VIKING hordes will descend on their former home of York in February to re-enact an ancient celebration.

With winter coming to an end, York’s 10th century Vikings marked surviving the harshest season with an annual event called Jolablot.

Today, that tradition is continued by the Jorvik Viking Centre, which takes over the city for a week-long festival of all things Norse.

And despite the centre having been closed due to flood damage, organisers have said the show will go on.

The Jorvik Viking Festival, which draws visitors from all over the world, is the largest event of its kind in Europe.

Organisers of the 2016 festival have listed ten things not to miss as they look to draw in the punters once again.

“The Jorvik Viking Festival was launched back in 1984, and has gone from strength to strength each year," said festival director Danielle Daglan.

"Children who attended our early festivals are now bringing their children back for a taste of the Viking life.

“We make sure that the week has something for everyone, from free encampments, parades and activities to our spectacular grand finale, a dramatic live combat event with music and fireworks, which this year, will tell the story of Canute, the forgotten king.”

According to Danielle, the top nine events to look out for are:

1. March to Coppergate (Saturday, February 20, 1.30pm). This free parade enables you to join hundreds of Vikings as they muster in Dean’s Park, next to York Minster, or stand along the route to Coppergate to see the fearsome warriors walk past.

2. King Canute’s Spectacular Finale (Saturday February 20, 6pm). Organisers describe this as a stunning son-et-lumière event featuring a horde of brave Vikings fighting against unruly Anglo-Saxons. This recreates the battle for England’s throne in 1016, with music, lights and pyrotechnics. Tickets cost from £10.

3. The Ultimate Viking Banquet (Friday February 19, 7pm). This is billed as an unforgettable Viking dining experience in York’s Merchant Taylors’ Hall. Tickets cost £65.50 per person.

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4. Best Beard Contest (Saturday, February 20, 3pm). A free competition in the festival's Parliament Street encampment.

5. Brawl at the Guildhall: Strongest Viking Competition (Saturday 20 February, 10am). Tickets £4 adult, £3 child.

6. Living history encampments (daily, Monday February 15 – Saturday 20). A free chance to chat to vikings and hear stories of King Canute in Coppergate and Parliament Street.

7. Beowulf by Candlelight (Thursday February 18 and Friday 19 February, 7.30pm). An imaginative retelling of the Beowulf story by Peter Carrington-Porter in St Helen’s Church. Tickets £7.50 adult, £5.50 concession, £4.50 child.

8. Lecture programme. Free events - Vikings In Your Vocabulary (Tuesday, February 16, 2.30pm) and In Praise of King Canute: Norse poetry from England (February 16, 7pm).

9. Combat arena battles (Monday February 15 – Friday 19, 11am and 2pm) – York’s Guildhall hosts a different one-on-one combat event each day to chart the rise of Canute to take the throne of England. Tickets £3.50 adult, £2.50 concession.

For more information on the festival, visit www.jorvik-viking-festival.co.uk