Monday Morning News & Notes
Europe moves on nature restoration.. COVID vaccine in high demand.
đEnvironment & EnergyâĄïž
đȘđș
Over the weekend European Union politicians reached a provisional agreement on nature restoration. The agreement seeks to restore at least 20% of Europeâs deteriorating land and sea ecosystems by 2030 and then complete the rehabilitation of all degraded nature areas in need of restoration by 2050. The restoration of peatland and wetlands, massive carbon sinks, are also included. The deal includes legally binding targets and obligations to reach those goals across agricultural, forest, marine, freshwater, and urban ecosystems.
Spainâs Ecological Transition Minister Teresa Ribera RodrĂguez:
âWe are faced with an increasingly dramatic reality: EUâs nature and biodiversity are in danger and need to be protected. I am proud of todayâs indispensable agreement between the Council and Parliament on a nature restoration law, the first of its kind. It will help us rebuild healthy biodiversity levels across member states and preserve nature for the future generations while fighting climate change and remaining committed to our climate goals.â
The agreement also includes specific requirements to member states to reverse the decline of insect pollinators like bees by 2030.
Politicians have also added a provision calling for EU member nations to help plant at least three billion trees by 2030.
Denmarkâs Minister of Environment Magnus Heunicke:
âWe are one step closer to an EU agreement on nature restoration. Biodiversity and nature are under massive pressure at home and in the rest of Europe, and there is a need for us to make a concerted effort for biodiversity. Now we must read the agreement thoroughly, but Denmark continues to support strengthened efforts for more and better nature in the EU.â
Interestingly, an emergency brake is also included in the agreement. It specifies that in the event of âunforeseeable and exceptional events outside of the EUâs controlâ that have Europe-wide consequences for food security then any measures pertaining to agricultural land can be suspended for up to one year.
EU countries will be required to submit their national restoration plans along with regular progress reports to show they are on track to reach their goals.
The provisional agreement will have to be endorsed by each of the EU member states and the European Parliamentâs Environmental Committee before entering into force.
đ©đ°
Vehicle fleets operated by Denmarkâs various municipalities are not so green. According to De Danske BilimportĂžrer, a huge 83.2% of vehicles operated by Danish municipalities are cars or trucks running on gas or diesel. The situation varies from municipality to municipality with some having less than 1% of their vehicle fleet running on renewable energy. Others, like Lejre Kommune in SjĂŠlland, have converted more than half their vehicle fleet to run on green energy.
-
Should nuclear power be included in Denmarkâs green energy strategy? That is the question a special government committee will examine this Thursday. In 1985 the Danish parliament decided nuclear power should not be included in public energy planning. Now new technologies have revived the debate about what role, if any, nuclear power could play as a viable energy source.
The committee will examine what types of nuclear power exist today and what new technologies have developed now and will develop in the years to come. The committee will then decide if it is worth putting nuclear power back on the table as a possible future green energy alternative that could act as a stabilizing force for Danish wind and solar energy.
-
The Danish Natural Damage Council has expanded the area it assesses as being impacted by the huge storm surge several weeks ago. It now includes a chunk of the Fyn coastline from Svendborgsund Bridge and the eastern end of FrederiksĂž in Svendborg and from the bridge to Skansen on TĂ„singe. It says those areas saw storm surge-driven flooding that exceeded a 20-year event. In practical terms it allows anyone suffering flood damages in those areas to apply for compensation from the available emergency funding.
-
Inflation in Denmark continues to dive and landed at 0.1% in October according to Statistics Denmark. Other than a small jump in July inflation has steadily been falling for the last year. This is a sea change from last year when the cost of pretty much everything had soared creating a huge strain on household budgets.
The consumer price index shows that the price of electricity, gas, diesel, yogurt, and cereal products have all dropped. Conversely, the costs for things like holiday home rentals and domestic flights have been increasing.
Economists warn that rising interest rates are a big factor in bringing inflation down in Denmark but that at some point, especially with inflation near zero, interest rates will have to come down again and that will mean inflation to some degree will increase again. That is just factoring in the usual see-saw relationship between interest rates and inflation and not any other external factors like last yearâs energy crisis.
đžđȘ
Some good news out of Sweden. The otter population across the country is bouncing back after decades of human activity pushing otters onto the endangered species list. Otters had been suffering from the impacts of hunting, toxins in the environment, and being the victims of roadkill. The Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences Swedish Species Information Centre says the otter population has now completely turned it around and is flourishing.
-
According to the Swedish National Safety Agency, there has been a marked increase in lithium-ion batteries used in e-bikes and electric scooters catching fire. The agency says it registered 30 fires from lithium-ion batteries in 2021, then 73 in 2022, and there have already been 58 instances in just the first half of this year. Part of the reason behind the rising numbers may be due to the sheer increase in the number of e-bikes and electric scooters over the last three years. But, National Safety Agency Office Manger Nicoline Zederkof Jensen spoke to Ritzau cautioning consumers to be careful especially when charging the batteries. He recommends being present during the charging process.
For some context, Swedish industry association âCykelbranschenâ says over half-a-million e-bikes were sold in Sweden in just a one-year period from September 2018 to August 2019. So there are a LOT of e-bikes never mind electric scooters in the Nordic nation.
đ«đź
You canât do both. An investigation by the Finnish news agency STT has found that the governmentâs efforts to shield people from high gas prices by reducing fuel taxes and other measures are hamstringing the country from reaching its carbon emission reduction goals. Finland, under former Prime Minister Sanna Marin, had set a goal of cutting CO2 emissions in half from 2005 levels by 2030. But with government measures due to make gas cheaper, it makes it very unlikely that goal can be reached according to Marita Laukkanen, a research professor at the VATT Institute for Economic Research, who spoke to STT.
The Finnish transportation sector alone accounts for about one-fifth of all of Finlandâs greenhouse gas emissions.
đ©đȘ
The German governmentâs ruling coalition has reached a deal to help the industrial sector with high energy prices. The five-year package includes measures worth some âŹ12 billion next year alone. Measures include lowering the tax on electricity over a two-year term and extending and expanding several existing subsidies.
The package must still be debated and approved, or not, by the German parliament.
Germanyâs power pricing is a bit convoluted, to say the least. German households pay some of the highest rates in Europe while energy-intensive companies pay less due to exemptions from different taxes and levies.
đźđ© đŹđ§
Scientists at Oxford were euphoric after discovering that a species of long-beaked echidna long thought to be extinct in Indonesia is still alive and kicking. The rare species, also called Sir Davidâs long-beaked echidna after renowned British naturalist David Attenborough, was spotted when Oxford researchers were on a four-day field trip to Indonesia. The only evidence of the echidna ever existing prior to this recent sighting was a decades-old carcass in a museum.
Odds & Ends
đ©đ°
An almost four -foot-tall albino kangaroo is on the loose in southern SjĂŠlland. The kangaroo has been seen along the E47 highway between TappernĂžje and RĂžnnede. However, donât expect to see any police officers out trying to catch it. The Chief Duty Officer Lars Denholt told the newspaper Ekstra Bladet that it is impossible to catch a kangaroo so they wonât even try. Apparently, the kangaroo escaped its enclosure at someoneâs property. Police didnât say why anyone in Denmark would have a kangaroo, albino or otherwise, but did say they have informed its owner to hop on out there and deal with the problem.
-
This takes balls, literally. A 55-year-old man in Viborg, Denmark has been fined 25,000 Danish kroner (a shade under $5,000 Cdn) for donating his sperm to women. This was done on his own without permission from any health or patient safety authority. Investigators say the handy entrepreneur for a while even had his own website to facilitate the transactions. Police say he was going about his venture âwith a certain regularity.â Once busted and fined he then challenged the punishment in court insisting he had done nothing wrong.
-
Just because you are a Dane in space doesnât mean you shouldnât have a proper Danish Christmas. Space X launched a rocket with cargo for the International Space Station late last week. Among the several tons of cargo are Christmas goodies for the astronauts onboard the ISS. Danish astronaut Andreas Mogensen can look forward to a traditional Danish duck dinner along with cranberry sauce and some chocolate. The payload was scheduled to arrive at the space station late Saturday morning.
-
Dominos wants a slice of Denmark. The worldâs largest pizza chain just canât seem to break through in Denmark. Under previous owners, the chain suffered a food scandal and then was hit by bankruptcy leading to the closure of all 27 Dominos restaurants across the country. Former Magasin owner Birgir Bieltvedt has now bought up all the Scandinavia rights to the chain. The Icelandic businessman figures if he can crack the Danish market then the rest of Scandinavia will fall like dominos. He already helps run the pizza chain in Sweden, Norway, and Iceland.
Bieltvedt is planning on a gradual start to reopening Dominos starting with just three restaurants in Roskilde, Copenhagen, and Hvidovre. The first, in Roskilde, will open in December.
đŠ COVIDđŠ
đȘđșđŠ
The COVID situation in Europe is a bit of a mixed bag. According to the latest update from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, overall respiratory infection activity is in line with what is expected for this time of year. While largely driven by COVID infections even then coronavirus activity seems to be decreasing at the EU and greater European Economic Area level. But that is the case when you zoom down to the individual countries with some nations seeing sharply increasing infection numbers, rising hospitalizations, and virus deaths.
Five countries, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Latvia, Norway, and Sweden, are seeing rising COVID infections across all age groups. While Poland is reporting increasing coronavirus cases but just among those under the age of 65. In Lithuania infection activity is on the rise but just among vulnerable seniors.
Estonia is very much a European COVID hotspot. It not only is seeing increasing infection numbers across all age groups but infection-related general and intensive care admissions and overall ICU occupancy are also on the rise. The Baltic stage is also one of the two European countries, Bulgaria is the other, that are seeing the total number of COVID deaths climb. Five countries are reporting increasing numbers of infection-related deaths but just among seniors over 65.
Both Latvia and the Netherlands are seeing rising COVID hospitalizations while Greece is seeing intensive care admissions trend upward. The ECDC rates Hungary as having a particularly concerning number of hospitalizations.
Keep in mind that nine countries including some of Europeâs biggest like France, Germany, and Spain, have not reported any infection information to the ECDC. So what we are getting at best is a partial picture of the infection situation in Europe.
Based on extremely limited testing from 19 countries last week, the ECDC pegs the European positivity percentage at 16%.
Just 16 countries in Europe met the ludicrously low threshold of submitting at least ten positive sequenced test results. Based on that extremely narrow window XBB.1.5 is the most active variant in Europe. But that is essentially pure guesswork at this point.
đžđȘ
With infections surging and COVID hospitalizations reaching levels not seen in almost a year media in Sweden are reporting more and more are hospitals under increasing pressure. Dagens Nyheter says 10 Swedish regions are reporting a dramatic increase in coronavirus patients along with increasing amounts of healthcare staff out sick. An infected patient requires significant resources in the hospital due to having to be isolated and COVID protocols coming into force to prevent an outbreak.
Sweden's Agricultural University has been conducting COVID wastewater testing and its latest measurements indicate a âstrong riseâ in virus activity across a majority of the country. It says wastewater testing is showing activity in levels not seen since last December.
Researchers at the university have also been using wastewater testing to measure influenza activity. So far those results have not shown any sign of any imminent flu wave.
-
The upsurge in coronavirus activity has resulted in major pressure on Swedenâs fall vaccination campaign as people suddenly rush to get a booster dose. In many regions across Sweden, vaccination appointments are few and far between. Some regions donât offer drop-in vaccinations but in some of those that do there have been extremely long lines. In areas of Northern Sweden, which is seeing a significant amount of infection activity, people are waiting two hours as they line up to get boosted. Swedish regions that have the staffing capacity are working to increase vaccination opportunities so more appointment times are available.
đ«đź
It is hard to say with any real accuracy but it looks like the EG.5 coronavirus variant might be taking over in Finland. In the countryâs most populous hospital district in Helsinki and Uusimaa the number of infected patients is in some cases higher than during previous pandemic peaks.
Infectious Disease Chief Asko JĂ€rvinen spoke to national broadcaster Yle:
âJust under 20% of hospitalized HUS patients are there because of COVID. There seems to be a lot of people out on sick leave now, virus levels in wastewater samples have risen sharply, and patients coming to hospitals have more coronavirus infections than before.â
JĂ€rvinen says immunity via vaccination and previous infection are providing solid protection against severe infections resulting in hospitalization and death. But he adds that the EG.5 variant isnât having much trouble infecting people regardless of their vaccination status.
-
The Finnish Institute for Health is warning about the risks, especially for older people, of the potpourri of respiratory viruses that are circulating. While COVID infections are increasing across Finland the institute says influenza, rhinovirus, adenovirus, and RS virus, are all either currently circulating or will be soon.
Chief Physician Tuija Leino says the EG.5 strain appears to be dominant in Finland as coronavirus infections rise. Leino adds that there are signs of the impending arrival of influenza and RS virus waves. Usually, Finland sees influenza infections peak early in the new year.
"The majority of hospitalizations due to respiratory tract infections remain without microbiological confirmation or are caused by a virus other than corona, influenza or RSV.â
He warns that elderly people are very much in harmâs way with old age being the single most significant risk factor for a severe respiratory virus infection. And with so many circulating over the fall and winter months the risk is even higher. All infections involving a high fever can potentially be fatal for the very elderly.
In Finland, seniors over 85 have the highest risk of hospitalization due to a severe respiratory infection.
"People with underlying diseases who belong to the vaccination target groups have a higher risk of being hospitalized due to a respiratory infection than a basically healthy person of the same age. However, the risk is usually small compared to the risk in older people. Only diseases and treatments that clearly damage the immune system clearly increase the risk in people of all ages.â
Finland, like the rest of the Nordic countries, recommends that seniors over 65, people who are immunocompromised, and those in other high-risk and vulnerable populations get a COVID booster and an influenza vaccination, which can be administered together.
đłđż
Health New Zealand is e who are most at risk to do everything they can to protect themselves as a COVID infection wave sweeps across the country. The health agency says wastewater surveillance, infection numbers, and even virus deaths are all increasing.
Director of Public Health Dr Nick Jones says the idea of a winter wave is a little deceptive as, at least in New Zealand, coronavirus waves are arriving in a pattern.
âI don't think the evidence is there to support that. We seem to be seeing upticks in cases probably every six months or so, and it's probably driven by the waning of immunity over time and the gradual evolution of the virus which continues to change over time. So, while I agree that a lot of these respiratory illnesses tend to be more common in the winter when we're indoors, these other factors I think are leading to regular waves of the disease."
In New Zealand, people have access to free face masks, rapid self antigen tests, and anti-viral treatments. The countryâs health agency is urging anyone who is eligible to also get a COVID vaccine booster especially with the holidays approaching. In New Zealand anyone over the age of 65, anyone over 16 who is immunocompromised, other high-risk populations, and aboriginal people over 50.
đŠ đșđž
A study out of the United States has concluded that having a COVID infection significantly increased the risk of an RS virus infection among children. Researchers conducted the study over two years involving participants averaging around two and a half years old in 2021 and 2022.
âOur findings suggest that COVID contributed to the 2022 surge of RSV cases in young children through the large buildup of COVID-infected children and the potential long-term adverse effects of COVID on the immune and respiratory system.â
Researchers urge that more studies be done on the link between COVID and RS Virus infections. They also recommend COVID prevention measures among children including vaccination in order to prevent both coronavirus and RS virus infections.
You can find the study in full HERE.
đșđŠ/ đ·đș War
đ«đź/ đšđł
Police in Finland have confirmed the huge anchor found on the ocean floor near the damaged Balticconnector gas pipeline and two data cables is indeed from the Chinese cargo ship Newnew Polar Bear. In a press release, the Central Criminal Police say that they have also matched the paint on the anchor to paint found on the damaged pipeline.
Chief Criminal Inspector Risto Lohi:
âThe technical investigations are still ongoing, even though the active investigation at the place where the injuries were found has been completed.â
Crew onboard the Newnew Polar Bear have refused to cooperate in the investigation. The vessel sailed into Russian waters after the pipeline and nearby data cables were damaged. It was last located in the Northwest Passage heading to the Siberian Sea 12 days ago. That was the last location given by the shipâs AIS system before it went dark.
âWe have been in contact with the Chinese authorities and made a request for international cooperation to get information to investigate the case.â
A number of investigations continue on the damaged pipeline and two data cables by Finnish, Estonian, and Swedish authorities.
đ«đź/ đ·đș
Russiaâs tactic of weaponizing immigrants may be in play along the border with Finland. The Finnish Border Guard says since August it has begun to see an unusual increase in immigrants without the proper travel documentation arriving from Russia at Southeastern Finnish border controls. Since August it has documented 91 such individuals.
The Finnish Border Guard says this is a clear case of illegal migration allowed by Russia and abetted by international criminal organizations
âThese persons are citizens of third countries and have used Russia for transit. Previously, Russian authorities have not allowed travel from Russia to Finnish border crossing points, if the passenger has not had the required travel documents. In recent months, the actions of the Russian authorities have changed, at least on the border with Southeastern Finland. Unlike before, they have allowed travel despite lack of documents.â
Russia has already employed this tactic via Belarus to amass immigrants along the border with Poland to encourage illegal crossings into Europe.
đ§đŹđȘđș/ đ·đș
There is a pretty serious flaw in the European Unionâs price cap on Russian oil and its name is Bulgaria. When the EU tabled the price cap as part of sanctions to punish Russia for its invasion of Ukraine it allowed for certain exemptions. Bulgaria, which relied heavily on Russian oil and gas, was exempted from the sanction to limit the impacts of the energy crisis.
An investigation by Global Witness, the Center for the Study of Democracy, and the Center for Research on Energy and Clean Air found that a Russian-owned oil refinery on Bulgariaâs Black Sea coast has been exploiting the exemption for all its worth. The Neftochim Burgas refinery has brought millions of barrels of Russian oil in by pipeline and then refined and sold it in such amounts that at least some of it is flowing into European Union countries despite sanctions.
The three organizations have calculated that the refinery has churned out over one billion euros in oil profits that go directly to Moscow and more than likely help to fund the war in Ukraine, the very thing the sanctions are supposed to prevent.
The information comes to light just as the EU Commission prepares to table its 12 round of sanctions against Russia. This package includes measures to tighten the crews on enforcing sanctions.
đșđŠ NATO
Former NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen is tabling the idea of admitting Ukraine into NATO but not including the territories currently occupied by Russia. Rasmussen says by doing a partial inclusion of Ukraine it will send a strong message to Russia that is cannot prevent Ukraine from joining NATO. He says by excluding the occupied territories it would reduce the threat of a war between NATO and Russia. It would also ensure safety for Ukrainians in the areas not currently contested as any attack on the NATO parts of Ukraine would trigger Article 5 and trigger a a much bigger war.
There is precedence for such a move. In 1955 West Germany joined NATO with formerly occupied East Germany automatically being included during the reunification of Germany in 1990 when the wall came down.
NATO has so far deferred on a decision whether to begin the admissions process for Ukraine but the issue will come up again next year and Rasmussen doesnât believe NATO can delay it any longer.
đŹđ§ đšđŠ đłđż đłđŽ đ©đ° đ«đź đžđȘ đ±đč đłđ± đŠđș đ·đŽ
A multi-national effort to train Ukrainian soldiers is running ahead of schedule. The coalition of countries taking part in the program has grown to ten as Romania announced it will join Canada, New Zealand, Norway, Denmark, Finland, Sweden, Lithuania, The Netherlands, and Australia, in helping to offer a wide variety of condensed military training for Ukrainian troops.
Over the weekend, Operation Interflex reached the milestone of 30,000 recruits trained since the program kicked off back in June of last year. It initially had the target of training 30,000 troops by the end of the year. It now has enough time to get one more cohort through the five-week training program before Christmas.
The training program has evolved to include different streams from the most basic in running recruits with little or no military experience through a program to teach them the combat skills they will need all the way to honing the skills of elite Ukrainian commandos.
đ”đ± đ©đ° đșđŠ
Poland is hosting a two-day conference called âRebuild Ukraineâ beginning tomorrow in Warsaw. Politicians and companies from across Europe will be in attendance. More than 40 companies are coming from Denmark alone along with Danish Climate, Energy, and Utilities Minister Lars Aagaard and Industry, Business, and Financial Affairs Minister Morten BĂždskov.
Ukraineâs President Volodymyr Zelenskyy:
âThe recovery of Ukraine will become the largest economic project in Europe of our time. It is already estimated at hundreds of billions of dollars. With the need to modernize Ukrainian infrastructure considering the security assistance we are talking about costs could exceed more than a trillion dollars USD. Infrastructure funds are needed for a large number of projects from airports, to the construction of new roads, and bridges. Funds will also be needed for hundreds of millions of square meters of new housing, office space, and logistics and industrial parks. Banks and financial institutions will be needed to cover the leading for all of these projects in Ukraine.â
đ©đ°The Week Ahead Round Upđ©đ°
Tuesday, November 14:
If you want a night out at the theatre while also getting into the Christmas spirit then head to Odense Theatre for the stage production âEt Jul-Eventyrâ. Better known in English as âThe Christmas Storyâ you can settle in and get swept away by the classic story of how the miserable Ebenezer Scrooge finds the spirit of Christmas.
There are multiple showings from Tuesday through Sunday.
The theatre is located at Jernbanegade 21, Odense.
You can more information and buy tickets HERE.
Friday, November 17:
Denmarkâs storied amusement park Tivoli opens for its traditional Christmas season program in Copenhagen beginning on Friday. The Jul i Tivoli festivities will last until December 31st. Tivoli is the 2nd oldest still operating amusement park in the world and according to legend may have been the inspiration for Disneyland.
You can find more information HERE.
-
The fairy tale H.C. Andersen Christmas market opens in Nytorv Square in Copenhagen. The market stalls will each have a theme based on one of H.C. Andersenâs famous fairy tales and the whole market will take place under thousands of festive lights. While taking in the festive sights and sounds you can also shop for everything Christmas-related that you can possibly imagine. There will also be a Christmas carousel for the kids.
The market will remain open until December 21.
-
The Danish menâs national football team takes on Slovenia at Parken Arena in Copenhagen in an EURO 2024 qualifying match.
The game begins at 8:45 p.m. at Per Henrik Lings Allé in Copenhagen.
The game is sold out.
Saturday, November 18:
Part of the annual Danish Christmas tradition is watching the different Julekalender TV shows beginning December 1 and then airing every night until the storyâs conclusion the day before Christmas.
In Odense, the magical creatures from this yearâs TV2 Julekalender âValdes Julâ will make an appearance along with a reunion of the elves and trolls from last yearâs âTinkaâ.
The exhibition looking to create the same magic as seen in the TV shows takes place in MÞntergÄrden beginning on Saturday and ending on January 7.
-
Tivoli Friheden opens for its Christmas season in Aarhus on Saturday. The amusement park will offer a variety of Christmas treats and will be decorated for the season. The Christmas festivities will remain in place until December 30.
The amusement park is at Skovbrynet 5, Aarhus.
You can find out more HERE.
-
The official start of the Christmas season in Odense will be marked by the lighting of the Christmas tree. It takes place this Saturday at 4 p.m. in Flakhaven. Santa Claus is expected to make an appearance and the occasion will also be celebrated with music and entertainment. Children will also get a goody bag.
-
It is Christmas time at Copenhagen Zoo. The old-fashioned Christmas season features the usual animal sights along with market stands, workshops, crafts, Christmas treats, thousands of festive lights, and of course Santa Claus himself. There will also be 900 Christmas trees throughout the zoo grounds.
The old-fashioned Christmas at the Zoo experience will remain open until January 1.
The zoo is located at Roskildevej 38, 2000 Frederiksberg.
You can find out more about the zooâs Christmas program HERE.
-
It will be Christmas at the National Museum of Denmark beginning on Saturday. The museum will debut its âChristmas universeâ where guests can explore the history of Christmas. One of the first Christmas trees with lights was in a house on Ny Kongensgade in Copenhagen in 1811. The âGlĂŠdelig Julâ exhibit will be open until January 5th.
You find the museum at Ny Vestergade 10 in Copenhagen.
Learn more HERE.
-
Den Gamle By, or the Old Town Museum in English, will begin its Christmas in the old town season in Aarhus on Saturday. Den Gamle By is a fantastic experience at any time of the year and is one of the worldâs oldest and largest open-air museums. During the Christmas season, you can wander through seasonally decorated boutiques and market stalls. And don't forget to visit the Christmas House.
You can find Den Gamle Byâs website HERE.
-
The largest Christmas market in Fyn opens again on Saturday at Egeskov Slot (Castle). The market features a whopping 110 market stalls offering everything from Christmas crafts to delicious eats and finely brewed beer. The castle and surrounding grounds will be decked out for the season with lots of food, drink, and fun to be had.
There will also be various entertainment throughout the day along with Christmas carols and even a childrenâs treasure hunt.
The Christmas market opens at 10 a.m. and goes to 4:30 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday.
There is a 110 Danish kroner entrance fee for adults while kids get in for 60 dkk.
Find out more information and each dayâs itinerary HERE.
Sunday, November 19:
Are you a big Glögg fan? Then you will want to head to Storms Pakhus in Odense today for the Fyn Glögg Championships. People will be making all sorts of variations of the traditional Nordic Christmas mulled wine and everyone who attends gets to try some and play judge to determine a winner.
Along with glögg, the usual variety of delicious street food stalls will all be open along with some seasonal jazz from noon to 4 p.m. and there will also be a draw for an assortment of seasonal prizes.
Entry costs 99 dkk and comes with the right to try a minimum of 10 different kinds of glögg. The competition begins at noon.
Storms Pakhus is located right in the middle between Odense Railway Station and Odense Harbour.
You can find more information HERE.