Europe’s Largest Viking Festival Returns to York

I’ve always wanted to attend the Jorvik Viking Festival in York, but sadly never been. Looking at the information I was sent about this year’s event I’m again wishing I could be there, although sadly I can’t.

A new longship, a sword that never misses its target, and recreations of the world’s largest fossilised poo will be among the things on show from February 17 – 23. Not sure I really need to see the big poo, but everthing else sounds great.

Five days of living history, hands-on combat, lectures, and the chance to drink mead culminate in a parade of 200 Viking re-enactors through the streets of York, and two evening son-et-lumière shows. 

“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,” said 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 and 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.”

Highlights of the festival include a march to Coppergate on Saturday 22 February, which sees a column of Vikings mustering in Dean’s Park, next to York Minster, before making their way through the city streets to Coppergate. This is free to watch from vantage points along the route. The paraders join the Viking Games at the Eye of York, next to Clifford’s Tower. After this is an epic battle between rival factions.

On Friday 21 and Saturday 22 February, the Eye of York also hosts the Evening Spectacular, a 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 events takes place at Dig, the sister attraction to the  Jorvik Viking Centre. One of Jorviks’s most infamous exhibits is the Lloyds Bank Coprolite – the world’s largest fossilised Viking poo. During Poo Week, children can recreate their 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 worms all feature in the recreations!

For more information on all the events that form part of this year’s Jorvik Viking Festival, and to book tickets, visit jorvikvikingfestival.co.uk. 

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