For Kate Sargent and her daughter Molly, a visit to Húsavík was more than just another stop on their cruise around Iceland. It was in fact the whole reason they had traveled all the way from Australia to Iceland. They came specifically to visit the Húsavík Eurovision Exhibition and explore the filming locations of Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga. Orly Orlyson sat down with Molly and Kate to hear about their remarkable journey.
Kate explains to me that while she had always loved Eurovision, her passion grew once she shared it with her daughter Molly.
“I always loved it, but it’s certainly been enhanced since I introduced Eurovision to my daughter,” she said. “She has just taken what I loved and run with it. This year it was even bigger for us, we even took a day off school and work to watch the second semifinal. We just threw ourselves into it completely.”
Molly tells me that for her, the first vivid Eurovision memory came in 2019 when Australia’s Kate Miller-Heidke performed “Zero Gravity.”
“I was in absolute awe,” she said. “I just fell in love with the contest right there.” Over time, she became more and more involved, following national selections, pre-parties, and the artists themselves. “Eurovision is a massive part of my life. I wake up at 5 AM every year for the final, and the excitement never really stops.”
Australia has long had a special connection with Eurovision. Kate pointed out that when ABBA won in 1974, their first tour afterwards was to Australia. “We’ve been following Eurovision for decades, but since Australia officially joined the contest it has become even bigger at home. Our Prime Minister even endorsed our entry this year,” she noted with a smile.
The Sargents said the Fire Saga film played the key role in inspiring their journey to Iceland. “It really enhanced our love of Eurovision,” Kate explained.
“We became fascinated with Húsavík, the beauty of this little town that suddenly meant so much to the Eurovision world.”
“We never thought we’d actually manage to get here, but when we found a cruise that passed nearby, we booked it with the dream of reaching Húsavík.” That dream took plenty of planning and research, especially to manage the logistics from Akureyri, but as Kate put it, “It’s not often that you can have a dream and then be so aware that it has come true. That’s how we feel today.”
Both mother and daughter were deeply touched by their visit. Molly spoke about the emotional power of the song “Húsavík (My Hometown),” especially in the videos filmed here with Molly Sandén and Remember Monday, both produced by Film Húsavík. “We’ve watched those videos over and over again,” she said, referencing the viral choir renditions. “It’s Eurovision, yes, but it’s also the magic of Húsavík. That’s what really drew us here.”
Kate added that their day in Húsavík felt almost unreal. “It’s better than what we expected. The memories we’re taking away are so special,” she said, visibly moved. “Honestly, we’re ready to move here, does the town need a math teacher?” she joked.
For both mother and daughter, the trip was more than sightseeing, it was a pilgrimage to a place that has become part of Eurovision history. As Molly summed it up, “It’s been a dream to come here. I can’t believe this is real.”
