Photo: Sarah Rønholt
Photo: Sarah Rønholt
Herring Festival
In Hvide Sande, the last weekend of April every year is dedicated to herring. Over three days, April 25-27, 2025, local associations and businesses host the traditional Herring Festival, where people compete in the art of catching the most herring, and the festival area is filled with music, fun and activities for the whole family.
Hvide Sande stands out due to the unique circumstance that in the spring, herring migrate through the drainage sluice to spawn in Ringkøbing Fjord. This makes the area around the lock and the Sportsfiskercenter a true mecca for people from both near and far, who on good days stand shoulder to shoulder.
Photo: Sarah Rønholt
History
The first Herring Festival took place in 1995 under the auspices of Holmsland Klit Tourist Association, and the community spirit is still alive and well today. Countless volunteers are involved in the planning and execution of the event, which is (yet another) example of how initiatives in Hvide Sande are driven forward by people pulling together in a common cause.
Fishing competitions with great prizes.
Live music in the tent.
Food experiences, focusing on local fish dishes.
Activities for children and children at heart.
Demonstration of herring smoking and cooking.
Large Balut tournament.
See the full program below
Friday, April 25th
17:00
The Friday bar and kitchen open
– and you can buy fish cakes, fish fillets, grilled sausages, and drinks in the HVAK tent
17:00
Varde Garden plays up (Hvide Sande Bryghus)
– in front of Hvide Sande Bryghus, and walks through the city, over the locks to the festival site, leading the balut tournament Hvide Sande Opens parade
17:45
The parade has arrived
– followed by a gospel choir singing as an official celebration of the balut tournament Hvide Sande Open
18:00
Company herring fishing competition
– where it will finally be decided which company will take the lead (and win the bragging rights) when it comes to the art of catching as many spring herring as possible
19:00
Music - Volf Duo live
– with the well-known and beloved sing-along songs and all the hits hand-played on stage in the cozy HVAK tent
21:00
DJ Mads Wilhelmsen
– carries the party on into the late evening hours until people have to go home and see the quilts and the drinks in the tent close at 01:00 at the latest
Subject to any changes, errors and cancellations
Practical information
The festival site at Fiskeriets Hus and the area around the drainage sluice in Hvide Sande
April 25-27, 2025
Free parking at Fiskeriets Hus and at the harbor parking lots
Find apartments and cottages in Hvide Sande here
Sign up for the fishing competition
Subject to any changes, errors and cancellations
Registration is open from March 1
Price: DKK 150,- for adults, DKK 75,- for children, and DKK 100,- for juniors
Prizes are awarded in several categories
Fishing license is included in the participation fee
Webcam livestream
On the live stream from Hvide Sande Sportsfisker Center below, you can get a good sense of the current fishing conditions at the drainage sluice in Hvide Sande.
Contact
If you have any questions about the competition or feedback and ideas, feel free to contact us via the form below.We look forward to seeing you in Hvide Sande!