Vännäs

Vännäs, from Wendenäs, ‘where the river changes it path’ is a locality that has existed since 1539. Vännäs is the seat of Vännäs Municipality in Västerbotten County, Sweden and had 4,118 inhabitants in 2010.

Vännäs is the hometown of the hardcore-band Refused, with singer Dennis Lyxzéns family still living in Kolksele 1 mil (6 miles) from Vännäs köping. Other famous Vännäs locals are Sverker Olofsson; the former host of the popular TV show Plus.

The Vännäs TV Tower, a 323 metres tall partially manned broadcasting tower, is located in the vicinity of Vännäs.

Twinned cities

Vännäs was twinned with Cameri, a city in northern Italy in 2003 . Vännäs is also twinned with the Norwegian city Hemnes and the Finnish city Storkyro.

The Italian Week

Each year, in conjunction with the National Days of Sweden and Italy a festival takes place in Vännäs, in honour of the similarities and differences between Sweden and Italy.

Vännäsdagarna

Vännäsdagarna is a three days long annual festival during the second weekend of July, which brings a mix of performers and street vendors to Vännäs every year. An estimated 58,000 visitors attend the festival each year, thus making Vännäsdagarna the biggest festival in Westrobothnia.