Workshop, lectures and demonstrations

Workshops - make natural colors 

​The Vikings were creating many, beautiful colors. At the festival you will have the opportunity to learn ths ancient craftswork by coloring yarn. To get the best outcome of the workshops we encourage you to do the basic course first. Tekstilheksa (Kristin Noreng) is an experienced instructor in many types of textile work. Expect the coloring process to be somewhat time consuming - feel free to bring craftswork to do while waiting for the colors to appear. 

WEDNESDAY
BASIC COURSE
This is a pre-course for coloring with birch leaves, alkanet and krapp. Learn the chemistry behind, how to prepare the yarn and basic wool-knowledge. 
When: Wednesday 11:00 AM - 5:00 PM

THURSDAY
YELLOW AND GREEN 
How to color yellow and green with birch leaces, how iron and copper incluences the yellow, and the chemistry behind. 
When: Thursday 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM

BROWN
How to use walnuts to acheive brown colors. 
When: Thursday 4:00 PM - 7.00 PM

FRIDAY
BLUE - VAID
Are you ready to operate accurately with temperature and oxygen? Les us color blue, using vaid. 
When: Friday 11:00 AM-5:00 PM

SATURDAY
PURPLE AND RED
We use alkanet, control the temperatures and create beautiful purple- and red tones. 
When: Saturday 11:00 AM-5.00 PM

SUNDAY
RED, ORANGE AND BROWN-RED COLORS
Krapp will let you make many different colors, if you control the temperature. 
When: Sunday 11:00 AM - 5:00 PM 

For all course with plant coloring
When: Various, see each course
Where: Festival area, Textilheksa tent
Price: NOK 300 pr workshop. You get some yarn to take home, included in the price. 
Booking: email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

(if you wish to participate in several courses: get the festival pass that ensures entrance all days at a low fee. Costs of courses are additional)

​Ravn blabla

Workshop - Make your own knife

The museum wood carver, Thom J. Kelly, leads this workshop. We provide a hand forged knife blade from the museum blacksmith, along with the necessary materials to make a beautiful and functional knife shaft and leather sheath.
This exclusive workshop is held for four persons only, and last for two days. 

Where: The Viking Chieftain longhouse
When: Thursday and Friday 10:00 AM - 16:00 PM
Price: NOK 1990 including materials. Lunch can be purchased at the museum
Booking: email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

Lectures

Herbs and plants as medicine 

​Anna Allard (dr in biology) gives lectures on herbs and plants and how the Vikings could have been using these for medicinal purposes. 

Where: Viking Chieftain longhouse
When: Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Free entrance. 

The embroideries of the Bayeux tapestry 

Freja Lindahl talks us through the embroidery techniques, the textiles and the yarns used in the famous find of bhe Bayeux tapestry. 

Where: Viking Chieftain longhouse
When: Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday 15:00 PM - 16:00 PM
Free entrance.

The runes of the Viking age

Edel Berg, archaeologist, shares her knowledge on the letters of the Viking age; the runic letters, and how they were used. 

Where: Festival area
When: Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday 16:00 PM- 17:00 PM
Free entrance.

Craft demonstrations - different every day

Every day of the festival lots of activities are taking place. Outside the tents and in the camps Vikings will be doing their daily chores such as cooking, craftswork, play and fun. In addition to this, almost every day the festival will be demonstrating one craftwork in particular. You are welcome to chat with the Vikings at work.

Wednesday August 7: Making iron
Iron was very important to the Vikings and having a skilled blacksmith was of great significance to the Viking Chieftain. Come and see how the Vikings made iron in a traditional way, using local resources.
Where: Next to the smithy. When: from ca. 11:00 AM

Wednesday August 7: Food competition
Is it possible to have dinner without potatoes? Many Norwegians would say «no!» How did the Vikings cook? Did they have the same ingredients as we do today? This is a team competition where the Vikings aim to make the best dish.
Where: Selected camps on the festival area.
When: preparations start 1100 PM when participants choose 3 ingredients. The cooking start at 12:00 PM and finishes at 15:00 PM Visitors are welcome to walk around and see the different teams at work.

The winner will be announced at 15:30 pm by the jury. Where: next to Skjelterskjåen cafe and the smithy
Thursday August 8: Cooking pit
In the museum area remains after many cooking pits have been found. Thursday you are welcome to learn more on how the Vikings were using the cooking pits to prepare larger meals. The method requires some time, and will appear mostly as smoke coming from the ground.
Where: Next to the smithy.
When: from ca. 11:00 AM

Friday August 9: Meat on a spit
The Vikings will be barbequing a pig on a spit, flavouring and glazing it with local herbs and spices. Come talk to our chef – and maybe have a taste once the meat is finished?
Where: Next to Skjelterskjåen cafe.
When: from ca. 11:00 AM

Saturday August 10: Beer brewing
Old traditions, but not forgotten! An experienced Viking woman will be brewing beer the Viking way. Come see how the process is done – she will be working with the brewing until the beer is ready for fermenting.
Where: Next to the smithy.
When: from ca 11:00 AM