The anticyclone has allowed Madrid to once again enjoy its colorful street markets. Next weekend, Villaviciosa de Odón will be transformed into a Scandinavian village. This municipality in the northwest of Madrid will change its appearance from February 27 to 29, as the town, just 30 minutes from Madrid, celebrates its Viking Market, the highlight of the II Conference on Viking Culture and Mythology.
The El Vaíllo and Plaza de la Constitución venues will be filled with banners, wood, torches, and dozens of craft and food stalls selling leather, wrought iron, and wood items, decorated horns, amulets, and sweets in front of smoking grills and homemade breads. Throughout the day, parades with warriors, fantastic creatures, and live music coexist with the big stars of the program: spectacular articulated dragons, puppet theater, and Viking battles recreated by specialized groups, which turn the streets of the city center into a street-level stage for all ages.
A Viking village in Madrid
The market is packed with activities for those who want more than just a stroll among the stalls. Throughout the weekend, there are children’s and family workshops on fencing, crafts, and an introduction to Viking culture, among others, coordinated by historical reenactment associations, which explain how the peoples of the north lived, fought, and traded, while the little ones try on helmets, shields, and adapted chain mail.
There are also talks and round tables on Scandinavian mythology, history, and legends, designed for those who want to put everything they see on the streets into context. The result is a very complete themed weekend, combining street entertainment, historical dissemination, and an open-air market ideal for a quick getaway from Madrid, without having to leave the region.