By Patricia Hall, Fairfax Family Fun
When you live in an area as rich in history as Northern Virginia is, you have ample opportunities to relive moments of days gone past. NOVA (and areas nearby) is home to several Civil War and Revolutionary reenactments, as well as many other living history events throughout the year. Now you can add a different one to the list: a viking festival!
The Manassas Viking Festival, coming May 12, 2018, is a cultural and educational event featuring Viking reenactment groups who will set up camp on the Manassas Museum lawn. The groups will demonstrate scenes from daily life during the Viking era, “including iron work, tool making, wood carving, working with wool, archery skills and period fighting,” promoters say.
Did any actual Vikings ever make their way to Virginia? Who knows. But this weekend you can certainly welcome them, and enjoy the foods and music of the Nordic lands. The festival will feature vendors, Nordic fare by local restaurants, and Icelandic, Irish, and Nordic dance troupes. The Raptor Conservancy of Virginia also will be there with raptors including the gyrfalcon. The all-day (10 am to 5 pm) event is free. Guests are encouraged to come wearing their “Viking best.” See details on the event website.
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