THE tents are pitched, the armour is polished and the stage is set for an invasion of about 60,000 Viking enthusiasts in York.
The Jorvik Viking Festival will take over York city centre for the next week, with battle re-enactments, workshops and educational talks aplenty.
The festival runs until February 27, to recognise the different half-term holidays of nearby counties to enable more families to attend.
Tickets have sold out for some events, including Freya’s Banquet on Friday evening and the son-et-lumière ‘Battle Spectacular at Folkvangr Fields’, but tickets will be available each day for have-a-go activities.
Gareth Henry, event manager, said: “We’re hoping that this milder weather will encourage more people than ever before to venture out and explore our Viking encampment in Parliament Street, watch the entertainment on the stage in St Sampson’s Square, or even have a go at sword-fighting in our workshops at Spark:York.”
The festival is organised by York Archaeological Trust, the charity behind the world-famous Jorvik Viking Centre.
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