The main public programme of events took place between Wednesday 26th July and Saturday 29th July 2023 when the fleet was in port.
Lerwick was the arrival port following the Cruise in Company from Fredrikstad, so ships arrived in Lerwick as early as Sunday 23rd July. See Site & Berthing Plans for where the locations of event attractions and ships were.
Event Site Opening Times - Wednesday 26th to Saturday 29th July
Victoria Pier: 1100 - 2300
Albert Whaf Traders Village: 1100 - 1900
Costa Del Fun (Alexandra Wharf): 1100 - 1900
Cadonas Funfair: 1100 - 2300
Holmsgarth Quayside Activities: 1100 - 1900
Holmsgarth Event Arena: 1100 - 0000*
Accessing Event Sites
All event sites were free to access with many free activities to join in with - see Event Programme for full details. Printed souvenir programmes were available from selected local shops from 17th July and from on-site Information points during the event with more details on activities, trader stalls and the visiting ships. Security checkpoints were in place at entrances to event sites.
Tickets & Wristbands
Those who had tickets for the evening concerts at Holmsgarth were required to exchange their paper tickets for event wristbands ahead of arrival at the concert. Wristbands were collected at Mareel from 1000 - 1600 on Saturday 15th and Sunday 16th of July and the same times the following weekend, 22nd and 23rd July. Following the start of the event, wristbands were to be collected from the information point on Victoria Pier.
Bar Services & Alcohol Rules
The event sites at Victoria Pier and within the compound at Holmsgarth were licensed to sell alcohol, bar services were provided by Hutton Bars, supported by Coors and JW Gray. As the licence conditions were specifically for alcohol sales on-site, there was a strict no carry-in policy and this was enforced during bag searches at entry gates.
Crew Parade
The Crew Parade took place on Wednesday 26th July from 1600 - 1700. Ships' crews mustured at the Esplanade, from Victoria Pier to Church Road before proceeding along the Esplanade, Commercial Road, North Road and into the Holmsgarth event site. It was a spectacular display with music, international culture, Vikings and lots of fun! road closures were in place during the parade.
Fireworks
There was a short fireworks display on Friday 28th July around 2220. Which was set off from Bressay and visible all along the waterfront from both event sites. The display lasted 3-4 minutes.
Parade of Sail
Due to weather conditions, the Parade of Sail was cancelled for safety concerns. A revised start line was agreed and ships left from a 24-hour period on Saturday morning. The live webcam feed still went ahead.
The Parade originally was to start at 11.30 am on Saturday morning (29th), the ships would have begun to leave their berths in order and make their way into the Breiwick area between the Bressay Lighthouse and Sea Road.
