A planned beer festival in Akureyri’s botanical garden has drawn criticism from members of Iceland’s horticultural community.
A number of people from the Icelandic Horticultural Association have expressed similar fears that hosting a drinking event among delicate and irreplaceable plants poses a clear risk.
The LYST summer and beer festival, scheduled for 18–20 July, will take place in Lystigarðurinn, the town’s park and botanical garden.
Local Concerns
Local media has revealed that concerns were raised in two separate letters submitted to Akureyri Town Council on Thursday.
Ásta Camilla Gylfadóttir, a horticulturist and former garden employee, wrote: “Would you have a similar beer festival at the Akureyri Art Museum or the National Museum of Iceland? Plants in a botanical garden are just as valuable collector’s items as artwork on a wall.”
Guðríður Helgadóttir, chair of the Icelandic Horticultural Society, echoed her concerns: “The risk of inviting drunk people to sit around in a botanical garden with irreplaceable plants must be obvious to anyone who cares to look.”
Defending the festival
It should be noted that this will be the fourth consecutive year the event has been held in the botanical gardens.
Festival organiser, Reynir Grétarsson, owner of the LYST restaurant, defended the event’s track record, noting that care is taken to protect the garden: “The festival has never been a big party and most guests know each other.”
Fifteen breweries will participate this year, with performances by Bríet, JóiPé & Króli, and others.
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