Moved not cancelled – that’s the message from organisers of JORVIK Viking Festival who have announced that this February’s event will be moved to May, as concerns over large gatherings and availability of staff prompt the change. The new dates for the Festival will be Saturday 28 May until Wednesday 1 June 2022.

JORVIK Viking Festival, #JVF2022, normally takes place during York’s February half term week, and indeed tickets for two highlight events sold out after they went on sale in November. Last year’s event was replaced with an online Viking event – That JORVIK Viking Thing – which will take place again this year from 19-27 February as planned.

“We have been working on plans for the Festival since last summer, so we are determined that it will still take place in 2022, but with parts of the UK still under restrictions on public gatherings, we consider it would be unwise to host events that draw crowds of thousands at this time,” comments Festival manager, Gareth Henry. “As we experienced in 2020 when we had to cancel our evening event due to high winds, weather can also impact on the event.”

Popular events, including the living history encampment, Strongest Viking Competition, Best Beard contest, have-a-go activities and Traders Market are set to return, many of them free of charge thanks to support from City of York Council.

The Battle Spectacular will take place on the evening of Saturday 28 May, although will start later so that the pyrotechnics can be seen to best effect given the later time of sunset. The March to Coppergate will also take place on that date, subject to approval from the city’s safety bodies. The Viking Banquet will take place on the evening of Wednesday 1 June, and those who hold tickets for February’s sell-out event will be given priority places.

Those who have already purchased tickets to the Viking Feast and Battle Spectacular will be contacted directly.

More details to follow at jorvikvikingfestival.co.uk/…