03/04/2009

Issued by: JORVIK Viking Centre 

 Anyone spending Easter in York will be more likely to see a Viking than an Easter bunny as hundreds of unexpected visitors descend on the city on the 11th and 12th April.

Residents and visitors to the city can get stuck into Viking Age life in a unique encampment in Museum Gardens as part of JORVIK Viking Centre's 25th anniversary celebrations.

The Vikings arrive on Saturday 11th April, when 30 Viking tents will turn Museum Gardens into a thousand-year-old campsite.  Over the live two-day encampment, Vikings will create a ‘living history' by cooking and practicing for battle in addition to a variety of crafting activities.

Organised by the York Archaeological Trust - the team behind the excavation of the site where the JORVIK Viking Centre now stands - the encampment is the first event of its kind in York.  It is also the first in a year-long programme of events to celebrate the history and success of the Viking Centre and thank its thousands of supporters over the past two and a half decades. 

Says Sarah Maltby, Director of Attractions at York Archaeological Trust "It's free to enter the encampment, and everyone's welcome to come and meet the Vikings; experience the sights, sounds (and smells!) of Viking life and have a go at some popular Viking pastimes such as archery, falconry and preparing for battle as well as embroidery, flour grinding, coin striking, leatherwork and food preparation." 

Vikings from all over the UK will be visiting York to be part of the encampment in Museum Gardens. 

The free-for-all event will offer visitors the opportunity to totally immerse themselves in a Viking experience.
 
For more information on the encampment and the 25-year celebration events programme visit http://www.jorvik-viking-centre.co.uk/events1.htm.

A full schedule of activities is listed below.  For more information or interviews with some of the Vikings taking part in the encampment, contact Louise McKenzie at The Partners Group on 01904 610077 (email: louise@partners-group.co.uk) or Emma Hunt, Jorvik Viking Centre, Marketing Manager, on 07711 844893 (email: ehunt@yorkat.co.uk).

Meet the Vikings of Jorvik daily schedule - York, Saturday 11 April

Multangular Tower

11am - 4pm  Meet the Vikings
Meet the Vikings of Jorvik and see their weaponry at close quarters.

St Mary's Abbey

11am - 4pm   Living History 
Get up close and personal with Vikings as they set up camp and demonstrate their crafting skills.

Arena One Programme

11am - 12.30pm Training for battle
Warriors test out their skills on the battlefield in readiness for combat.

2:00pm  Military Display, Arming the Knight
Discover more about arms, armour and battle tactics with the Viking warriors.
   
3:00pm  Clash of Weapons
Fierce combat as the two sides meet in battle.  Who will win the day?

Arena Two Programme

11am   Battle Tactics for Young Warriors
Budding Vikings are invited to have a go at learning the skills of the warrior.  Suitable for ages 6 - 11. 

12 noon  Birds of Prey
   See the spectacular birds of prey in flight over historic York.

1.00pm  Battle Tactics for Young Warriors
   As above.

2.30pm  Birds of Prey display
   As above.

Sunday 12 April

Multangular Tower

11am - 4pm  Meet the Vikings
Meet the Vikings of Jorvik and see their weaponry at close quarters.

St Mary's Abbey

11am - 4pm   Living History 
Get up close and personal with Vikings as they set up camp and demonstrate their crafting skills .

Arena One Programme

11am - 12.30pm Training for battle with the warriors of Jorvik
Warriors test out their skills on the battlefield in readiness for combat.

2.30pm  Military Display Arming the Knight
Discover more about arms, armour and battle tactics with the
Viking warriors.

3.30pm  Clash of Weapons - Viking combat
Fierce combat as the two sides meet in battle.  Who will win the day?

Arena Two Programme

11.00am  Battle Tactics for Young Warriors
Budding Vikings are invited to have a go at learning the skills of the warrior.  Suitable for ages 6 - 11. 

11.30am - 1pm Have-a-Go Archery with Conisbrough Castle Archers
Learn the basic skills of medieval bowmanship with the archers of Conisbrough Castle.
   
1.00pm  Battle Tactics for Young Warriors
As above

1.30pm - 4pm Have-a-Go Archery with Conisbrough Castle Archers
As above.