The Birkebeiner is Norway's most famous cross-country ski race, held every March over 54 kilometres of mountain terrain between Rena and Lillehammer. The race has been run annually since 1932 (with wartime interruptions) and draws around 16,000 participants from across Norway and internationally, making the finish in Lillehammer one of the most festive days of the town's year.
Even if you're not competing, race weekend is worth being in Lillehammer for: the town fills with skiers, the atmosphere on Storgata is celebratory, and the finish line on the main street attracts substantial crowds. The Birkebeiner also inspired a network of marked cross-country ski trails in the surrounding fells — the Birkebeineren ski stadium is the hub of this trail network and can be reached from Lillehammer in about 30 minutes by cross-country skis.