HUNDREDS of Norse warriors are due to start their annual invasion of York as final preparations for the 2018 JORVIK Viking Festival are put in place.

The best places to explore Viking culture completely free of charge have been revealed by the organisers, with landmarks around York being turned into Viking strongholds to welcome visitors.

The top five free events to see at this year’s JORVIK Viking Festival include:

• Stories and saga-telling in Coppergate from Monday, February 12 to Saturday, February 17. A special stage will be set up in the square outside JORVIK Viking Centre with regular tales of invasion, battle and heroic deeds. Sessions will be daily from 10am to 4pm.

• The annual Strongest Viking Competition takes place from Saturday, February 17 at 10am in Coppergate Square.

Watch as the competitors use bragging and occasionally underhanded techniques to put off their opponents in a bid to take home the coveted Strongest Viking trophy.

• The March to Coppergate takes place from Saturday, February 17 starting at Dean’s Park from 1pm.

Hundreds of Viking warriors muster in the shadow of York Minster before processing through the city streets to Coppergate.

The route passes through Petergate, Stonegate, Davygate and Coney Street before crossing Coppergate into the Coppergate Centre.

• The Best Beard Competition is back again and takes place on Saturday, February 17, from 3pm in Coppergate.

Genuine facial hair will compete against novelty hand-crafted beards – previous entrants have been made from cardboard, wool, fake fair and even human hair.

Paul Whiting, marketing manager at JORVIK Viking Centre, said: “The recreations of Viking-age York have been enthralling visitors to the centre for over 30 years, and the festival is a superb way of introducing visitors young and old to the story of the Viking city.

“We welcome experts from every corner of the globe to demonstrate their skills to visitors to the city.”