YORK’S horrid history will take centre stage in the activities for children in this year’s #JORVIKMedievalFestival, with #HorribleHistories author Terry Deary bringing his diabolical descriptions of the Seven Ages of York to the Guildhall on August 29.
The presentation will tell the stories of the Vicious Vikings, Measly Middle Ages, the Terrible Tudors, and the Slimy Stewarts, accompanied by music from across the centuries by Eboracum Baroque.
Other highlights of the festival for young history enthusiasts include:
Medieval Merriment on Bank Holiday, August 31, at the Merchant Adventurers’ Hall, where visitors can step back in time to meet the plague doctor and barber surgeon, try their hand at sword-fighting workshops and have-a-go archery sessions, and watch as birds of prey swoop above the city in live flying displays.
Medieval Day at Knaresborough Castle (August 22) provides visitors with an exciting setting to meet knights, learn the rules of chivalry, and try their hand at archery – an essential skill 600 years ago when it was the English archers who helped secure victory at Agincourt … plus birds of prey, crafts, and tours of the castle.
KNOWN as the attraction that brought the sights and smells of the Viking period in York back to life, the city’s JORVIK Viking Centre is looking to ignite all of their visitors' senses this summer with an exploration of Norse music and storytelling, food and drink, and even a special Viking wildlife spotters' guide.
‘We know that visitors love interacting with our Viking hosts, asking them questions, and posing for photos. They also appreciate our authentic Norse-era smells, (though may not always enjoy them) but we wanted to bring the full Viking experience this summer,’ says Sarah Maltby, director of attractions for York Archaeological Trust, the owners of the centre.
Before visitors enter the doors, tactile displays will be on offer, with willing customers blindfolded and asked to identify Viking-Age products just by touching them. At arrival at Viking street level, binoculars and a spotters' guide will be available for the discovery of the many animals that reside in the re-creation of this 1,000-year-old settlement.
‘To many, the re-created Viking-Age city of Jorvik is familiar territory, so we are challenging our visitors to discover the animals which lived alongside the Anglo-Scandinavian residents. Dogs and cats were familiar to the Vikings of Jorvik, but they would have been working animals employed to help guard property and hunt vermin,’ adds Ms Maltby.
The olfactory and gustatory senses come next, where people can sample Viking delicacies, including dried fish. For older visitors, mead – a fermented honey drink –is on offer, followed by re-tellings of the Viking sagas accompanied by Norse musical instruments.
Vikings 4D runs until September 6 and is included in the normal admission price for JORVIK Viking Centre.
www.jorvik-viking-centre.co.uk
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