Up Helly Aa

Gear up for a journey back in time with Up Helly Aa, a spectacular fire festival lighting up the Shetland Islands from January through March. Celebrated fervently in Lerwick, the capital of Shetland, this event is marked by a torchlit procession featuring up to a thousand ‘guizers’ (costumed participants), culminating in the dramatic burning of a Viking galley. It’s a festival where community spirit and Viking pride ignite, quite literally, in a blaze of glory on the last Tuesday of January every year.

Step into a world where the echoes of the Norsemen resonate through the streets of Lerwick. Watch as squads of guizers, dressed in elaborate Viking garb, march through the town to the beat of drums, their torches casting a warm glow against the cold, dark sky. The festival, a modern twist on the ancient yule tradition of tar barrelling, combines mischief with tradition, as the night sky is lit up with the fiery spectacle of the galley burning—an ode to the islands’ storied past.

But Up Helly Aa is more than just a fiery historical reenactment; it’s a night filled with performances, laughter, and camaraderie. After the embers of the galley have cooled, the celebration continues into the night with visits to local halls where each squad performs skits or dances. From satirical takes on current events to tributes to popular culture, the festival is as much about community as it is about spectacle. Don’t miss this unique blend of history, drama, and Shetland humor at Up Helly Aa, where the Viking spirit is alive and well, and the fire is always burning!