Fiery finale to JORVIK Viking Festival’s Saturday extravaganza

A full set of images is available for download here Battle Spectacular JVC23 CAG 41 Flames and fireworks brought the end of the biggest day in this year’s JORVIK Viking Festival to a suitably impressive end last night (Saturday 18 February 2023) when a sell-out crowd enjoyed the Battle Spectacular at the Eye of York.

Flames and fireworks brought the end of the biggest day in this year’s JORVIK Viking Festival to a suitably impressive end on Saturday 18 February when a sell-out crowd enjoyed the Battle Spectacular at the Eye of York.

The night-time event was being staged for the first time since 2019, and featured a retelling of Arabic diarist Abn Fadlan’s encounters with the Rus – what we know today as the Vikings – set to a thrilling soundtrack.  The evening culminated in a fiery ‘boat-burning’ with a Viking chieftan sent on his way to Valhalla.

The event came after a full day of Norse-themed thrills and excitement, from the Strongest Viking competition, this year featuring the talented cast of Mythos: Ragnarok, which played at York Barbican on Friday night, showcasing feats of strength, skill and even body slamming to the contest’s largest ever crowd.

Huge numbers lined the streets from York Minster to watch an estimated 250 Viking warriors and civilians on the March to Coppergate, and joined the warriors for a series of battles and skirmishes at the Eye of York.

March to Coppergate

“This has been a very good year for JORVIK Viking Festival, despite strong winds marring Friday’s events.  We were incredibly happy to see the story of Ibn Fadlan finally receive the audience it deserved at the Battle Spectacular, with this show having been planned since 2019,” comments Festival manager, Gareth Henry.  “A little drizzle didn’t dampen the spirits or the atmosphere for the evening.”

This year’s nine-day JORVIK Viking Festival ran from Saturday 11 February, and has seen tens of thousands of visitors attend events and visit the Viking encampment in the heart of York.  Sell-out events included the Jolablot Banquet, mead tasting, crafting workshops and lectures, whilst hundreds of children participated in the Beserker Bootcamp at the Guildhall.

JORVIK Viking Festival concluded on Sunday 19 February with the 10^th Century Traders Market at the Merchant Adventurer’s Hall, and the annual Richard Hall Symposium taking place online, with guest speakers from around the world joining the digital event. 

Afternoon Combat