Invitation to invasion (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Invitation to invasion

8:57am Monday 13th February 2012 in Days Out By Sue Ward

Visit York over the coming week and you may well find yourself face to face with several hundred Viking Warriors.

Starting today, Jorvik Viking Festival features more than 80 activities celebrating Viking heritage and giving an insight into the way the Norse warriors lived.

So what’s it all about? When York was under Viking rule 1,000 years ago, there were great celebrations in February to herald the coming of spring and the survival of long winter hardships.

These celebrations were largely forgotten until the 1980s, when York Archaeological Trust revived the festival the Vikings called Jolablot, creating what came to be the largest Viking Festival in Europe.

It has been going for 27 years, and each year it gets bigger, now attracting more than 40,000 visitors to York, with Viking re-enactors performing at more than 80 events for all ages – many of them free.

This is your chance to watch Norse warriors fight to the ‘death’ with their enemies, the Saxons, when Vikings from all over the world arrived in York, not only for ferocious and bloody battles, but also to enjoy dozens of specially-organised arts, music, drama and action events throughout the city and get some hands-on experience of what it was like to be a Viking.

Venues for the event include the Joseph Rowntree Theatre, the Tang Hall Library, the National Centre for Early Music and York Minster.

Highlights this year include a Viking wedding at York Minster on Wednesday, and a Viking banquet at the National Centre For Early Music two days later.

From children’s have-a-go sword combat to a living history and Viking craft fair, there will be something for all ages to enjoy, including a best Viking beard competition.

You can enjoy spectacular cultural events from specially-commissioned theatrical performances and music, hands-on combat training and see some of the much-talked-about archaeological discoveries first hand at the Hungate excavations.

The sights and sounds of Vikings in battle will ring out through York next Saturday as the city’s week-long festival reaches a spectacular climax.

Thousands of visitors will gather on the Knavesmire in the evening to see the burning of a Viking long-boat, followed by a fireworks display.

Earlier in the day there will be a Viking march through the centre of York following a crowd-thrilling battle in Museum Gardens.

Also next Saturday, you can join mighty warriors as they compete against one another in a range of challenging tests of strength to win the Jorvik Amazing Strongman trophy. Cheer for your favourite and perhaps get some ‘war wounds’ of your own from the special-effects make-up team.

Visitors can fill any gaps in proceedings by just strolling around the city. Places like the Minster, Barley Hall, the Shambles and York Museum are tourist magnets, but there are some which may be less well-known, but still worth a visit.

Holy Trinity Church is one of York’s finest medieval churches, where the ghost of Percy Thomas, Earl of Northumberland, is said to wander in the secret garden of tranquillity in search of his head.

If you decide to take a walk along the city walls, a good starting point is Micklegate Bar Museum, described as one of York’s best-kept secrets.

Keeping watch over the city for more than 800 years, the Bar has served a number of important roles since it was built in the 12th century, including being the main point of entry through which a reigning monarch enters the city.

Younger members of the family will enjoy Wizard Week, a week of spells, tricks and mischief at the National Railway Museum until February 19.

Attractions include the steam star from the Harry Potter films, all-action wizard duels, broomstick-flying trick photography, a best-dressed wizard competition, ‘science of magic’ shows and owls on display.

Factfile:

* The Jorvik Viking Festival runs from today until Sunday, February 19.

* Festival Of Fire Finale! at York Knavemire is on Saturday, February 18. Doors open at 5pm.

* The Amazing Strongman competition is at York Guildhall, 10am-12.30pm. Admission is free but there is a small charge for the special-effects make-up.

* For more information, ring (01904) 615505 or visit jorvik-viking-centre.co.uk