The Vista Viking Festival Celebrates 20 Years
Travel back 1000 years in time to mingle with Vikings and the Norse Gods at the 20th Annual Vista Viking Festival this September!
Visit living, early Viking Encampments featured throughout our grounds. Reenactment guilds such as the ArchDuchy of Brandenburg, the Celtic Norse, Drafn, the Guardians of Midgard, the Red Hand, Vesterfolk, and the Wolves of Odin, bring our Viking Village to life with authentic daily activities. Blacksmithing, fiber arts, fine metalworking, and freshly baked bread from our Viking oven.
The Vista Viking Festival Marketplace
The Viking Marketplace will be filled with merchants offering Viking wares, and treasures brought back from across the seas — swords, knives, helms, shields, drinking horns, jewelry, and more. Get yourself outfitted to cosplay Viking. Or just take home a treasure or two to remember the day. Marketplace, food vendors have sausages, Swedish meatballs, Norwegian cookies, and exotic foods featuring Fresh Lefsa and Krumkake.
The Battles
Exciting Viking Battles will be fought on our list field. Brave Viking Warriors travel from abroad to compete on our battlefield. Cheer on your favorite champions as they meet in one on one combat and wild group melees. We have the premiere Viking Weapons Range on the West Coast! Boasting Archery, Axe, and Spear Throwing Lanes. Our expert instructors have decades of experience and will train you in skills that last a lifetime.
Odin’s Forge
Odin’s Forge, our working Blacksmith Shop, will be fired up and making new tools, weapons and hardware. Our experienced Smith Managers and Crew will demonstrate why Blacksmiths were a vital part of Viking Age society.
Live music and entertainment
Both our Odin Stage, and Loki Stage feature live music and entertainment that will take you back to the time of the Vikings. Featuring some of the area’s best Celtic and Folk rock groups, and other surprise entertainers.
Vista Viking Festival signature competitions
Make Viking Festival history by participating in one of our signature competitions! To test the strength. The Viking Log Toss. Further hone your Viking skills for the Battle Cry, Horn Blowing, and Beard contests. Be sure to catch the World Famous Fish Fling competition. On Saturday, stay after sunset for the spectacular Flaming Axe Throw.
Experience Scandinavian history
At Norway Hall, our Heritage Hall, experience Scandinavian history, genealogy, culture, cooking, craft, and Fiber Arts demonstrations. Shop for handicrafts, snacks, and souvenirs from The Daughters of Norway, Hulda Garborg Lodge, the Sons of Norway Norge Lodge, and The Balboa Park House of Norway.
Quench your Viking thirst
For the thirsty, Find a selection of fine Mead, Beer, and Spirits, including Aquavit at Odin’s Bar. In our Beer and Meading Place, we have our popular ‘Meet the Brewmasters’ event. Featuring some of San Diego’s and the region’s best micro-brews, and fine Viking Meads, some crafted especially for the Viking Festival.
Little Vikings zone
KidZone for the little Vikings. The wee ones can paint their own shields and swords. There will be crafts, music lessons, face painting, games, and the learning-fun Rune Quest game.
See you there
The Vista Viking Festival is located at 2006 East Vista Way in Vista, and tickets are on sale now here.
Online ticket prices are $20 for adults, $10 for youth, and $5 for kids. Prices will be higher at the gate if still available, but they expect to sell out in their online sales.
See you there, San Diego!