A brand new festival launches this September when over 100 Vikings complete with long ships will descend on Grimsby over the weekend of Friday 23rd September to Sunday 25th September.
The free, three-day event for families and visitors called GRIM FALFEST kickstarts a year of Viking activities for schools and community groups.
The celebration has been created by the Visitor Economy, Services and Retail CIC team (VESR CIC) of North East Lincolnshire and is delivered in partnership with Heritage Lincolnshire. The project is supported by The National Heritage Lottery Fund who have awarded £250,000 for activities, performances and workshops in schools and the local community throughout the year.
The event will launch with long ships sailing up The Haven carrying the town’s founder Grim and Prince Havelok. Over the weekend, visitors can explore a Viking camp in Minster Square, meet Grim the Viking, enjoy live music, a Viking market and food in Riverhead Square. One of the highlights will be a Viking battle in People’s Park and a parade through the town by a host of Vikings. On the waterfront, paddleboarders have the chance to paddle out to a long ship to meet its crew, while another vessel will be on land for visitors to explore.
Julia Thompson, chair of VESR, said: “Grim the Viking is back! We’re delighted that The National Heritage Lottery Fund are supporting this brand new celebration of our town’s Viking heritage and continuing links with Scandinavia. We hope everyone will have fun meeting Grim and his Vikings.”
Natalie Lunt of Heritage Lincolnshire said: ”This is a great way to bring history to life through re-enactment and hands-on exploration of a Viking village. We hope it will inspire visitors to take part in the year of activities exploring our Viking heritage. There is a first for Lincolnshire and we’re proud to be delivering this event.”
Emma Lingard, VESR heritage officer, said: “It’s wonderful to have an event to find out more about Grim, whom Grimsby is named after. For those that don’t know the story of Grim and Havelok, it will be an opportunity to find out about our Viking connections, from language to its culture.”
The three day living history event will take place from Friday 23rd to Sunday 25th September 2022 across central Grimsby.
