Jorvik Viking Festival 2013

1000 years ago when Vikings ruled York great celebrations took place in February called ‘Jolablot’. These celebrations heralded the coming of spring and the survival of winter hardships and were long forgotten until the 1980s when York Archaeological Trust revived Jolablot.

The annual Jorvik Viking Festival is organised by the York Archaeological Trust (they are also responsible for the Jorvik Viking Centre) and is a city-wide celebration of York’s Viking heritage.

This festival is recognised as the largest Viking Festival in Europe attracting thousands of visitors to the city of York. With Viking re-enactors from across Europe attending the festival and enjoying its programme of family-friendly events including guided walks / lectures and battle re-enactments many people return to celebrate the festival year after year to take part and lap up the atmosphere.

The dates of this year’s Jorvik Viking Festival are: Saturday 16^th February 2013 until Sunday 24^th February 2013 – for a full list of what’s going on and where it’s happening check out details here: http://jorvik-viking-centre.co.uk/festivals/festival-fringe-2013/

Andria Owen