Vikings and sabre rattling

The Viking market in Saltvik is a colourful and lively event. In the milling of people in the market, uncivilized Viking fighters and beautiful Viking ladies mingle with ordinary market visitors.

With its 8000 visitors, the Viking Market is the largest in Finland. July 24-26th you will get the opportunity to mingle among the Vikings for three days.

“We want to give an impression of genuine Viking life”, says Marianne Lindblom at the Fornföreningen Fibula that arranges the Viking market every year.

“This is a different event that is fun to visit both for adults and children.”

Far away guests
Each year the market is visited by Viking societies from the Nordic countries, Lithuania, England and Holland. This year there will also be visitors from Germany and Russia. During the market days the societies live a genuine Viking life in the market area. In the period tents stay bearded Vikings, beautifully embellished Viking women and their slightly untamed children.

Among the visitors are also blacksmiths, tailors, leather tanners and other crafts men and women. You are welcome to watch while they make their beautiful everyday objects.

Music, food and battle cries
Over the market place whirls the smoke from the coal fires and the happy sound of medieval music. The Swedish music group Patrask and the hollandaise Fliere Fluiter plays stirring melodies.

The Viking market also offers genuine handicrafts, exciting battle games and period cooking – often served on a plank. There are activities and liveliness everywhere. Conversations, laughter and battle cries. The fighters Balders Hird will perform while the jesters Telge Glima entice smiles and the handicraft group Pajauta impress with their skills in old handicraft methods.

“During the Viking market there will also be the premiere for our own ålandish fighters – the group Holmers Hird”, says Marianne. “It will be very exciting.”

The children will enjoy shooting with bow and arrow, runic carving and pony rides. Another favourite is the Viking pancakes with syrup directly from the fire and very warm. The entire family will enjoy the Viking market. Here it is easy to feel like a genuine Viking!

Also at night
A popular novelty from last year’s program is that the Viking area will be open also at night. Thursday and Friday, July 24-25th you can enjoy food and wine, fire shows and music until midnight. In the evening there will be no admission fee.

“There is a totally different feeling to walk around among the camp fires at night”, Marianne says.

Jenny Andersson