Friday 15th February: Combat Day

Continental Market                   09.00 - 17.00

Parliament Street                      FREE

A Taste of the continent in York City centre. Foods, flavours and crafts from across Europe.

Battlefields Coach Tour                        10:00

Depart York city centre                        £12 adult, £10 conc.

Board the battle bus and join an English Civil War musketeer to journey back in time to some of the bloodiest episodes in Yorkshire’s history. Sturdy footwear and outdoor clothing essential. The tour includes crossing some busy roads.
Pre-booking: 01904 615505

Walking Wounded                    10:00-16:00

Coppergate Marquee               £1

Theatrical make-up sessions to give you the cuts, bruises and war wounds suffered by real Viking warriors!

Kids Have-a-go Sword Combat           One to one tuition

Pre-booked timeslots every 15 minutes between 10:00-16:00
Coppergate Marquee               £2

A chance for kids to get a taste of sword fighting, just like in the movies! Suitable for ages 7-14. Places are limited.
Pre-booking: 01904 615505

Viking Market                          10:00-17.00

Barley Hall, Coffee Yard, off Stonegate                        £2.00 adult, £1.00 conc., £5 family (2ad +2ch)

See working craftsmen demonstrating and selling their wares.

Viking Arts for Early Years                10:00-16:00

DIG, St. Saviour’s Church, St. Saviourgate
Price included in DIG admission (£5.50 adult, £5 conc., family of 4 £16.00: joint admission to JORVIK also available).

Activities for the under 5s.

Viking Settlement          10:30-16:00

Coppergate Square                  FREE

See our Vikings demonstrating their replica boat, ancient crafts and telling tales of their journeys.

*Combat through the Ages                   10:30-13:00 and 13:30-16:00

Festival Marquee, St. Sampson’s Square. Prices for a half-day session: £3 adult, £2 conc.

Magnus the Master Armourer will talk about and show weaponry from epic films like ‘Lord of the Rings’ and ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’. Includes: Battle Wounds, just like in the movies! The staff of the Royal Armouries will also be on hand to present displays of combat from a variety of time periods, including the late Middle Ages and Elizabethan England, all with authentic arms, armour and fighting techniques. Plus: combat from the Vikings of JORVIK.
Pre-booking: 01904 615505

Swords at the Mansion House              10:30 and 14:00

Mansion House, St Helen's Square       FREE

Places limited - Pre-booking only Tel: 01904 615505

The Mansion House is one of York's great historic treasures and the oldest surviving mayoral residence in the country. The two tours will take in the beautiful simplicity of the hallway which gives way to the magnificent grandeur of the stateroom. The extensive civic collection ranges from silver chamber pots to medieval ceremonial swords, to portraits of Lord Mayors such as George Hudson and John Carr through to local landscapes and architecture. Visitors will also have the chance to glimpse the grandeur of dining in the Mansion House, with a re-created table setting and a chance
to find the secret compartments in the bureau!
Pre-booking: 01904 615505

Viking Living History                11:00-16.00

The Guildhall                £2 adult, £1 conc.

Join the Vikings in a historic setting as they demonstrate Viking life skills and weaponry and cooking.

Viking Snickleways Walk 14:15

Museum Gardens gates, Museum Street. £5.50 adult, £5 conc. (NUS/Yorkcard), £2.50 child.

The city of York is honeycombed by a maze of alleyways, many of Viking origin. Travel back in time and explore York's Scandinavian past. Enquiries: 01904 622303. A Yorkwalk event.

Children's Saga Evening, 17:00 – 18:30

Merchant Adventurers' Hall, Fossgate, £2.50 adult, £5 child.

Music, storytelling and lots of Vikings for the children to meet and talk to. Pre-booking: 01904 543402. A Vikings of Norway event.

The Vikings come to the Rainbows Ceramic Café! 18:00

Rainbows Ceramic Café, 15 / 17 Bootham, £15 per child (includes plate and book).

Rainbows Ceramic Cafe and Simon Grey, author of the children's book "The Last Vikings", have collaborated to produce a fabulous children's event. The Vikings have returned to York! Simon will tell the tale of their mysterious world and how to find them, giving a preview of his forthcoming book. There will be a competition to plan the assault on the evil Viking Maledict in his stronghold in Clifford's Tower, with prizes to be won. This will be followed by an art experience in which children can paint their own plates with characters from the story. Suitable for ages 7+. Places are limited. Pre-booking: 01904 675533. A Rainbows Ceramic Café / "The Last Vikings" event.

The Original Ghost Walk of York 20:00

from the King's Arms pub, Ousegate bridge, £4 adult, £3 conc. (NUS/OAP), £2.50 child.

Discover the magic of ancient and Viking York through the real art of storytelling, with a Viking flavour throughout the Festival. Explore all the latest sightings and strange occurrences as you experience the best of haunted York. Enquiries 01759 373090. An Original Ghost Walk of York event.

History vs. Hollywood                20:30

City Screen                  £8 adult, £6.50 conc.

Magnus the Master Armourer introduces a compilation of action clips from a selection of blockbusters, before revealing some of the secrets behind the Hollywood magic.
Pre-booking: 0871 704 2054. Tickets on sale from City Screen in 2008.