Bigger and bloodier

Now in its 23rd year, this celebration of the Viking age in York will involve more than 100 arts, music, drama and action events, together with contributions from special guests, including BBC2 television presenter and historian Dan Snow.

More than 40,000 visitors will be drawn to the city for a festival in which plenty of activities are free of charge.

Festival-goers can witness the Vikings as they carry out combat drills and displays in anticipation of the ferocious and bloody festival battle, and take a look at weaponry from epic Hollywood films too.

Meanwhile, the Viking settlement on Coppergate Square will provide the opportunity for onlookers to make Viking arts and crafts or listen to the Vikings as they recount tales from their travels.

Wednesday, February 13 will be Invasion Day, when Dan Snow presents Eleventh Century Battlefields: The Struggle For Viking England, at Tempest Anderson Hall, Yorkshire Museum, at 6.30pm.

Snow will give an insight into the battles of the day, how they came about and how they came to their bloody conclusions, and there will be a chance to quiz him further on England's battlefield history and his career.

Thursday, February 14 may be St Valentine's Day, but it is also Viking Festival Arts Day.

The free Viking Arts Fair will run from 10am to 4pm in the Festival Marquee, in St Sampson's Square, where craft experts will demonstrate their talent and show off their wares. Visitors can hear about what the Vikings made and have a go at making their own crafts (for a small charge).

In Stories Galore, from 11.45am to 4.30pm in the Coppergate Marquee, children's authors Kjartan Poskitt and Rosalind Kerven will read from their latest novels based in Viking times.

Poskitt will be on stage at 12.15pm and 3pm, Kerven at 2pm, and between readings there will be theatrical entertainment.

On Combat Day on Friday, February 15, the Walking Wounded event will run from 10am to 4pm in the Coppergate Marquee, where you can take part in theatrical make-up sessions to give you cuts, bruises and war wounds to rival the infamous warrior and Viking leader, Erik Bloodaxe.

In Combat Through The Ages, from 10.30am to 1pm and 1.30pm to 4pm in the Festival Marquee, St Sampson's Square, weaponry experts and Vikings will present combat displays and discuss the arms and armour used in epic films such as The Lord Of The Rings and Pirates Of The Caribbean.

Battle Day on Saturday, February 16, will start with Chocolat author Joanne Harris reading from Runemarks, her new fantasy novel for children, at 11am, and a further reading will follow at 2pm.

The Evening Battle: Light and Sound Spectacular will take place at the Eye of York, next to Clifford's Tower, from 6.15pm. In the big fight live, 200 Vikings will battle to the death amid the light, sound and smoke effects, to decide who will rule the legendary city of Jorvik.

The festival will conclude with International Day on Sunday, February 17, when you can take a free tour around the Hungate archaeological site, the largest excavation in York for 23 years.

At this Hungate Open Day, from 10am to 3pm, archaeologists will present startling finds and talk about what they hope to find too.

In another free event, The Way Of The Sword will explore the two great warrior civilizations, The Vikings and the Samurai, from 10.30am to 3.30pm in Coppergate Square.

For more information and details of the full five-day programme, log on to www.jorvikviking-centre.com or phone the information line on 01904 643 211. Some events require advance booking on 01904 543 402.