York braced for Viking invasion

The seafaring exploits of the Vikings will be celebrated as York marks its Viking heritage in the 24th annual JORVIK Viking Festival from Wednesday 18th to Sunday 22nd February 2009.

The five-day long festival is the largest event of its kind in the UK, attracting over 40,000 visitors from around the world, many from the Scandinavian countries who come to participate in the various events. The Festival celebrates Viking crafts, song, storytelling, seafaring and battle tactics.

Says Sarah Maltby, Director of Attractions at York Archaeological Trust, who organise the Festival, With over 40 different events taking place throughout the city, and over 200 Vikings walking the streets, the 2009 JORVIK Viking Festival promises a spectacle like no other. From Viking battles to a best beard competition, from have-a-go sword combat to poetry and song, the Festival exposes the softer side of the Vikings as well as their fearsome fighting reputation.

York Archaeological Trust, who own and operate the JORVIK Viking Centre and stage the annual Viking Festival, are also opening up Hungate, the largest archaeological excavation in York for 25 years, to visitors during the Festival.

Says Hungate Excavations Project Director Peter Connelly, Visitors will be able to go down to the Hungate dig, meet our archaeologists and hear about the latest Viking finds which are providing us with new insights into the Vikings who lived in this part of York.

Highlights of the five-day festival include:

- Coppergate at sea daily: an opportunity to meet the commander of a Viking Longship and hear tales of the sea told through ancient poems. Children can have a go at paddling a coracle and digging for buried Viking coins.

- The Vikings will be demonstrating their crafts, cooking and way of life in the daily living history exhibition.

- Literary presentations include an action-packed performance of Bonebreaker from award-winning childrens author Peter J Murray (Wed 18th 2.00pm); a talk on the making of the TV series Time Team with presenter Mick Aston (Wed 18th 7.30pm); and an atmospheric retelling of the oldest story in the English language Beowulf with master storyteller Hugh Lupton and musician Rick Wilson (Fri 20th 8.00pm).

- Children can learn combat skills in the have-a-go sword fighting workshops (Wed 18th and Friday 20th 10.00am and 1.00pm); watch a special screening of Asterix and the Vikings (Fri 20th 11.30am); and discover the secrets of Viking poo (Sat 21st 11.00am).

- Special evening events include an exclusive behind the scenes tour of the JORVIK Viking Centre (Thurs 19th Feb 5.30pm); a night of Saga, Song and Scandinavian food in the medieval Barley Hall (Fri 20th Feb 8.00pm); and the highlight evening Viking battle with pyro and sound effects (Sat 21st 4.45pm).

- On Saturday 21st over 200 Viking and Anglo-Saxon warriors will gather in the Museum Gardens in the centre of York, where throughout the day there will be demonstrations of battle tactics, falconry displays and the Abbots Bromley Horn Dancers. At 4.00pm the warriors will gather and march through York before assembling for the ticket only battle finale and sound and light spectacular at the Eye of York.

The JORVIK Viking Festival takes place in York from Wednesday 18th to Sunday 22nd February 2009. Many of the events are free, whilst others carry a charge and should be booked in advance by calling the JORVIK Viking Festival, further details are available online at Jorvik-viking-centre.co.uk.