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Get down with the Vikings at Up Helly Aa

By Caroline King - Posted in : Festival, Heritage

Up Helly Aa fire festival, Shetland mainland, 31 January 2012 When: 31st January 2012

Where: Lerwick, Shetland mainland

£: Free to watch the morning marching and evening procession.  The evening Town Hall event is ticketed (£25) with limited availability.

What is it?

Up Helly Aa is a traditional celebration with marches, processions, galley burning and dancing lasting into the early hours.  The festival begins in the morning (8.30am) with Guizer Jarl and his Jarl squad when they march through the town.

Up Helly Aa fire festival, Shetland mainland, 31 January 2012 In the evening there will be junior and senior processions.  Torches will be lit and the senior procession, led by the Jarl Squad, will head off to the King George V playing field where they will burn the galley.  The public may stand on the roadside to watch the procession.

After the procession and galley burning, the squads will head off to the halls for dancing.  The evening event is ticketed.

More info: www.scotlandsislands.com