Fiery climax to city's Viking Festival draws thousands

Viking re-enactors perform a battle scene in front of Clifford's Tower in York during the JORVIK Viking Festival, a week-long celebration of the last Viking king in the city, Eric Bloodaxe. Danny Lawson/PA Wire

Visitors lined the streets to watch the March to Coppergate and hundreds gathered for the Strongest Viking and Best Beard competitions. And there was a capacity crowd at the Eye of York for the spectacular fiery finale on Saturday.

The finale told the story of the fall of Eric Bloodaxe, the last Viking king of York. It recreated the Battle of Stainmore in AD954 – a turning point in York’s history. After the king had fallen, a funeral procession around the Eye of York, including the carrying of an 8ft wicker stag, culminated in a flaming display of torches, pyrotechnics and fire blowing on the battlefield and fireworks from Clifford’s Tower.

The festival has launched a year of celebrations for York’s Year of the Viking and marks just six weeks until the Jorvik Viking Centre re-opens on April 8.

Viking re-enactors take part in a mock battle during the JORVIK Viking Festival in York.

Festival co-ordinator Nicola Harkess, said: “The crowds lining the streets for the March to Coppergate were amazing – it certainly felt like there were more people cheering them on than we’ve ever had before, with many of them following the Vikings to the Eye of York to watch an impromptu battle.”