Sheringham Viking Festival

We decided to visit Sheringham’s famous Viking Festival last month. The annual event takes place all day at Beeston Common in Sheringham, Norfolk, and includes a number of historical re-enactments, workshops on swordsmanship and other fun activities for kids and adults alike.

However, we were most keen to witness the final event of the day – the dramatic boat burning on the beach. This doesn’t take place until the evening at around 7.30pm, so we decided to rock up a little later in the day.

Luckily, the weather was good, which made all the difference given how changeable April can be. In attendance was my eight year-old son, dressed in a furry gilet and carrying a huge bright blue Viking shield he had made with his Dad as part of a school homework project. He received a number of admiring glances from fellow Viking enthusiasts – one of whom blew his horn at him in approval.

Our son surveys the parade in his gilet, with bow and shield at the ready...

First of all was a huge parade through town of everyone in Viking garb, complete with burning torches. Our new puppy who is quite nervous of other dogs and small children suddenly fell in line and behaved himself, as though he felt at home with these barbarians (he probably did).

Then we processed to the sea front where atmospheric music was being played through the PA system and a full length Viking long boat was aflame on the beach. Above the burning ship with its dragon were a group of Vikings on a promontory.