Verslunarmannahelgi ("Merchants' Weekend") originated because the first Monday in August was designated as a statutory holiday for merchants and those working in trade in Iceland.
Nowadays, convenience stores, roadside shops, and tourist shops remain open throughout the entire weekend, including Monday. Meanwhile, most other Icelanders enjoy an extra day off, as Monday is now a bank holiday. The weekend leading up to it has become the summer’s biggest camping and festival weekend in Iceland.
During Verslunarmannahelgi, the town of Akureyri hosts the "Ein með Öllu" family festival, where live music, a tivoli, and various performances fill the streets of Akureyri.
The festival offers a wide range of events to suit everyone. Some highlights include a fairground, children's entertainment, a request song concert at Akureyri Church, a marketplace in the town center, the "Moms and Muffins" (Icelandic: "mömmur og möffins") fundraising event in the Botanical Gardens, and the Big Forest Day in Kjarnaskógur. The final night features the grand concert "Sparitónleikar," showcasing well-known Icelandic bands, solo artists, and promising young talents, culminating in a spectacular fireworks show.