The Viking Festival of Catoira returns, one more year, with countless activities. Mar de Santiago will once again be promoted abroad thanks to this event. It is the only one in our geo-destination that has been declared a Festival of International Tourist Interest.
Music, stage arts, gastronomy, and a medieval market will be the main features of the festival’s extensive programme, which will take place from August 1st to 6th. The last day will be the busiest due to the traditional Viking Landing, recreating the Norman invasions of the Torres de Oeste, the so-called fort of Compostela. All activities will be admission free, except for the Viking Lunch.
On Tuesday, August 1st, and Wednesday, August 2nd, the Torres de Oeste will host the theatre play Un niño Vikingo (A Viking Boy, in English). Each performance will begin at 10.15 pm. The play will also be staged on Thursday, August 3rd, before the concert by Clara Pino and Pablo Vidal.
The festive weekend will begin on Friday evening, with a parade featuring Upsala Medieval, which will take place from 9.30 pm onwards from the Alameda Park beside the Town Hall to the River Beach. At 10 pm, the Vikinsons Festival in the Alameda Park will feature performances by Luar na Lubre and Skáld.
Saturday, August 5th, will be the day of the Viking Lunch (2.30 pm), followed by another performance by Upsala Medieval at 4 pm. It will also mark the start of the Medieval Market, which will continue until Sunday evening.
There will also be a children’s parade featuring Viking attire at 4 pm and a concert by Uxía Lambona and Banda Molona, at 7.30 pm in Torres de Oeste. Upsala Medieval will return at 8.30 pm, with a parade from this place to the river beach.
The Vikinsons Parade will also feature, starting at 9 pm in the Alameda Park beside the river beach, different performances by Bloody Sunrise, Celtas Cortos, Dakidarría, and Lontreira.
The 63rd Viking Festival of Catoira will be full of people on the last day, August 6th. It will begin at 10 am with a parade featuring folk groups, from the Alameda Park beside the Town Hall to the Torres de Oeste. At 11 am, there will be a tasting of mussels and Ulla red wine, as well as performances by Troula and Upsala Medieval.
The starattraction will take place at 12.30 pm with the staging of the Viking Landing. Hundreds of locals will reenact the Norman invasions. They will arrive at the Torres de Oeste in their drakkars (longships) before thousands of onlookers. The morning will end with performances by Troula and Upsala Medieval (1.45 pm).
In the evening, there will be two final activities in the Alameda Park beside the Town Hall. At 7pm, a clown show (Clownamorado) featuring Rudi Dudi, and at 8.30 pm, a concert by TOR-Folk céltico da Galiza. Now is the time to discover Catoira and Mar de Santiago!