A brand-new Viking longship, a sword that never misses its target, and recreations of the world’s largest fossilised poo will all take centre stage at Europe’s largest Viking Festival, with JORVIK Viking Festival returning to the streets of York this February half term, 17 – 23 February.
Five days of Norse fun, living history, hands-on combat, and lectures, washed down with the finest mead, culminates in a parade of over 200 Vikings through the historic streets of York, and two dramatic evening son-et-lumière shows. The event is a firm highlight in York’s event calendar, drawing visitors from all over the world, with activities to appeal to everyone from the smallest child to the fiercest warrior!
“This is our 40th anniversary year of JORVIK Viking Festival, and we’re determined that those who follow in the footsteps of our Norse ancestors will not be disappointed when they get here,” proclaims the man behind this year’s programme, Gareth Henry of York Archaeology, the charity which organises and funds the Festival. “As usual, we are celebrating the end of winter in true Nordic style – so whether you want to learn to fight like a Berserker, make your own authentic pair of Viking socks, or just stand back and watch an army of warriors take to the streets, we’ve got something for you!”.
A free living history encampment forms the heart of the Festival, taking over Parliament Street with an array of tents featuring craftsmen and traders, with the opportunity to handle replica armour and weapons. “In the medieval period, the Vikings were known as fierce warriors; in our living history encampment, they are brilliant explainers and interpreters who love to talk about their specialist areas of expertise,” explains Gareth. “We encourage all of our visitors not to simply walk through and observe, but to stop and talk to the re-enactors – it is easy to spend an hour or more just chatting about what life would have been like in 10th century York.”
Major highlights of the Festival include the March to Coppergate (Saturday 22 February), which sees a column of over 200 Vikings mustering in Dean’s Park, next to York Minster, before making their way through the city streets to Coppergate – free to watch from many vantage points along the route. The parading Vikings then join the Viking Games at the Eye of York, next to Clifford’s Tower – when tempers are likely to fray, leading to an epic battle between rival factions!
On Friday 21 and Saturday 22 February, the Eye of York also hosts the Evening Spectacular, a dramatic retelling of a Norse legend featuring a sword that can never miss its target – the ultimate warrior’s weapon. Actors and re-enactors perform a stunning piece of open-air theatre with a thrilling soundtrack, culminating in a fiery finale not to be missed.
One of the smaller – but perennially popular – events takes place at DIG, the sister attraction to the world-famous JORVIK Viking Centre. One of JORVIK’s most infamous exhibits is the Lloyds Bank Coprolite – the world’s largest fossilised Viking poo. During Poo Week, children can recreate their very own poo, learning about how the composition of human excrement tells us so much about the person who passed it! Undigested seeds, bits of bone and revolting worms all feature in the recreations!
The Festival will also be the first opportunity to play the newest addition to the Top Trumps portfolio of card games. JORVIK Viking Centre’s Top Trumps will be highlighted in a fun, free city-wide trail, with packs of the new game available to purchase throughout the Festival. Budding teen artists can even meet the illustrator responsible for the cards’ designs, Katie Smith, at an illustration workshop.
JORVIK Viking Festival week is also the last chance for visitors to experience A Winter Adventure at JORVIK Viking Centre. A ride through Viking-age York is the centrepiece of the attraction, but at the moment, the city is covered in a thick blanket of snow, creating a Norse winter wonderland! With the centre’s team of interactive Vikings telling stories of how their ancestors would have fared against a harsh winter, this is an experience not to be missed – but tickets are likely to sell out in advance.
For more information on all the events that form part of this year’s JORVIK Viking Festival, and to book tickets, please visit the website here. Early booking is highly recommended as a number of events have already sold out.