The Vikings of Bjornstad is now a nonprofit 501(c)(3) corporation!
And you can now pay your dues online on our
Bjornstad Membership page.
Swords: Fast - Hard - Often Physics, Movies and Combat
The Vikings of Bjornstad Life in the Age of the Vikings, Normans and Anglo Saxons
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What did things cost in the Viking Age? Check out our Viking Prices and Coinage page.
Want to copy and paste runes? Now you can: Viking
Runes
The Viking holmgang - brought to life
The Vikings of Bjornstad
is a living history and educational group, concentrating on the Viking age - from 793 through 1066 AD. We strive for an
authentic presentation of the culture, weapons and crafts from a thousand years ago, including Viking, Norman and Anglo-Saxon re-enactment.
Bjornstad has been filmed twice for History Channel productions and has provided extras, weaponry, clothing and props for several independent film projects. Our
members provided authentic weapon sound effects for How to Train Your Dragon and historic authenticity consulting for Hammer of the Gods,
a British Viking movie released in 2013. Bjornstad’s members work with educational and Scandinavian heritage groups to provide a balanced view of one of
history’s most fascinating periods and cultures.
Most of our members live in the extended San Francisco Bay Area, currently north to Santa Rosa and Fort Bragg,
east to Stockton and south to San Jose. We attend events and group meetings throughout the year;
see our Calendar of Events
to check out the schedule.
The Vikings of Bjornstad have been involved in a wide range of fascinating - and fun - projects.
Annually, we present 5 hours of Viking lecture, demonstration and hands-on interaction for Professor Costanza Dopfel and her class on Barbarian cultures at St. Mary's College in Moraga, California
We challenged the host of Dinner: Impossible on the Food Network to a series of Viking challenges in an episode televised in November, 2021, - and
then we were served dinner!
We provided presentations, demonstrations and displays at the first annual Living History Day at California State University, East Bay, Hayward in May, 2016,
In December, 2012, we joined Dr. Pete Worden, Director of NASA Ames Research, and his staff
for a photo shoot as part of their campaign to inspire interest in a
new generation of satellite technology.
In November, 2011, we presented a seminar on the Vikings for the Renaissance Society on the CSU Sacramento campus
In October, 2010, we presented a seminar on the Vikings' influence on our world as part of the Oakmont Sunday Symposium series
We join the Lions Club at their annual Special Kids Day event for children with special needs
In June, 2006, we attended the San Francisco premier of Beowulf and Grendel - in gear
In August, 2009, we provided a hobgoblin troop for a student fantasy film, Runewood
On December 3rd, 2005 we provided a non-historic barbarian horde for an Academy of Art University student film, The Epic of Wayhelm
In January 2005 we filmed the host segments for an episode of The Conquerors about William the Conqueror, with actor and military advisor Dale Dye, for the History Channel
In July 2004 we provided the actors for the Battle of Hastings (fought in 1066) segment of Command Decisions, also for the History Channel
In 2002 we went as a group to see the "Vikings: The North Atlantic Saga" exhibit at the Natural History Museum in Los Angeles
We've set up our Viking Age encampment at:
The Leif Erikson Viking Fest held by the
Freya Lodge of the Sons of Norway, in Santa Rosa
The "Sprint the Pier" races hosted by
the North Bay Vikings
(associated with the Bay Area Whaleboat
Rowing Association) in Berkeley
The Dixon Scottish Games in Dixon
Schools throughout the extended San Francisco Bay Area from Santa Rosa to Santa Cruz