Roses, music and fun activities: the perfect family day in Bogense!

When August arrives, Bogense dresses up in its finest colours for the annual Rose Festival. More than 100,000 fragrant rose blooms transform the historic market town into a lively floral fairytale, where the cobbled streets are filled with music, cheerful rose princesses and colourful market stalls.

For families, the festival is a wonderful summer outing. You can stroll between impressive floral artworks, look at beautiful cars down by the harbour, meet well-known fairytale characters and enjoy the very special Funen market atmosphere.

ℹ️ Quick overview

• When: Saturday 1 August and Sunday 2 August 2026.
• Who: Ideal for the whole family – from the youngest children to grandparents.
  Buggy or pull-along wagon: Do bring one. It makes things easier for smaller legs and gives you room for bags, bought roses and treats.
• Programme: See the full programme and overview map at rosenfestival.dk/program, or buy a printed version when you arrive.

Fairytales for children

• The H.C. Andersen Parade: Look forward to a magical and poetic highlight. On both Saturday and Sunday at 2.30 pm, the famous parade with actor Torben Iversen as H.C. Andersen and 20 costumed fairytale characters moves through the town’s streets. At 3.00 pm, they give a lovely little performance in front of the well-known Manneken Pis statue.
• Fairytale reading in Læsehulen: Do the children need a quiet break in the middle of all the impressions? Pop by Læsehulen in Kirkestræde at 11.30 am or 2.30 pm, where Jette Fisker and René Maaløe read classic H.C. Andersen fairytales aloud in cosy and peaceful surroundings.
• Find your favourite character: Go in search of the fantastic rose decorations around town – which characters are your favourites?
• The rose princesses: Keep an eye out for this year’s beautiful rose princesses: Celine, Lykke and Marie. They open the festival in front of Bogense Town Hall and then walk around town to spread smiles, take photos and create a true princess atmosphere.

Polished vintage cars by the harbour

Down by Bogense Harbour and in Jernbanegade, car fans of all ages can enjoy English elegance. MG Klubben and Englændernetværket exhibit a range of classic cars such as MG, Triumph, Austin Healey and Rover. As something extra special this year, you can also take a look at the brand-new electric sports car MG Cyberster – an exciting meeting between motoring history and the future.

Food, tombola and roses for the garden

• When hunger sets in, Torvet is the natural meeting point. Here you can grab a juicy burger, a classic grilled sausage or a tasty freshly fried fishcake.
• Try your luck: Join the cosy tombolas or browse the many stalls for unique souvenirs.
• Roses to take home: Would mum or dad like a memory for the garden? The stalls are full of beautiful rose plants, along with good advice on how to care for them.

Practical tips for the family day

• Easy parking: Drive towards Bogensehallerne, Kristianslundsvej 2, 5400 Bogense. There is good parking here and clear signage straight towards the town centre. Arrive in good time if you want to avoid queues.
• Toilets: You will find public toilets in several places along the route, including in Kirkestrædet and by Multisalen, where there is also an art exhibition. They are all marked on the map in the festival programme.
• Pack your rucksack: Remember sun cream, sun hats, wet wipes and a few cold drinks for the trip, in case the summer sun is strong.