| Where: | Largs town centre with Fire Festival at Broomfields |
| When: | Early September for 2 weekends (and week between) |
| Time: | From 1pm on Saturdays with Festival of Fire at 8pm to 9.15 on Second Saturday |
The Battle of Largs took place in 1263, when the Norse King Haakon was defeated by the Scots King Alexander III; Haakon’s death led to the Western Isles and the Isle of Man becoming part of Scotland. This history is celebrated annually in early September with a festival which lasts over two weekends and the week between. The main focus is the living history encampment where visitors can experience the thirteenth century Viking way of life. As well as the Living History Village, there are craft and food stalls aplenty, street performances and various entertainments including dancers and musicians. The Opening Parade and Ceremony is on the first Saturday, followed by Pipers and a Viking Skirmish, and the highlight of the second weekend is the Festival of Fire at 8pm, which begins with a torchlit procession from the Viking Village and includes a battle re-enactment and the burning of a longship, with a firework spectacular to end the night literally with a bang. The Longship burning takes place on the beach with the skirmishing and entertainments in a nearby enclosure in the park, near the Fireworks site.
Helpful Hints
In 2025 the Festival should run from Saturday 30th August to Sunday 7th September.
Entry was £5 in 2017 to the Village ( the Festival of Fire is free of charge).
Look out for the Pencil, as the Battle Monument is known, and the other Viking statues and monuments around town. When the Festival is running the main seafront carpark is a funfair site so allow extra time to find a space.
Click here for the event Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/LargsVikingFestival
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