Stag burning at Jorvik Viking Festival. More fun and games this week. Picture: Charlotte Graham
A NEW Viking longship, a sword that never misses its target and recreations of the world’s largest fossilised poo take centre stage at Europe’s largest Viking Festival over half-term.
Five days of Norse fun, living history, hands-on combat and lectures culminate in a parade through the historic streets and two dramatic 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,” says programmer Gareth Henry, of York Archaeology, the charity that 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 will form the heart of the festival, taking over Parliament Street with an array of tents featuring craftsmen and traders and 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,” says 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.”
Festival highlights include the March to Coppergate on February 22, when more than 200 Vikings muster in Dean’s Park, next to York Minster, before making their way through the city streets to Coppergate in an event 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 February 21 and 22, the Eye of York 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 this piece of open-air theatre with a thrilling soundtrack, culminating in a fiery finale.
DIG, the sister attraction to the Jorvik Viking Centre, will play host to Poo Week, inspired by one of Jorvik’s most infamous exhibits, the Lloyds Bank Coprolite, the world’s largest fossilised Viking poo. Children can re-create poo, discovering how the composition of human excrement reveals so much about the person who passed it! Undigested seeds, bits of bone and revolting worms all feature in the re-creations.
The festival will 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 event. Budding teen artists can meet the card designer, Katie Smith, at an illustration workshop.
Jorvik Viking Festival week is the last chance to experience A Winter Adventure at Jorvik Viking Centre. A ride through Viking-age York is the centrepiece of this Norse winter wonderland, where the centre’s interactive Vikings tell stories of how their ancestors would have fared against a harsh winter. Be aware, tickets are likely to sell out in advance.
For more information on the 2025 festival and to book tickets, go to: jorvikvikingfestival.co.uk. Early booking is recommended as a number of events have sold out already.
The 2025 Jorvik Viking Festival programme
| Monday, February 17 Adult Crafting, Barley Hall Cafe, 10am to 1pm ENJOY a taste of Viking life with this hands-on leather-working workshop. Using traditional Viking tools, you will craft your very own leather bracers and perhaps discover a new hobby along the way. Suited for adults, these beginner-friendly sessions offer a glimpse into Viking life. With limited spots available, advance booking is recommended. Tickets: £40 per person Age restrictions: 16+ only. Workshop is aimed at beginners. Encampment, Parliament Street, 10.30am to 4.30pm THE Vikings have taken over York city centre. Snap some selfies as you watch them in action, from woodworking to making stunning jewellery. Try your hand at Viking games through lively demonstrations, and even have your face painted to look like a true Norse warrior. Visit Parliament Street or St Sampson’s Square to experience the excitement up close and catch a glimpse of Viking life right in the heart of the city. Tickets: Free of charge. Age restrictions: None. Kids Crafting, Barley Hall, 10am to 4pm LET your little Vikings unleash their creativity with these crafting activities! They can make Buzz Bones — just like Viking children did — to create a fun buzzing sound (some things never change). From crafting their own shields and weaving braids to painting pottery, there is plenty to keep them busy. They can even create their own Viking beard! Why not enter their masterpiece in our Best Beard Competition for a chance to win? Tickets: Free with Barley Hall admission. Age restrictions: No, but most suited to children aged four to 12. Berserker Boot Camp, Midgard Marquee, Parliament Street, 10.30am to 4.30pm PREPARE your little Vikings ready for battle at the Berserker Bootcamp! Led by Jorvik’s seasoned warriors, children will learn the art of combat with wooden swords, by axe-throwing, and will finish by training in the fearsome shield wall. Don’t worry, Norse health and safety keeps it all safe and fun. This activity is a great way to let young warriors experience the thrill of Viking battle training. This is a drop-in activity, so no need to pre-book for this ideal preparation for the Kids Barbaric Battle event on Saturday. Tickets: £10 per person. Age restrictions: Suitable for ages five to 12 only. Tryggvi Treehammer’s Top Trumps Trail Across the city centre, 10.30am to 4.30pm TRYGGVI Treehammer has set up a Viking Trail, across the city of York. Follow in his footsteps by visiting the Jorvik Viking Centre, Barley Hall, DIG, the Midgard Marquee and festival information point on St Sampson’s Square. Collect special stamps along the wayto earn an exclusive Top Trumps card that’s a perfect addition to the new Jorvk Top Trumps set, making its debut at the festival. And the best part? Gathering stamps and completing the trail is completely free! Tickets: Free. Age restrictions: None. Poo Week DIG Lunch Room, 11am to 4pm IT’S smelly, it’s squelchy, and it’s a highlight of the festival calendar! Believe it or not, poo can reveal plenty about our past! Bring the children to DIG to discover why archaeologists are fascinated by this unexpected treasure. Children will have the chance to create their own replica fossilized poo, inspired by the famous Lloyds Bank Turd at Jorvik Viking Centre. Tickets: Free with a DIG tour ticket. Age restrictions: No, but most suited to children aged four. Adult Crafting Barley Hall Cafe, 2pm to 5pm SEE details above. Tickets: £40 per person. Age restrictions: 16+ only. Workshop is aimed at beginners. Jorvik, Immersive Theatre, Old York Theatre, Barley Hall Great Hall, 6pm to 7pm and 7:30pm to 8:30pm “Eoforwic has fallen. Today is the day that will impact this city for the rest of time. We may not be here for long, but our legacy will stand.” Jorvik is an immersive play set directly in the aftermath of the fall of Eoforwic to the Great Viking Army and its rebirth as Jorvik. Old York Theatre lean heavily on the Viking mythos, rejoicing in the fantastical, delivered with the spirit of larger-than-life storytelling as Ubbe, soaked in the blood of battle, finds himself at a great banquet in his honour. However, in this mysterious throne room,not all is as it seems. Jorvik is a play about loss, glory, family and celebrating life while we are still around to enjoy it. Expect big characters, song, fights and plenty of table banging. Tickets: £20 per person. Age restrictions: 16+ Tuesday, February 18 Adult Crafting Barley Hall Cafe 10am to 1pm Step into the world of Viking craftsmanship with these hands-on Nalebinding sessions. Make your own Viking hats and socks with this historical technique, one that uses the Norse method of knitting with one needle. Suitable for adults, these beginner-friendly sessions offer a glimpse into Viking life. With limited spots available, booking in advance is advised to secure your place. Tickets: £40 per person. Age restrictions: 16+ only. Workshop is aimed at beginners. Poo Week DIG Lunch Room 11am to 4pm SEE details on February 17. Encampment Parliament Street 10.30am to 4.30pm.- 16:30pm SEE details on February 17. Kids Crafting Barley Hall, 10am to 4pm SEE details on February 17. Berserker Boot Camp Midgard Marquee, Parliament Street, 10.30am to 4.30pm SEE details on February 17. Tryggvi Treehammer’s Top Trumps Trail Across the city centre 10:30am -16:30pm SEE details on February 17. Adult Crafting Barley Hall Cafe, 2pm to 5pm SEE details above. Rum Tasting with Villains Rum at Barley Hall Barley Hall Great Hall, 7.30pm to 8.30pm/9pm JOIN Villains Rum of York for an unforgettable evening in the historic setting of Barley Hall, for the launch of the new seasonal Queen Gunnhildr Honey Rum. This exclusive tasting event features five signature villain-inspired rums, alongside an introduction to the legend of Queen Gunnhildr with expert Alex Ibbott on hand to answer questions to those intrigued to know more. Adding to the atmosphere, a Villains Rum tour guide will deliver captivating stories of the infamous figures behind each rum from Erik Bloodaxe to Guy Fawkes. The evening includes: a welcome drink to start your villainous journey; tasting experience of five Villains Rums, including the new Queen Gunnhildr Honey Rum; a 50ml miniature of Queen Gunnhildr Honey Rum — Limited Edition miniature, not available for general sale. Tickets: £35 per person. Age restrictions: 18+. Jorvik Viking Festival Feast Merchant Adventurers’ Hall, 7pm to 11pm CELEBRATE the end of a long winter with an unforgettable candlelit dining experience at the historic Merchant Adventurers’ Hall. Gather for a three-course feast inspired by traditional Viking fare, with live entertainment and epic tales from the past that will transport you to another era. For the first time, the Festival Feast will feature both the Best Dressed Viking and Best Beard Contest. All are welcome to enter: attire can be authentic or a new twist and beards can be natural or proudly homemade. Prizes for both competitions will be awarded on the night. Tickets: £95 per person Age restrictions: 18+. Wednesday, February 19 Adult Crafting Barley Hall Cafe, 10am to 1pm DIVE into the past at hands-on Viking pottery workshops. This beginner-friendly workshop uses hand-building techniques (not the wheel-thrown pottery you may have tried before) to create your own unique piece to take home – a treasure worthy of any Viking hoard. With limited spots available, booking in advance s advised.Tickets: £40 per person. Age restrictions: 16+ only. Workshop is aimed at beginners Poo Week DIG Lunch Room, 11am to 4pm. SEE February 17 for details. :The Haunting Of Fortune Farm with Sophie Kirtley York Explore Library (Mariott Room), Library Square, York, 1.30pm to 3pm AFTER releasing her new Viking-themed novel, Sophie Kirtley, best-selling children’s author of The Wild Way Home and The Way To Impossible Island, discusses the inspiration for Edie’s mysterious adventure and what it’s like to write stories for a living. You can ask Sophie your questions, buy her new book and have it signed,Tickets: £5 for children (with a free accompanying adult), £5 extra adults, under-fives free. Pre-booking is essential. Age restrictions: Recommended for ages seven to 11. Encampment Parliament Street, 10.30am to 4.30pm SEE February 17 for details. Kids Crafting Barley Hall, 10am to 4pm SEE February 17 for details. Berserker Boot Camp Midgard Marquee, Parliament Street, 10.30am to 4.30pm SEE February 17 for details. Tryggvi Treehammer’s Top Trumps Trail Across the city centre, 10.30am to 4.30pm SEE February 17 for details. Adult Crafting Barley Hall Cafe, 2pm to 5pm SEE above for details. Mead Tasting Barley Hall Great Hall, 7pm to 9pm DISCOVER Discover your new favourite drink! Join the award-winning Lancashire Mead Company as they introduce you to the Vikings’ drink of choice: mead. Learn about the cultural and historical significance of this honey-based beverage, cherished not only by the Vikings but throughout the Middle Ages and into the 21st century! Sample a variety of delicious meads, paired with tasty nibbles, and soak up the atmosphere in the Great Hall. Skål! Tickets: £35 per person. Age restrictions: 18+. Thursday, February 20 Poo Week DIG Lunch Room, 11am to 4pm SEE February 17 for details. Encampment Parliament Street, 10.30am to 4.30pm SEE February 17 for details. Kids Crafting Barley Hall, 10am to 4pm SEE February 17 for details. Berserker Boot Camp Midgard Marquee, Parliament Street, 10.30am to 4.30pm SEE February 17 for details. The Art of Illustration Workshop Barley Hall cafe, 11am and 2pm JOIN illustrator Katie Smith for an exclusive event where she will share insights into her creative process, discussing how she designed the artwork for the new Vikings Top Trumps cards. The event will begin with an introductory talk, followed by a 45-minute drawing workshop, where Katie will guide participants in creating their own Top Trumps character using simple drawing techniques. Whether you are an aspiring illustrator or a Top Trumps fan, Katie’s expert tips will help you draw a character to take home with you. Additionally, attendees will be gifted a limited-edition Viking Top Trumps card, designed by Katie for the workshop, which the artist will sign. This event is designed for teenagers interested in illustration, drawing or pursuing a career in the creative arts. Tickets: £10 per person, £5 concession. Age restrictions: Suitable for age 15 to 19. Tryggvi Treehammer’s Top Trumps Trail SEE February 17 for details. Helen Thirza Addyman Lecture: JORVIK Viking Centre At 40 National Centre for Early Music, Walmgate, York, 8pm to 9.45pm JORVIK first opened its doors to the public on Saturday, April 14 1984. Join Chris Tuckley, head of interpretation & learning at York Archaeology, for an entertaining look back at how this museum and tourist attraction came to be. The lecture incorporates a screening of Jorvik Viking Centre At 40, a new documentary film that combines interviews with the original Jorvik project team and archival footage to explore the extraordinary circumstances of Jorvik’s creation. Tickets: £12, £10 concession/Friends of YAT. Age restrictions: None. Unfeasibly Large DnD with Johnny Chiodini Barley Hall, 7pm to 9pm STEP into an epic adventure with Dungeon Master Johnny Chiodini for a Viking-inspired game of Dungeons & Dragons like no other! With 34 players, six characters and one wild, unpredictable story, anything can happen. What’s in store? Who knows – so why not roll the dice and find out! This new addition to the festival promises chaotic fun, whether you are a seasoned D&D player or starting out. Is D&D designed for this many players? Probably not, but that will be all part of the excitement! Ready to roll a Nat 20? Book your place today! Tickets: £25 per person. Age restrictions: 18+. Friday, February 21 Poo Week DIG Lunch Room, 11am to 4pm SEE February 17 for details. 10th Century Traders Merchant Adventurers’ Hall, 10am to 4.30pm STEP into 10th century York as it takes over the Merchant Adventurers’ Hall. Meet traders from across the Viking world and explore a vibrant market filled with treasures. Discover hand-crafted weaponry, authentic jewellery, drinking horns and much more. Tickets: adults £5.50; concessions £4.50; family of four £15; re-enactors £3 (with valid reenactment group card). Age restrictions: None. Encampment Parliament Street. 10.30am to 4.30pm SEE February 17 for details. Kids Crafting Barley Hall, 10am to 4pm SEE February 17 for details. Berserker Boot Camp Midgard Marquee, Parliament Street, 10.30am to 4.30pm SEE February 17 for details. Tryggvi Treehammer’s Top Trumps Trail Across the city centre, 10:30am to 4.30pm SEE February 17 for details. Go on an adventure with Johnny Chiodini Travelling Man, 11am to 12 noon; 12.12pm to 1.15pm; 2pm to 3pm; 3.15pm to 4.15pm JOHNNY Chiodini, Dungeon Master of the Oxventure Dungeons & Dragons series on YouTube, guides you through the mysterious Mythic North. In this thrilling one-shot, you will face strange beings and twisted creatures that dwell in the shadows. Inspired by Nordic folklore, Vaesen is an award-winning tabletop RPG that brings dark legends to life. Tickets: £10 per person. Age restrictions: None. Mead Cocktails and Sagas Barley Hall Great Hall, 7pm to 9pm RAISE a horn with Nidhogger Mead Company for an evening of cocktails and Viking sagas. You may know a Mojito or an Old Fashioned, but have you ever tasted a mead cocktail? Each drink is inspired by a Viking saga, brought to life by the festival’s talented Skald. Be warned: if the mead makes you too merry, you might just become part of the story! Skål! Tickets: £35 per person. Age restrictions: 18+. Evening Spectacular: Tyrfing. The Cursed Sword, Eye Of York, 7.30pm to 8.30pm BE guided into a world with a chance encounter between a king and two dwarves that leads to the forging of a magical sword – but not all is at it seems. The sword is named Tyrfing and it possesses formidable powers. It can cut through rock and iron as easily as cloth or flesh. The bearer of the sword will always defeat his opponent. However, this mighty blade also carries a terrible curse. Each time it is drawn, it must taste blood. Someone must die, and it will cause three evil deeds to be done. It will destroy those who wield it and cause great suffering! Join Time Will Tell Theatre to journey into the heart of a Viking myth with trickery, beauty, death and curses. This event sells out every year, so second performance is being added to enable more people to experience this show- stopping spectacular to finish their festival week. Tickets: adults £20; concessions (senior 60+/child aged three to 16) £15; under threes free. Age restrictions: None. Saturday, February 22 Archaeology On Prescription Pop-up Exhibition DIG Classroom, 10am to 5pm CELEBRATE the achievements of the Archaeology On Prescription programme in a showcase of fascinating discoveries from the winter programme. Be hands-on with artefacts and finds unearthed during the excavation at Willow House and delve into the secrets of the post-excavation process. Hear captivating stories from project participants and uncover the rich history of the people who once called this area home. Tickets: N/A. Age restrictions: None. 10th Century Traders Merchant Adventurers’ Hall, 10am to 4.30pm SEE February 21 for details. Encampment Parliament Street, 10.30am to 4.30pm SEE February 17 for details. Kids Crafting Barley Hall, 10am to 4pm SEE February 17 for details. Berserker Boot Camp Midgard Marquee, Parliament Street, 10.30am to 4.30pm SEE February 17 for details. Tryggvi Treehammer’s Top Trumps Trail Across the city centre, 10.30am to 4.30pm SEE February 17 for details. Kids Barbaric Battle Eye of York, 10.30am to 11am and 11.30am to 12 noon EVERY Viking remembers their first battle. Now comes the turn of your little warrior in the new Kids Barbaric Battle. Up to 100 young fighters will step into the Eye of York to prove themselves worthy of Valhalla . This is a practice battle, so safety comes first: foam weapons, shields and equipment are all provided. Little Vikings aged under five will need an adult by their side on the battlefield. If you want to prepare children for combat, check out the Berserker Bootcamp workshops for the ultimate Viking training. Tickets: £5 per child (accompanying adults free). Age restrictions: Accompanying adult required for under fives; optional for under sevens. Viking Games Eye of York, 1.3pm to 2.30pm BACK by popular demand for 2025, two teams face off in the family-friendly Viking Games. Contestants battle it out in a test of strength, skill, cunning and wisdom with Odin as the referee. Expect combat, feats of endurance and laughs aplenty along the way. Please note, if you wish to participate in the March To Coppergate, you will not be able to join the Viking Games as it will already be under way. Tickets: adults £10 adults; concessions (Senior 60+/ children aged three to 16) £5; under threes free. Low income tickets: adults £5; concessions £2.50; under threes free. Age restrictions: None. March To Coppergate York Minster to Coppergate, 1.30pm to 2pm THE Viking March is a festival tradition like no other as Viking warriors parade through the city. Don’t miss your chance to experience their thunderous war cries echoing through the streets of York. Tickets: Free. Age restrictions: None. Evening Spectacular: Tyrfing. The Cursed Sword, Eye Of York, 7.30pm to 8.30pm SEE February 21 for details. |