Held at various venues in Bergen. For information, contact the Bergen International Festival, Slottsgaten 1, 4055, Dregen N-5835 Bergen (tel. 55-21-06-30; www.fib.no). Late May to early June.

June

Faerder Sailing Race. Some 1,000 sailboats participate in this race, which ends in Borre, by the Oslofjord. Call tel. 23-27-56-00, or go to www.kns.no for details. Mid-June.

North Cape March. This trek from Honningsvåg to the North Cape is one of the world's toughest. The round-trip march is 68km (42 miles) long. Details at www.nordkapp.no. Mid-June.

Emigration Festival, Stavanger. A festive commemoration of Norwegian emigration to North America, with exhibitions, concerts, theater, and folklore. Mid-June.

Midsummer Night, nationwide. Celebrations and bonfires explode all over Norway in honor of the midnight sun. June 23.

Emigration Festival, Kvinesdal. Commemorates the Norwegian emigration to the United States. Late June to early July.

Midnight Sun Marathon, Tromsø. This marathon in northern Norway starts at midnight and draws eager runners from over 30 countries. For details, call tel. 77-67-33-63 or go to www.msm.no. Mid-June.

July

Kongsberg International Jazz Festival. International artists participate in one of the most important jazz festivals in Scandinavia, with open-air concerts. Call tel. 32-73-31-66, or visit www.kongsberg-jazzfestival.no for details. Early July.

Exxon Mobil Bislett Games, Oslo. International athletic competitions are staged in Oslo, with professional participants from all over the world. For details, call tel. 22-59-17-59 or visit www.bislettgames.com. Early to mid-July.

Molde International Jazz Festival. The "City of Roses" is the site of Norway's oldest jazz festival. It attracts international stars from both sides of the Atlantic every year and is held at venues in Molde for 6 days. For details, contact the Molde Jazz Festival, Box 415, N-6401 Molde (tel. 71-20-31-50; www.moldejazz.no). Mid-July.

Norway Cup International Youth Soccer Tournament, Oslo. The world's largest youth soccer tournament attracts 1,000 teams from around the world to Oslo. Call tel. 22-28-90-57, or visit www.norway-cup.no. Late July to early August.

August

Telemark International Folk Music Festival, Bø. An international festival of folk music and folk dance takes place in the home of many famous fiddlers, dancers, and singers. Call tel. 33-95-19-19, or visit www.telemarkfestivalen.no. Early August.

Peer Gynt Festival, Vinstra. Art exhibitions, evenings of music and song, parades in national costumes, and other events honor Ibsen's fictional character. Call tel. 61-29-47-70, or visit www.peergynt.no for details. Early August.

Oslo Jazz Festival. This annual festival features music from the earliest years of jazz (1920-25), as well as classical concerts, opera, and ballet. For details, call the Oslo Tourist Bureau, at tel. 81-53-05-55, or visit www.oslojazz.no. Second week of August.

Chamber Music Festival, Oslo. Norwegian and foreign musicians perform at Oslo's Akershus Castle and Fortress, which dates from A.D. 1300. Call tel. 23-10-07-30, or visit www.oslokammermusikkfestival.no for details. Mid-August.

September

Oslo Marathon. This annual event draws some of Norway's best long-distance runners. Call tel. 22-69-31-20-21, or visit www.oslomaraton.no. Mid-September.

December

Nobel Peace Prize Ceremony, Oslo. A major event on the Oslo calendar, attracting world attention. Attendance is by invitation only. For information, contact the Nobel Institute, Henrik Ibsen Gate 51, N-0255 Oslo 2 (tel. 22-12-93-00; http://nobelprize.org). Held at Oslo City Hall. December 10.

Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.