Wexford's Viking Fire Festival

A full-scale Viking village will take over Wexford's quayside as the city immerses itself in the day-to-day life on the Slaney in 900AD.

Inferno, a fire show, along with a full-scale Viking village are set to be the highlights of the inaugural Viking Fire Festival in Wexford town, on Saturday, Sept 28.

A fully-immersive Viking Village experience will take over the Wexford Quayside from 11 am as the historical town will be transformed akin to life over a thousand years ago. Throughout the day visitors will be able to enjoy coin striking, spinning, weaving, leatherworking, metalwork and woodwork, storytelling and even some slave trading. The Viking village will be populated with re-enactors who will be going about their day-to-day life as if it was 900AD.

Children will also have the chance to participate in a Viking Big Dig as they can explore the replica excavation site which enables them to navigate and experience the Viking world through a simulated archaeology dig.

The Viking band, Raven Dale will be providing the street entertainment, providing some Viking beats on the Quayside and in the streets of the town throughout the afternoon, a Food and Craft beer market will be open from 10.30 am to 8.30 pm, the market will be offering lots of Viking themed dishes from Freya’s Flatbreads to Thor’s Burgers and more.

Also on offer throughout the afternoon is the Viking Treasure Hunt. Festivalgoers can navigate the Viking streets of Wexford and find the hidden clues to discover the ancient heritage of Viking Wexford. Once completed the map offers an opportunity to win a Viking Stayover at the Irish National Heritage Park, Wexford.

At Wexford Library the Gallivanting Storyteller Lorraine will be hosting children’s storytelling sessions from 12 noon to 1 pm and from 2 pm to 3 pm Derek O’Brien will host a talk on ‘Daily life in Viking Wexford’ sharing details of the Vikings in Ireland through their clothes and weapons, festivalgoers will enjoy an opportunity to try some Viking clothes and see if they are strong enough to hold the Viking weapons.

The festival highlight will commence at 7.17 pm as the Bloco Garman Drummers will lead the Viking Parade from Selskar Square at Trimmers Lane traveling down Cornmarket and onto Main Street, down Anne Street turning onto the Quayside for approximately 7.35 pm.

At this point, the festival grand finale will commence as a spectacular Inferno Fire Show performed by Ireland’s most skilled fire performers will begin at 7.40 pm as they will present their most popular production, Firestorm, a show of enchanting light and shadow, skill and choreography. Inferno is an intense blazing experience lasting approximately 25 minutes.

Speaking of the festival experience on offer organizer Maura Bell says, “This festival will offer a free fun-filled day out for all the family, we have worked very hard to ensure all elements are historically accurate while ensuring a real sense of fun and enjoyment for all."