They will be pitching their tents, sharpening their blades ready for combat, and donning their finest apparel to show off their wealth – the Vikings are returning to York city centre this month for nine days of Norse-themed celebrations as JORVIK Viking Festival returns to its traditional February dates!
The full programme of events for this year’s JORVIK Viking Festival has now been released, and includes a whole host of displays, workshops and crafting leading up to the largest Viking celebration the city has seen for years on Saturday 18 February, with a procession through the city centre, Viking strongman competition and – with the good will of the Norse Gods – the Battle Spectacular in the Land of Darkness, which was originally planned for 2020!
This year’s event will see activities taking place in more venues across the city centre. Parliament Street will host the popular Living History encampment – a place to talk to Vikings about their trades and travels, and watch demonstrations of traditional crafts – whilst a new Arena will be set up in St Helen’s Square, hosting storytelling, weaponry shows and demonstrations throughout the week. Due to its popularity, the Strongest Viking competition will take place at the Eye of York on Saturday 18 February.
As always, the Festival has been planned with the broadest audience in mind, with children able to get involved with the Best Beard competition on Saturday 11 February (11am in St Helen’s Square arena) or learn sword skills in the Beserker Bootcamp, daily in the Guildhall (off St Helen’s Square).
Other highlight events include:
Jolablot Feast on the evening of Saturday 11 February, where visitors are invited to dine in style at the beautifully atmospheric Merchant Adventurers’ Hall, and enjoy three courses of delicious fare, whilst raising their glass to the Gods – this is a dining experience not to be missed. The last few tickets remain, priced at £95 per person.
Tablet weaving and Nalebinding (Viking knitting) workshops being held in the Barley Hall School Room on Monday and Tuesday (13 & 14 February), with Trichinopoly and tablet weaving on Wednesday 15 February, with prebooking essential. Tickets cost £40, with the workshops each lasting three hours.
10th Century Traders returns from Friday 17 to Sunday 19 February at the Merchant Adventurer’s Hall – a great opportunity to meet traders from all over the Viking world, and pick up Viking goods from stunning trinkets to battle-ready armour!
The Helen Thirza Addyman Lecture, which takes place on Wednesday 15 February. Jonathan Shepart will talk about Silver, Slaves and Yorkshire, looking at how York relates to silver found in hoards across the Baltic Rim. The lecture takes place at JORVIK Viking Centre with a limited number of in-person tickets available for £15, or can be streamed online for just £6.
For anyone not able to get into York, JORVIK Viking Festival’s online sister, That JORVIK Viking Thing, will take place again over the same week, with a host of pre-recorded and live content available to be screened across the globe!
A host of venues across the city are also hosting events that are part of the JORVIK Viking Festival Fringe, including the York premiere of Mythos: Ragnarok at York Barbican. Weaving ancient myths, legends and folk tales into original pieces of theatre, Mythos uses professional wrestlers to make some of the most intense and thrilling fight scenes in the history of theatre! The show takes place on the evening of Friday 17 February 2023.
For more information on all of the events at this year’s JORVIK Viking Festival, please visit jorvikvikingfestival.co.uk. Tickets can also be ordered on the telephone by calling 01904 615505 during opening hours.
