History is set to repeat itself in the most spectacular way when the Viking invasion of Peel is re-enacted as part of the 2009 Viking Festival, which gets underway on Friday 3rd  July.
 

With support from The Department of Tourism and Leisure, Peel Town Commissioners, The Public Lottery Trust and sponsors Red Scaffolding and Manx Radio, the weekend programme of events will provide a fitting reminder of an era which helped shape Manx history, and which became the catalyst for the establishment of Tynwald.

After the success of previous Festivals, organisers have designed an exciting programme for this year, focusing on the year 979AD, the date of the first Tynwald meeting.

It’s a truly international occasion with re-enactment groups coming from as far afield as Poland to add colour and vitality to the authentic Viking Village, which this year is located in the field adjacent to Peel Campsite and Swimming Pool.

As ever, the festival offers something for people of all ages, in fact, it's local schoolchildren who will provide the curtain raiser for the festival: schools visits to the Viking Village will take place all week from Monday 29th June, when the village is open for educational parties.

The public festival starts on Peel Beach at 7.30pm on Friday 3rd July, when Sigurd the Stout will arrive by Viking Longship to claim ownership of Mann.  This event is free of charge and should last around 30 minutes.

The Viking Village will open to the public from Saturday 4th July to Monday (Tynwald Day) 6th July.  The village gates open at 10am and close at 5.30pm. There is an entry fee to the village of ?2 for children and ?4 for adults: no booking is needed as tickets are available on the village gates, and there will be free parking at Peel Clothworkers School and Peel Campsite and Swimming Pool.

There will always be something happening in the village, with demonstrations going on throughout the day form the weapons display to story telling (the times and events are listed on the Festival website). The Village will recreate life as it was in the Viking times and you will be able to experience the sights, sounds and smell of life as it was lived in the 10th Century.

On Sunday evening (5th July) at 10pm, the Vikings will stage another of their popular 'Son et Lumiere' events on Peel Shore. This will be a spectacular show, with all the Vikings taking part in torchlit parades from Peel Castle and Peel Hill/ The evening will culminate in the now traditional burning of the Viking longboat. 

This year, the public can join in one of the parades - you don’t have to be dressed as a Viking but the Festival organisers do have spare Viking outfits if you want to look the part! 

If you do want to be involved, come to the Viking Village on Saturday 4th or Sunday 5th July and ask any of the Vikings of Mann for more information!

The finale of the festival will be the re-enactment of the first ever Tynwald Ceremony, which takes place in the Viking Village at around 3pm on Monday 6th July.

For a full list of events, visit www.iomvikingfestival.com.

For more information, telephone John Shakespeare on 07624 481814.

All times are provisional and may vary without notice