VIKING invaders arriving for a JORVIK Viking Festival this weekend will see plans have been altered slightly to allow for Storm Dennis.

“We breathed a sigh of relief when Storm Ciara missed us, but it seems that Thor has taken a leaf out of his trickster brother’s repertoire and is throwing Dennis our way for our opening weekend,”said festival manager, Gareth Henry of York Archaeological Trust.

“Thankfully, the Vikings are a hardy and adaptable bunch, so we’ve managed to rearrange most of the most exposed parts of the festival to alternative, sheltered and indoor locations for the first few days of the festival, and we hope to have everything back to normal from Tuesday or Wednesday, weather permitting.”

The biggest changes will be to the Viking encampment, which normally takes place in Parliament Street. From Saturday to Monday, this will be relocated to the Undercroft at the Merchant Adventurers’ Hall where there will be free entry on all three days.

Many of the events due to take place on the St Sampson’s Square stage and Parliament Street marquee will temporarily relocated to Spark: York – the venue for Viking Crafting for Kids – on Piccadilly on Saturday and Sunday, including Saga Storytelling and the Viking Costume Competition.

Have-a-go Sword Workshops will take place in DIG: An Archaeological Adventure on St Saviourgate from Saturday to Monday, hopefully returning to St Sampson’s Square on Tuesday 18 February for the rest of the Festival.

The Nine Realms Bar will operate as normal in Parliament Street for the duration of the Festival, within the Parliament Street Tent that will also host Viking Crafting for Kids during the weekdays. The Festival Information Stand can also be found in the Parliament Street Tent on Saturday 15 -Monday 17, but should move outdoors to St Sampson’s Square on Tuesday 18 February.

At this stage, the only events that have been cancelled are the City Tours, taking place on Saturday, Sunday and Monday, starting instead on Tuesday 18 February. Thankfully, flooding has only affected riverside areas which are accustomed to high water levels each year, and the vast majority of the city remains unaffected and open for business – including JORVIK Viking Centre itself.

“We’re confident that visitors can still enjoy an amazing Viking experience despite these changes, but hope that the good people of York will consider offering a poem or two to Thor – as Norse explorer Thorhall did in the Saga of Erik the Red - to bring this weather chaos to an end ahead of our second Festival weekend, when hordes of warriors will once again descend on the city and march through our historic streets,” adds Gareth.

Visit www.jorvikvikingfestival.co.uk.