ORGANISERS of York’s JORVIK Viking Festival have unveiled next year’s programme and say it will the biggest and best yet.

The festival marks its 30th anniversary in 2014 and its director said the landmark would be reached in style with “something for everyone” in the line-up.

The events take place over the school half-term break from February 15-23.

Festival director Danielle Daglan said: “We’ve pulled out all the stops this year to make the 30th anniversary JORVIK Viking Festival bigger and better than ever before, with something to appeal to people of all ages and interests – from Norse nålebinding (knitting) to the ultimate Viking banquet in St William’s College, mini-musical workshops for children to our annual ‘Strongest Viking’ competition, all rounded off with the most spectacular recreation of Ragnarok in the shadow of Clifford’s Tower.

“If you are in the city during half term, you’ll find it hard to get around without happening across some kind of Viking-themed activities.”

The high point of celebrations takes place on Saturday, February 22. Ragnorok, a live battle spectacular, includes 300 Viking warriors, Norse gods, and fireworks set to contemporary music score as it tells the story of the fall of the gods.

Events will be taking place across the city with Coppergate and the Eye of York the centre for living history and combat skills. JORVIK’s warriors will be training children in combat skills at the Merchant Adventurers’ Hall.

York Guildhall is also hosting a number of combat events, including a full week of performances in a Myths and Legends Combat Arena, each day recreating a different saga with readings, dramatic reconstructions and a host of fighting to create a storytelling experience.

Other highlights include JORVIK Alive! on Tuesday, February 18 which sees state-of-the art animatronic characters joined by live actors in the JORVIK Viking Centre’s Viking city.

York City Screen will host special screenings of the superhero “Thor” films, and some of the country’s top academics will be present lectures and talks about many different aspects of Viking life uncovered beneath the ground around York.

The full programme is available online at www.jorvik-viking-festival.co.uk