30th June 2014
To celebrate and promote the unique Pictish and Norse heritage of the Far North of Scotland Caithness Horizons Museum in Thurso has received funding from EventScotland, the Caithness and North Sutherland Fund, The Highland Council Culture Fund and Museums Galleries Scotland to run a year long programme of living history events that will bring the Far North's Pictish and Norse heritage to life.
From 5th - 13th July Caithness Horizons will be going Viking mad with free film screenings, family friendly storytelling sessions with storyteller and musician Bob Pegg, Viking-themed art and craft workshops with local artist Helen Moore and ceramist Lorraine Robson and a Viking living history encampment.
The centrepiece of the event will be the living history encampment provided by The Glasgow Vikings outside the Museum. The Glasgow Vikings are part of The Vikings the oldest and largest Dark Age Re-enactment Society in the United Kingdom. They are renowned for their high standard of presentation, historical accuracy and attention to detail, and for the scale and impact of their combat displays, as well as for their extensive static displays which present a cross-section of Viking life.
The Viking living history encampment will include a blacksmiths forge; fish-smoking and other historical cooking and food preparation activities; spinning, dyeing and weaving; nal binding and Viking games. A boat display by the Cluaran Boat Building Project will also feature in the living history encampment.
On Saturday 12th July a Viking fancy dress competition will take place in association with Thurso Gala along with a best beard competition. Men, women and children are encouraged to enter the best beard competition with knitted, wooden, cotton wool or any other type of beard including real beards!
There are still places available on some of the workshops so please contact us for details and to book. For the full programme of events please see our website www.yearofancientancestors.co.uk