Multiple reports indicate that Kent Ranum is celebrating his 50th birthday with a large party in Trondheim on Saturday evening. He turned 50 on April 1, and the celebration includes a concert in Nidarosdomen and then moves to Nye Hjorten Teater for dinner and a show. Around 1,000 guests are expected at the concert in Nidarosdomen, while approximately 550 guests are expected at Nye Hjorten Teater.
According to NRK Norge, Kent Ranum described the event as a personal celebration, stating that he is not acting as mayor but as a private individual marking a milestone. He added that he loves life and wants to provide good experiences for those he cares about, focusing on celebrating life from the concert start into the early hours. The party started on Friday evening with a dinner for several guests, though the exact number of attendees has not been confirmed.
Today I am not the mayor at all. Now I am just Kent from Klæbu who has turned 50 and wants to celebrate it.
Anne Kathrine Slungård, former mayor of Trondheim from 1998 to 2003, got married in Nidarosdomen just before Kent Ranum's celebration, adding to the venue's busy schedule. Kent Ranum had the idea for this large birthday party several years ago, according to major media sources. According to NRK Norge, he described it as a way to celebrate life without interference, reserving the right to decide how to mark his own milestones.
The total cost of the celebration and who is paying for it remain unknown, as do any official or public concerns about the mayor's large private event. Additionally, the specific show or entertainment planned at Nye Hjorten Teater and the exact end time of the celebration have not been disclosed.
I love life. It's great to be able to arrange for those I care about to have good and fine experiences.
It's really just about celebrating life, so we'll do that from when the concert starts and into the small hours of the night.
I haven't spared a thought for that either. I have never interfered in how other private individuals mark their milestones. Then I reserve the right to decide how I mark my own.