32nd JORVIK Viking Festival Programme | 15th to 21st February 2016

Recognised as the the largest event of its kind in Europe, the 32nd JORVIK Viking Festival is a citywide celebration of York’s rich Norse heritage.

Join us in 2016 for a week-long commemoration of the millennial anniversary of the crowning of Canute, the Viking warrior who rose to become not just King of England but ruler of a North Sea Empire!

Discover more about Canute online at www.jorvik-viking-festival.co.uk/canute

With an exciting programme of over 100 events inspired by the Viking monarch; including living history encampments, hands-on sword fighting workshops, crafting, music, walks, talks and of course dramatic combat performances, there is sure to be something for everyone this February Half Term!

Use this guide to plan your perfect Viking Festival experience and be sure to share your festival memories using Social Media: Facebook “f ” Logo

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Festival Venues Use the map opposite to explore the venues and outdoor spaces involved in this year’s JORVIK Viking Festival.

1 Barley Hall 2 Clifford’s Tower 3 Coppergate / JORVIK Viking Centre 4 Dean’s Park 5 DIG 6 Explore Acomb Library 7 Explore Clifton Library 8 Explore Haxby Library 9 Explore York Learning Centre 10 Eye of York 11 King’s Manor 12 Merchant Adventurers’ Hall 13 Merchant Taylors’ Hall 14 Parliament Street 15 Richard III Experience at Monk Bar 16 Royal Oak 17 St Helen’s Church 18 York Guildhall

Booking Tickets for JORVIK Viking Festival As you go through this guide you will see that some of the events taking place during the festival are ‘pre-booking advised’ - this means that they are ticketed events with limited numbers.

We recommend that you book as many events in advance as possible as we cannot guarantee availability on the day.

How to Book Tickets The quickest and most efficient way to buy your tickets is online: www.jorvik-viking-festival.co.uk/tickets Of course if you have any questions, or would like to speak to a member of staff before booking, please call our Festival Box Office on 01904 615505, which is staffed 9am to 5pm Monday to Sunday.

Explore King Canute’s Impact All Year

Don’t forget to visit the home of Vikings in York, JORVIK Viking Centre, during your festival adventure.

Throughout 2016 JORVIK will play host to a series of special installations exploring the legacy of Canute the Great, Viking King of England and ruler of the North Sea Empire.

Opening Times: 10am to 5pm (last admission)

Discover all at

www.jorvik-viking-centre.co.uk

MONDAY 15TH FEBRUARY Coppergate Camp

10:00 - 16:00 | Coppergate Square | FREE The Vikings have invaded Coppergate and set up camp as they did over 1,000 years ago!

Meet our seafaring Norsemen and women to learn about their lives at sea and hear fascinating stories from Viking merchants who trade goods across the globe. Plus, make an appointment to meet the Cunning Woman, who will be prescribing Viking-Age cures for aches, pains and grisly war wounds!

City Camp & Animal Steading

10:00 - 16:00 | Parliament Street | FREE (Storytelling 11:00, 13:00, 15:00) The Viking invasion continues in the heart of the bustling city of York See a longship kitted out for war, discover the animals the Vikings reared in the city at their Steading, then gather in the Story Tent to hear exciting tales about the famous King Canute!

Meet the Experts: Hidden Vikings

10:00 - 12:00 & 13:00 - 15:00 | Barley Hall Normal admission prices apply Recent radiocarbon data studies of remains found in ‘lost’ cemeteries here in York have revealed evidence of Viking-Age burials.

Join us at Barley Hall to hear more about the techniques used to make these discoveries and look at some of the artefacts left behind by our Norse ancestors. These are informal sessions and require no prior knowledge.

Little Diggers: Visiting Vikings

10:00 - 11:00 | DIG £3.50 per child (includes one accompanying adult) Canute and his Viking army are invading DIG for the whole week!

Come along for a special story and play session, aimed at children aged 2-5, to help our warriors dig for lost Viking finds and rummage through a Viking loot bag! Are you brave enough to join Canute’s army on their mission to conquer England?

Limited places available, pre-booking advised.

Craft & Play the Viking Way!

10:30 – 16:00 | Parliament Street Marquee FREE ENTRY (small charge for some activities) Try your hand at a range of fun & historical crafts, games, competitions and activities in our marquee dedicated to all things creative!

Have a go at making a Viking pot, try out willow weaving, beading, braiding and rune stamping. You can also DIG for Viking treasure, learn how to play Hnefatafl, design & make a festival badge or tee shirt and much more!

Have-a-go Sword Combat

10:30, 11:30, 13:30, 14:30, 15:30 | Merchant Adventurers’ Hall £3.50 per child A chance for younger Vikings to get a taste for the art of sword fighting!

Prepare for battle; will you fight for the great Viking warrior Canute or the Anglo-Saxon hero Edmund Ironside? Instructed by Viking warriors, combatants are sure to enjoy this fun workshop of battle skills.

This event is always popular, so pre-book early to avoid disappointment.

Combat Arena: King Harald Bluetooth Vs Sweyn Forkbeard - The Battle For Denmark!

11:00 & 14:00 | York Guildhall | Adult £3.50 Conc. £2.50 An epic battle, pitting father against son, for the right to rule the Danes!

Legend, and some historical sources have it that King Harald was usurped by his son, Sweyn Forkbeard, who stood accused of being a rebellious pagan who betrayed his father. Can you decide who will come out on top of this tussle for power between Canute’s father and grandfather?!

Pre-booking is advised for this dynastic clash.

Viking Warrior Challenge for Children

12:00 – 16:00 | DIG | Normal admission prices apply Test your strength and dexterity with a series of Viking themed games and challenges.

The overall winner at the end of the week will receive a prize pack of goodies! Plus, watch out for special appearances through the week from competitors appearing at Brawl at the Guildhall: The Strongest Viking Competition on Saturday 21st!

Festival Walking Tour

13:00 | Departs from The Richard III Experience at Monk Bar Adult £4.50 Conc. £3.50 A wise monarch once said: ‘the history of York is the history of England.’

Discover just how true this statement is when you join the walking tour of the city. Expect Romans, Georgians, Victorians and, of course, Vikings.

Walk lasts approx 1 hour. Please dress accordingly for the weather, be prepared to walk long distances and up steps as you follow York’s fascinating history. Pre-booking advised.

Mace to the Face

14:30 | York Council Chambers (Guildhall) Adult £4.50 Conc. £3.50 Human anatomist Emma Halpin-Durband focuses on the harrowing effects of blunt force trauma on medieval combatants.

Using a mix of modern injuries contrasted with archaeological remains from the Middle Ages discover how often overlooked weapons including maces, hammers and axes were used on the battlefield and the devastating effects they could have when wielded with skill.

The lecture will contain graphic images of modern wounds and trauma and as such is not suitable for young children or those of a nervous disposition. Pre-booking advised.

Festival Folk at Barley Hall: Ray Cooper

19:00 | Barley Hall | Adult £14.50 Conc. £12.50 Now a Festival tradition; legendary folk musician and singer songwriter Ray Cooper will be returning to the atmospheric candlelit setting of Barley Hall following a recent tour of Bavaria with his orchestra.

Ray’s material is influenced both by his Scottish heritage and his adopted homeland of Sweden. Always a favourite during JORVIK Viking Festival; make sure you book your tickets early as these performances are always sell outs.

Supporting Ray will be York-based folk duo, To the Blue.

This is a fundraising event for York Archaeological Trust.

TUESDAY 16TH FEBRUARY Coppergate Camp

10:00 - 16:00 | Coppergate Square | FREE Please see listing from Monday 15th February for details.

City Camp & Animal Steading

10:00 - 16:00 | Parliament Street | FREE (Storytelling 11:00, 13:00, 15:00 daily) Please see listing from Monday 15th February for details.

Meet the Experts: Rediscovering Ancient Landscapes

10:00 - 12:00 & 13:00 - 15:00 | Barley Hall Normal admission prices apply A chance to find out how digital modelling can help us look at landscapes lost to time.

Discover the latest 3D and digital modelling techniques used by archaeologists for recording earthwork monuments, including aerial laser surveys (Lidar).

Buy your festival tickets now:

To pre-book events please call 01904 615505 www.jorvik-viking-festival.co.uk/tickets or visit www.jorvik-viking-festival.co.uk/tickets or call 01904 615505

Little Diggers: Norse Songs & Games

10:00 - 11:00 | DIG £3.50 per child (includes one accompanying adult) We’ll be making lots of music at DIG with this raucous session of fun and festivity!

See what Viking parties would have been like, join in with the songs and games of old to celebrate Canute’s coronation and party like it’s 1016.

This session is suitable for children 2-5 years. Due to limited places pre-booking is advised.

Craft & Play the Viking Way!

10:30 – 16:00 | Parliament Street Marquee FREE (small charge for some activities) Please see listing from Monday 15th February for details.

Have-a-go Sword Combat

10:30, 11:30, 13:30, 14:30, 15:30 | Merchant Adventurers’ Hall £3.50 per child Please see listing from Monday 15th February for details.

Combat Arena: The Gruesome Murders of Sigeferth and Morcar by the Devious Eadric Streona

11:00 & 14:00 | York Guildhall | Adult £3.50 Conc. £2.50 The dastardly Earl of Mercia, Eadric Streona, is up to his usual dark tricks and is definitely not to be trusted…

It is the year 1015 and Eadric invites brothers, Sigeferth and Morcar, to a meeting - but all is not what it seems. Soon the brothers meet a grisly end. Which begs the question; is Eadric really loyal to the Saxon cause or is his reputation as a turncoat justified?

Pre-booking advised, you don’t want to miss all the plotting!

Viking Warrior Challenge for Children

12:00 – 16:00 | DIG | Normal admission prices apply Please see listing from Monday 15th February for details.

Festival Walking Tour

13:00 | Departs from The Richard III Experience at Monk Bar Adult £4.50 Conc. £3.50 Please see listing from Monday 15th February for details.

Vikings in Your Vocabulary - with Richard Dance & Sara Pons-Sanz

14:30 | York Council Chambers (Guildhall) Adult £4.50 Conc. £3.50 The lasting legacy of the Vikings is all around us, in our words...

These words, from their native tongue, Old Norse, became part of the evolving English language, with many still being spoken every

day - think of ‘egg’, ‘law’, ‘sky’, ‘window’ and even ‘they’! This enlightening talk will explore the words, how we know about them and trace their journey to the present day; including the part they play in the distinctive vernacular of the North of England.

Places are limited, so pre-booking is recommended to avoid disappointment.

Richard Dance is Reader in Early English at the University of Cambridge & Sara Pons-Sanz is Senior Lecturer in English Language at the University of Westminster.

In Praise of King Canute: Norse poetry from England The Helen Thirza Addyman Lecture with Matthew Townend, University of York 19:00 | DIG | £6.50 (Friends of YAT £5.50) Canute’s conquest of England in 1016 brought major literary changes as well as political upheaval.

The Viking conqueror’s court in England became, for a period, the most important and flourishing centre for Scandinavian poetry anywhere in the Viking world, with Norse poets seeking out the king’s patronage.

Most of our contemporary sources for Canute’s conquest of England and his reign come from the Anglo-Saxon perspective but a remarkable body of Norse praise-poetry offers us a unique Scandinavian view on King Canute and his North Sea Empire. This lecture will explore the content, style, and ideology of the poetry composed in Canute’s honour.

Pre-Booking Essential Matthew Townend is Reader in English at the University of York. His most recent book is Viking Age Yorkshire (2014).

use to investigate and stabilise archaeological objects. From waterlogged organic materials like leather to metals, you will discover the procedures and treatments that allow important finds from the past to be displayed for the enjoyment of all.

Little Diggers: Dress Like A Viking

10:00 - 11:00 | DIG £3.50 per child (includes one accompanying adult) Step back in time over 1000 years and try out dressing like a Viking!

Will you be a fierce warrior like Canute, a rich queen like Emma of Normandy or a lowly Viking foot-soldier? Search through our Viking costume basket for your perfect outfit, learn how fabric is made and even have a go at creating your very own Viking brooch, fit for royalty.

This session is suitable for children 2-5 years. Due to limited places pre-booking is advised.

Norse Nålebinding Workshop (Beginners Class)

10:00 - 13:00 | DIG | £10.50 per person An exclusive opportunity to learn the ancient art of Norse nålebinding (knitting with one needle) with expert Mari Wickerts, of Gothenburg Museum.

Don’t worry if you have no experience, as this session is for complete beginners. All materials are provided, along with tea & coffee.

Pre-booking is necessary as places are limited.

Craft & Play the Viking Way!

WEDNESDAY 17TH FEBRUARY

10:30 – 16:00 | Parliament Street Marquee FREE (small charge for some activities) Please see listing from Monday 15th February for details.

Coppergate Camp

Have-a-go Sword Combat

10:00 - 16:00 | Coppergate Square | FREE Please see listing from Monday 15th February for details.

City Camp & Animal Steading

10:30, 11:30, 13:30, 15:30 | Merchant Adventurers’ Hall £3.50 per child Please see listing from Monday 15th February for details.

10:00 - 16:00 | Parliament Street | FREE (Storytelling 11:00, 13:00, 15:00 daily) Please see listing from Monday 15th February for details.

Meet the Experts: From Dig to Display – Archaeological Conservation 10:00 - 12:00 & 13:00 - 15:00 | Barley Hall Normal Admission Prices Apply Have you ever wondered how archaeological finds make their way from dig to display?

Join the Conservation team as they explain the techniques they

Buy your festival tickets now:

www.jorvik-viking-festival.co.uk/tickets or call 01904 615505

Combat Arena: Canute Vs Thorkell the Tall Apprentice Becomes Master!

11:00 & 14:00 | York Guildhall | Adult £3.50 Child £2.50 The Norse sagas tell tale of Canute being raised from a young boy by Viking brigands the Jomsvikings, under the stewardship of Thorkell the Tall, so called because he was, well...very tall!

The stories say that Thorkell joined Canute in his quest to claim England and remained loyal to the King - but how did Canute become such a fierce warrior and what happens when the apprentice becomes master?!

Pre-book to avoid disappointment.

Poo Day!

12:00 - 16:00 | DIG | Normal admission prices apply Visit DIG to learn about the muckier side of archaeology!

Have a go at making your very own replica historic poo and discover how poo is used to solve ancient mysteries.

Viking Warrior Challenge for Children

12:00 – 16:00 | DIG | Normal admission prices apply Please see listing from Monday 15th February for details.

Festival Walking Tour

13:00 | Departs from The Richard III Experience at Monk Bar | Adult £4.50 Conc. £3.50 Please see listing from Monday 15th February for details.

Thorfinn the Nicest Viking with David Macphail

14:00 | York Merchant Adventurers’ Hall | £7.50 per person You might think all Vikings are rough, tough, mean and smelly, but Thorfinn is no ordinary Viking!

Come along and meet the author behind the creation of the nicest Viking in children’s literature, David Macphail, who will be talking about his hilarious new series of books, how he transforms his ideas into stories and offering the chance to win the series.

Pre-booking is essential.

Norse Tablet Weaving Workshop (Beginners Class)

14:00 - 17:00 | Barley Hall | £10.50 per person A rare opportunity to discover the decorative textile craft of the Vikings, Tablet Weave.

Expert Mari Wickerts of Gothenburg Museum is offering complete beginners the opportunity to try out this traditional decorative skill used to adorn Viking clothing. All materials are provided, plus tea & coffee.

Pre-booking necessary as places are limited.

Coffin Fit - The Story of The Swinegate Skeletons

19:00 | JORVIK Viking Centre | Adult £14.50 Conc. £12.50 In 1990 a nearly complete wooden coffin was found during excavations at Back Swinegate, York.

This coffin was conserved as a rare survival from AngloScandinavian York and has very recently been reassembled, reunited with its occupant and placed on display at JORVIK. Join Conservator Steve Allen from York Archaeological Trust to discover more about the coffin, while Osteoarchaeologist Malin Holst will share what we’ve learnt from the skeleton.

Price includes a glass of wine and an exclusive after-hours tour of JORVIK, pre-booking advised.

THURSDAY 18TH FEBRUARY Coppergate Camp

10:00 - 16:00 | Coppergate Square | FREE Please see listing from Monday 15th February for details.

City Camp & Animal Steading

10:00 - 16:00 | Parliament Street | FREE (Storytelling 11:00, 13:00, 15:00 daily) Please see listing from Monday 15th February for details.

Meet the Experts: Bioarchaeology

10:00 - 12:00 & 13:00 - 15:00 | Barley Hall Normal admission prices apply Whether a king, like Canute, or a commoner, bioarchaeologists can tell a great deal about how people lived in the past by studying the rubbish left behind in their domestic waste.

Discover how bioarchaeologists can look at a bucket of mud from an 11th century midden and work out what foods people ate & how they cooked it, what animals they kept, how healthy they were, what jobs they did and even how they extended their houses.

Little Diggers: Norse Sagas & Stories

10:00 - 11:00 | DIG £3.50 per child (includes one accompanying adult) The legends of the Vikings come alive…

Join us for fun and games all themed around the stories of old. Meet our Viking skald, or storyteller, and get involved with songs and crafts exploring the world of Norse mythology and the epic tales of battles to win England.

This session is suitable for children 2-5 years. Due to limited places pre-booking is advised.

Norse Nålebinding Workshop (Advanced Masterclass) 10:00 - 13:00 | DIG | £10.50 per person An exciting opportunity for all advanced Nålebinders.

Come learn from expert Mari Wickerts of Gothenburg Museum how to produce your own Viking hats and socks using the traditional Norse nålebinding method – knitting with one needle.

This session is for advanced Nålebinders or those looking for a masterclass. All materials are provided, plus tea & coffee.

Pre-booking necessary as places are limited.

Craft & Play the Viking Way!

10:30 – 16:00 | Parliament Street Marquee FREE (small charge for some activities) Please see listing from Monday 15th February for details.

Have-a-go Sword Combat

10:30, 11:30, 13:30, 14:30, 15:30 | Merchant Adventurers’ Hall | £3.50 per child Please see listing from Monday 15th February for details.

Combat Arena: The Deadly Ambush of Earl Uhtred

by Thurbrand the Hold

11:00 & 14:00 | York Guildhall | Adult £3.50 Conc. £2.50 Who is Thurbrand the Hold, and will Uhtred make it to his audience with the Viking king?!

Earl Uhtred campaigns for Edmund Ironside in southern England, leaving his northern lands unprotected from the invading Vikings.

On giving homage to Canute as the King of England, Uhtred is summoned... but has the Dane been conniving?

There are too many questions to be answered, make sure you pre-book so you discover the truth.

Viking Warrior Challenge for Children

12:00 – 16:00 | DIG | Normal admission prices apply Please see listing from Monday 15th February for details.

Festival Walking Tour

13:00 | Departs from The Richard III Experience at Monk Bar | Adult £4.50 Conc £3.50 Please see listing from Monday 15th February for details.

Norse Tablet Weaving Workshop (Advanced Masterclass)

14:00 - 17:00 | DIG | £10.50 per person A new workshop for 2016 – enjoy a Tablet weaving master class.

All materials are provided, plus tea & coffee.

Pre-booking necessary as places are limited.

Buy your festival tickets now:

www.jorvik-viking-festival.co.uk/tickets or call 01904 615505

The Romance of the Sword

14:30 | York Council Chambers (Guildhall) Adult £4.50 Conc. £3.50 Martial arts instructor Christopher Halpin-Durband will explore our fascination with the sword and discover why it is so iconic.

This lecture will draw upon historical and literary sources to examine the use of the sword on and off the battlefield, examining how they were actually used in life and death situations by the owners as well as scrutinising the concept of the sword as a symbol.

Pre-booking advised.

Beowulf by Candlelight

19:30 | St Helen’s Church, York Adult £7.50 Conc. £5.50 Child £4.50 Following sell-out successes the wonderful Peter CarringtonPorter returns to JORVIK Viking Festival to perform his unforgettable Beowulf by Candlelight for the very last time.

A masterful modern adaptation of the poem, yet faithful to the original, Peter’s performance is a poetic, innovative and entertaining narrative epic taking us back to the mysterious world of Norse monsters and myths.

Don’t miss this last chance to see! Pre-booking advised.

FRIDAY 19TH FEBRUARY Coppergate Camp

10:00 - 16:00 | Coppergate Square | FREE Please see listing from Monday 15th February for details.

City Camp

10:00 - 16:00 | Parliament Street | FREE (Storytelling 11:00, 13:00, 15:00 daily) The Vikings have set up camp in the bustling centre of York!

See a Viking longship kitted out for war; witness historic Glima wrestling displays and gather in the Story Tent to hear tales about the famous King Canute!

Meet the Experts: Forensic Archaeology

10:00 - 12:00 & 13:00 - 15:00 | Barley Hall Normal admission prices apply In the medieval period people believed that a corpse would bleed when touched by the murderer. Fortunately today the police prefer to rely on forensic evidence to ensure that the correct person is apprehended.

Forensic archaeology and bioarchaeology play a significant part in helping detectives understand the sequence of events at a murder scene, how the victim died and how long ago it happened. Visit

Barley Hall to find out how the body and the environment around it can bear silent witness to a murder. Who needs to make the culprit touch the body now?!

Little Diggers: Valiant Viking Heroes

10:00 - 11:00 | DIG £3.50 per child (includes one accompanying adult) Could you have been a hero in Viking times?

This is your chance to meet King Canute and learn how to be a warrior! Learn all about a Viking’s armour and design your own magical weapon for use on the battlefield. Could you lead an army to victory?

This session is suitable for children 2-5 years. Due to limited places pre-booking is advised.

Historical Writing Masterclass with Justin Hill

10:00 - 13:00 | Council Chambers (Guildhall) Adult £15.50 Conc. £12.50 Put down your battle-axe and pick up your pen!

This three-hour workshop includes fun exercises to help you develop your style, such as creating a setting and building characters as well as giving you more confidence using engaging writing techniques.

About the Author Justin Hill is an award winning author with work spanning continents and historical periods. Until this summer, he ran the Undergraduate Creative Writing Programme at City University of Hong Kong Places are limited so pre-booking essential.

10th Century Traders

10:00 - 16:00 | Parliament Street Marquee & Merchant Adventurers’ Hall | Adult £2 Conc. £1.50 Family £5 Re-enactors 50p Don’t miss this superb atmospheric market, one of the oldest of its kind.

Vikings from around the world gather to sell their wares; including hand crafted weapons, beautiful jewellery, costume, chests, bowls, tankards, lanterns, belts, shoes and pottery.

Your admission ticket for 10th Century Traders covers both venues.

Have-a-go Sword Combat

10:30, 11:30, 13:30, 14:30, 15:30 | Merchant Adventurers’ Hall | £3.50 per child Please see listing from Monday 15th February for details.

Combat Arena: Canute Vs Edmund - Battle for all England!

11:00 & 14:00 | York Guildhall | Adult £3.50 Conc. £2.50 Join us for a Viking Vs Saxon showdown in the Combat Arena...

It is the year 1016 and after being forced back to Denmark by Edmund in 1014 the Viking warrior, Canute the Great, is back on English soil and determined to conquer - but first he has to overcome the ‘Ironside’ Edmund at the infamous battle of Assandun...

Pre-booking advised.

Kid’s Film Club Double Bill: How To Train Your Dragon & How To Train Your Dragon 2

13:00 | DIG £7 per person, children must be accompanied by an adult Hiccup, Toothless and friends invite you to discover a world of Vikings & Dragons!

A fabulously fun double bill of the brilliant How to Train Your Dragon films - fast becoming classics for kids and sure-fire crowd pleasers for this year’s festival - Interval will include refreshments and a fun dragon-related craft activity!

Pre-booking advised. Price includes fruit squash drink, haribo mini pack and take home craft activity for each child.

Festival Walking Tour

13:00 | Departs from The Richard III Experience at Monk Bar | Adult £4.50 Conc. £3.50 Please see listing from Monday 15th February for details.

Canute, the Wave and the Seeds of 1066

14:30 I York Council Chambers (Guildhall) I Adult £4.50 Conc. £3.50 Everyone knows about the Norman Conquest of 1066 but the Danish Conquest of England in 1016 is almost unheard of…

Join award-winning author, Justin Hill, in this engaging talk where he explains how the Norman Conquest would never have happened without Canute. He will also explore the legacy the Danes left in England and what this means for our national character.

Justin Hill’s latest novel, Shieldwall, first in the Conquest Trilogy, was a Sunday Times Book of the Year Pre-booking advised.

Beowulf by Candlelight

17:00 | St Helen’s Church, York £7.50 Adult, £5.50 Conc, £4.50 Child Please see listing from Thursday 18th February for details.

Buy your festival tickets now:

www.jorvik-viking-festival.co.uk/tickets or call 01904 615505

FRIDAY 19TH FEBRUARY

SATURDAY 20TH FEBRUARY

Ultimate Viking Banquet: The Betrothal of King Canute

Coppergate Camp

19:00 | Merchant Taylors’ Hall, York | £65.50 per person Join us for an absolutely unforgettable Viking dining experience in the atmospheric setting of York’s Merchant Taylors’ Hall Greeted by a torchlit Viking honour guard, you will be whisked back in time to the year AD 1016 where you will be met by King Canute himself and his loyal supporters. Join them as they feast and make merry, celebrating his betrothal to Emma of Normandy.

Complete with some very cheeky poets, extremely competitive warriors and an incredibly sulky former King, this is sure to be an eventful evening!

A unique experience, hosted by Vikings and including wonderful musical entertainment and song, mead, a sumptuous 3 course banquet and of course wine flowing to accompany your meal.

This event is always popular, so pre-booking is essential to avoid disappointment. Price includes all refreshments & drinks with your meal. There is a cash bar available thereafter.

10:00 - 16:00 | Coppergate Square | FREE Please see listing from Monday 15th February for details.

City Camp

10:00 - 16:00 | Parliament Street | FREE (Storytelling 11:00, 13:00, 15:00 daily) The Vikings have set up camp in the bustling centre of York!

Make sure to get your war wounds make up in preparation for this evening’s finale battle clash as well as exploring all the Viking encampment has to offer.

10th Century Traders

10:00 - 16:00 | Parliament Street Marquee & Merchant Adventurers’ Hall | £2 Adult, £1.50 Conc, £5 Family, 50p Re-enactors Please see listing from Friday 19th February for details.

Brawl at the Guildhall: Annual Strongest Viking Competition

10:00 | York Guildhall | Adult £4 Conc. £3 Now in its fifth year, the competition just gets tougher!

The cream of the crop from across the UK & Europe vie for the title of Strongest Viking and the chance to receive the coveted JORVIK Viking Festival trophy sword! With the competition open to Vikings far and wide, anything could happen! This is sure to be an event you don’t want to miss.

Pre-booking is advised to avoid disappointment.

Have-a-go Sword Combat

10:30, 11:30, 13:30, 14:30, 15:30 | Merchant Adventurers’ Hall £3.50 per child Please see listing from Monday 15th February for details.

March to Coppergate

13:30 | Dean’s Park | FREE The perfect JORVIK Viking Festival photo opportunity See the Vikings of King Canute’s army muster and march across the city to Coppergate in a fantastic show of strength as they prepare themselves for tonight’s fiery battle!

Best Beard Contest

15:00 | City Camp, Parliament Street | FREE Entering its 8th year, this whimsical and fun competition has become something of a JORVIK Viking Festival highlight Drawing huge crowds and some very competitive participants!

Young or old, male or female – all are encouraged to enter and try to win the highly prized beard trophies. Please note; homemade beards are not just permitted but encouraged!

King Canute’s Spectacular Finale

!

Doors open at 18:00, entertainment commences 18:45 Eye of York (by Clifford’s Tower) Adult £12.50 Conc. £10 Family of 4 £36.50 family of 5 £45.50 Thrilling live battle action awaits you as the Viking leader, Canute the Great and the Anglo-Saxon Edmund Ironside prepare to decide the fate of the crown of England

!

The historic city of York is transformed into a fiery battleground with a finale display telling the tale of the infamous Battle of Assandun. Incorporating a cast of fearsome warriors, sound and light effects and terrific pyrotechnics in a dazzling spectacular which will see the rise of a new King!

Don’t miss this exciting end to 2016’s JORVIK Viking Festival – Pre-booking is strongly advised as tickets may not be available on the day.

SUNDAY 21ST FEBRUARY Lost Landscapes AD 400-1100: the 2016 Richard Hall Symposium

9:00 registration for a 9:45 start, 17:00 finish Rahtz Lecture Theatre, King’s Manor, York YO1 7EP Full £25 Conc £20 Friends of YAT £18 The Richard Hall Symposium 2016 celebrates the work done by Dr Hall and his York Archaeological Trust colleagues to research the lost landscape of Viking-era York and to bring it to the attention of the widest possible audiences.

In considering comparable projects today, the symposium welcomes plenary speakers including Ailsa Mainman and Julian Richards (University of York) and Gareth Williams (British Museum) to speak on a range of themes in archaeology and related disciplines, for a lively discussion of the changing landscapes of the late antique and early medieval period.

Pre-booking essential. Price includes lunch and refreshments.

10th Century Traders

10:00 - 16:00 | Parliament Square Marquee & Merchant Adventurers’ Hall | £2 Adult, £1.50 Conc, £5 Family, 50p Re-enactors Please see listing from Friday 19th February for details.

Have-a-go Sword Combat

10:30, 11:30, 13:30, 14:30, 15:30 | Merchant Adventurers’ Hall | £3.50 per child Please see listing from Monday 15th February for details.

Buy your festival tickets now:

www.jorvik-viking-festival.co.uk/tickets or call 01904 615505

JORVIK Viking Festival 2016 Fringe Events

An Afternoon of Viking Crafts

Discover the full fringe programme online at www.jorvik-viking-festival.co.uk/events

(Uber) Cool Reading Group

Saturday 13th - Sunday 21st February Olaf’s Tales of Battle

11:00 - 15:00 Daily | Clifford’s Tower Normal admission prices apply: Adult £4.40 Conc. £4 Child £2.60 Family £11.40, Free to EH Members Olaf the Viking storyteller tells tales aloud of the victory in 1066 at Fulford, but also their defeat at Stamford Bridge.

Hear about these battles within the walls of ancient Clifford’s Tower, with regular short stories throughout the day. Plus a chance to view the York skyline from the Tower top wall walk.

This is an English Heritage event.

Monday 15 February th

Little Vikings Story & Play

10:00 - 10:45 | York Explore Library & Learning Centre | FREE Viking story and play for under 5s and their carers. Free drop-in session.

This is a York Libraries event.

Viking Fun Day

10:00 - 11:00 | Acomb Explore Library | £2 Play Viking games, sing Viking chants and join in the Viking fun!

Pre-booking essential - call 01904 552651 or email acomb@exploreyork.org.uk This is a York Libraries event.

Tuesday 16th February Dragon Stories & Crafts

14:00 - 15:00 | York Explore Library & Learning Centre £2 per child Dragon stories and crafts suitable for ages 5+.

Pre-booking essential - call 01904 552828 or email york@exploreyork.org.uk This is a York Libraries event.

14:00 - 17:00 | Haxby Explore Library | FREE Free Viking crafts and themed quiz - drop-in session for any age.

This is a York Libraries event.

16:30 - 17:30 | York Explore Library & Learning Centre | FREE Discover a range of Viking stories at the (Uber) Cool Reading Group suitable for ages 11-16 - just turn up, no booking required.

This is a York Libraries event.

Thursday 18th February Viking Adventure Under 5s Storytime

10:30 - 11:00 | Acomb Explore Library | FREE Viking songs and stories! No need to book, just drop in.

This is a York Libraries event.

Friday 19th February Viking Stories & Crafts

14:30 - 15:30 | Clifton Explore Library | £1.50 per child Viking themed stories and crafts for 5-12 years; come along and listen to tales of Vikings of old, decorate a Viking shield, make a long boat, plus much more.

Pre-booking essential - call 01904 552662 or email clifton@exploreyork.org.uk This is a York Libraries event.

Saturday 20th February CAMRA Guided Pub Walk

15:00 | Royal Oak, Goodramgate, York YO1 7LG | £5 per person, CAMRA members £3 A guided walk through the city centre covering the Viking and later history of beer along with events and people associated with York’s historic and heritage pubs.

Pre-booking advised: call 07506 570234 or email yorkcamrapubwalks@gmail.com This is a CAMRA York event sponsored by Royal Oak, Olde Starre & Black Swan

Community & Education Projects Engaging with the community through unique and entertaining educational experiences is at the heart of the work of York Archaeological Trust and this JORVIK Viking Festival is no exception.

This year we have worked in partnership with a number of groups and organisations on projects relating to the Vikings, the results of which you can experience throughout the Festival:

On the Trail of Canute Working with Year 3 pupils from Burton Green Primary School we will produce an exciting trail around York’s city centre, telling the epic tale of Canute’s mission to conquer England. Families can follow the trail throughout the Festival week and learn how the battle for Viking victory unfolded.

www.jorvik-viking-festival.co.uk/trailofcanute

Bloodaxe Book Challenge For the fourth year running JORVIK Viking Festival have collaborated with Explore York Library Service to encourage children to read throughout the school winter holidays. For every book they read they can collect a bookmark and stickers, and have the opportunity to meet a well known children’s author at the Festival.

www.jorvik-viking-festival.co.uk/bloodaxe