The Big Viking Picnic is like no other fandom con event. Not only will it give fans of History Channel’s Vikings the chance to dress up as their favorite Vikings character, but a Vikings -inspired village will be set up to host the charity event. Fans will get the chance to wander around the village, try out different foods, and purchase Vikings -inspired crafts. They can bring a shield along and help out with the Guinness world record attempt at the world’s largest shield wall. Oh, and Travis Fimmel will be there.
Vikings fans will know Travis Fimmel as Ragnar Lothbrok in the TV series. Travis Fimmel was recently announced as ambassador to the Aoibheann’s Pink Tie Charity and has kindly offered his time to attend this event. All proceeds raised over the weekend will help support this charity who aim to support children and their families during their child’s battle to beat cancer.
“The Big Viking Picnic will be held on August 29, 2015 to take place as a ticketed event at Grove Gardens, Kells, Co. Meath, Ireland (home of the famous Halloween Spooktacular).
“A Viking themed day featuring a Viking village, Viking settlement, the participation of the cream of Ireland’s Viking re-enactment groups, food, crafts made on site by skilled traditional craftsmen, SFX make up and Viking hair styling, Charity auction featuring items from Claire Garvey among others. extra’s straight from the Set of History Channel’s Vikings TV series, Hudson’s famous funfair, and a first Guinness book of record’s attempt at the world’s largest ‘Shield wall’ requiring over 1,000 Vikings with shields. A viking longship will be on site courtesy of Ardglass Vikings. Live acts will perform from 11am until 3am on Sunday, camping is available on site.”
The cast of History Channel’s Vikings is currently filming Season 4 on location in Ireland, which is why Travis Fimmel will be able to attend the Big Viking Picnic event. It is also anticipated that some of this fellow Vikings cast members may attend the event, filming schedules permitting.
Further details of the event include the following.
“A preliminary line up of acts have been announced which promises to please all music lovers, acts confirmed are: The Riot Tapes, Buffalo Sunn,The Celtic Blondes, Supernaught (Black Sabbath Tribute) Stone Cold Sober, The Two Dubs (Folk), Shoe The Donkey (Irish Trad/Folk), Red Hot Copy Peppers, Sunset Strip 80’s band, Simply Sinatra, Christy Moore tribute, Penrose, Donna Marie & Michael, Christy Kavanagh and the Patriots (Luke Kelly tribute), with many more acts to be announced. The majority of acts have come courtesy of Starsearch Ireland.
“Attendees are encouraged to dress as Vikings as this is a family friendly event with all proceeds going directly to Aoibheann’s Pink Tie Charity, a Charity set up by Jimmy Norman, father of Aoibheann for whom the charity is named who sadly lost her battle with cancer, Jimmy Norman recently received the ‘Pride of Ireland Award’ for his hard work and dedicated fundraising efforts in his Daughter’s memory.”
If you are a Vikings fan and can’t attend this event, you can still help out Aoibheann’s Pink Tie Charity by donating rather than purchasing a ticket. All details on ticket sales and donations can be found here . Also, you can follow the event via the Big Viking Picnic Facebook page or via their Twitter account . You can also win tickets to the Big Viking Picnic via a competition currently running on their Facebook page.
Not in Ireland? Well, there will be a Vikings con in the U.S. in 2016, although there are no details available on this event yet, however, you can follow the Twitter account for information as it presents. Vikings fans in Australia (the birthplace of Travis Fimmel) will not have a con to attend, but there is a Nordic festival in October that will help them celebrate their inner viking.
Season 4 of Vikings will premiere on the History Channel in 2016. As reported earlier, Vikings will run for an extended season .
[Image credits: The Big Viking Picnic / Aoibheann’s Pink Tie Charity / History Channel / Travis Fimmel]