Jorvik Viking Festival comes to York

The exhilarating spectacular that is the Jorvik Viking Festival is coming to town for its 22nd year. The Festival, which will run from 14th – 18th February, has become something of an institution in York, attracting crowds in excess of 40,000 visitors every year.

With nearly 100 events or activities taking place over the five-day period, the Festival caters for audiences of all ages and abilities. What’s more, many of the activities are free of charge. You can wonder through the Viking market, meet the Vikings of Coppergate, chat to archaeologists about the latest excavation finds in the city, take part in a Viking battle drill, join organised walks and explore York’s Scandinavian past, and youngsters can get involved in activities with local theatre education group, Risky Things.

Other highlights, some of which require pre-booking, include:

WEDNESDAY 14TH FEBRUARY – FAMILY DAY!
The Great Jorvik Balloon Release - 11am, Coppergate Square
A cloud of colourful balloons will be released into the sky to celebrate the launch of the Festival.
Noggin Goes North – a screening of Noggin the Nog - 6pm, City Screen, Coney Street.
The creators of Noggin the Nog, Peter Firmin and Oliver Postgate, will be guests of honour and will introduce this very special screening of Noggin the Nog’s finest moments.

THURSDAY 15TH FEBRUARY - COMBAT DAY!
Combat Through the Ages! – 10.30am – 1pm, 1.30pm – 4pm, Festival Marquee, St Sampson’s Square.
See a display of weapons from the movies with Magnus the Armourer and live presentations of combat through the ages by the warriors of the Royal Armouries, including an appearance by fully armoured medieval knights.

FRIDAY 16TH FEBRUARY – VIKING ARTS DAY!
Arty Adventures with the Vikings – 10.30am – 1pm, 1.30pm – 4pm, Festival Marquee, St Sampson’s Square.

You are invited to help construct a giant work of art, which recreates a Viking settlement and see the traditional craft of willow weaving and create your own masterpiece, or even work on a musical instrument.
Are you a Viking? Festival Keynote Lecture, ‘Women West over the Sea’ – 7pm, Tempest Anderson Hall, Museum Gardens.

Professor Judith Jesch of the University of Nottingham and the Viking Identities Network will talk about the transplantation of the Scandinavian language, culture, religion and genes to the islands of Britain and the North Atlantic.

Erik the Viking - Big Screen Vikings! – 8.15pm/8.45pm start, City Screen, Coney Street. In the company of the great Terry Jones and his fim-maker son, Bill Jones, the brand new version of Erik the Viking will be shown.

SATURDAY 17TH FEBRAURY – INVASION DAY!
The Trial of the Vikings – 10.30am – 4.30pm, Festival Marquee, St Sampson’s Square. A trial of strength competition will be launched to find the Viking Strong Man of 2007.

Festival Battle: Clash of Weapons – 2.30pm, Eye of York, by Clifford’s Tower. King Erik Bloodaxe of Northumbria and his men take on rivals for the throne.

Festival Battle: Light and Sound Spectacular! The final battle of Erik Bloodaxe – 7.30pm, Eye of York, by Clifford’s Tower
Witness Erik’s last hours in a spectacular evening battle with the warriors of Regia Anglorum.

SUNDAY 18TH FEBRUARY – INTERNATIONAL DAY!
International Vikings! – 11am – 3pm, Festival Marquee, St Sampson’s Square
See warriors from across the Viking wolrd put to the test in the Festival Trial of Strength.