Nord på hjul

Nord på hjul is Kulturbryggeriet's roller-skate disco: a free event for the whole family, where we bring roller skates, helmets, music and lights and turn a hall or a square into a disco for a day. The concept was first held in Berlevåg in 2023, and has since been to Hammerfest, Tromsø, Øksnes, Svolvær, Laukvik, Sortland, Melbu and Harstad, among other places.

Who is it for?

It is aimed at children and young people, but parents and families are welcome on the rink too. It is free to take part, and nobody needs their own equipment or any previous experience.

How it works

Participants borrow roller skates and a helmet when they arrive. When lots of people want to try, the equipment is passed around so that everyone gets a turn. The roller skates have LED lights, and the music is chosen to appeal to the children. “The whole of Nord på hjul is built on music and lights,” founder Elvic Kongolo has told Harstad Tidende. There are often waffles or other food as well.

Indoors or outdoors

Nord på hjul has been held in sports halls and community halls, in a covered multi-storey car park, on the quayside and right in the town centre. In summer 2026 we were outdoors, in Melbu, in Harstad and in Sortland town centre, among other places. In winter the plan is to carry on indoors.

What we have seen

Around 80 children or more have taken part in several of the events, according to figures the organiser gave to VOL. In Harstad, around 40 pairs of roller skates were lent out in groups throughout the day, Harstad Tidende wrote. In Sortland town centre around 30 children turned up, even though the event had to be moved at short notice because of the weather. What matters most to us, though, is the sense of achievement: children who try for the first time, fall, get back up and carry on with a smile.

Together with local people

We provide the roller skates and the concept, and work with local partners on the venue, volunteers and safety. In Svolvær we worked with Alti Svolvær, Ung i Vågan, Vågan Bua and Vågan Frivilligsentral, and in Harstad with Quality Hotel Harstad. When we are outdoors, fences are put up around the rink.