Viking Invasion!

The Lerwick Jarl Squad from the 2017 Up Helly Aa in Shetland will be visiting Inverness this weekend for a Viking Fun Day on Saturday 26th August in the City Centre.  The visitors will be joining in the family activities at Inverness Museum & Art Gallery  and will take place in two parades on the day. 

At 4pm there will be a Family Parade from Inverness Museum to the Castle especially for youngsters; who will  get the chance to make the Viking Army look even more formidable by joining in the sword and shield making workshops in the Museum earlier in the afternoon. It is planned to end the afternoon session with a group photograph in front of Inverness Castle. 

In the evening the Jarl Squad will return to the city centre at 7pm for two hours of fun featuring performances by the City of Inverness Pipe Band, Mascot Madness and the Fraser School of Highland Dance; before following the Pipe Band  in a  spectacular Procession at 9pm from the High Street up to Inverness Castle to wait for the sun to go down.  Everybody is welcome to take part in the Procession which will end with one of the summer’s most memorable photo opportunities as the Jarl Squad light up their torches  as darkness falls. 

Inverness Museum & Art Gallery will have a full programme of activities on the night; and families will be able to enjoy Spooky Storytelling for adults and older children or visit the exhibition Valhalla – Life and Death in Viking Britain from the Jorvik Viking Centre from 7pm.  Also planned for Saturday night are adult events in Inverness Museum and Art Gallery where  free talks and tastings about Viking Brewing, hosted by Johnny Horn from the Hanging Bat Brewery; and the chance to sample a taste of Shetland Reel Gin will be on offer. Places are limited for these sessions and  anyone interested in attending is invited to contact Inverness Museum and Art Gallery interested to book their places as soon as possible. 

Cllr Graham Ross, Chair of the Highland Council’s Inverness Events and Festivals Committee said: “What a spectacular opportunity for family fun and enjoyment this partnership Viking project between Highland Council and High Life Highland is bringing to Inverness this weekend. I am sure there will be lots of people young and old channelling their inner Viking as they march with the Jarl Squad or take part in some of the activities at Inverness Museum.” 

Viking Invasion! is sponsored by the City of Inverness Common Good Fund as part of the Inverness Events and Festivals Summer Programme.