There were fantastic scenes in Lerwick as the town was taken over by Guizer Jarl Richard Moar and his squad of Vikings for Up Helly Aa 2024.
We’ve selected some of the best photos and films of the event for you to enjoy.
Lerwick Up Helly Aa, held on the last Tuesday in January each year, is Shetland’s Fire Festival Season to celebrate the passing of winter. Similar fiery events take place from early January to the end of March with festivals held in communities all over the islands.
Richard was joined by family and friends in the squad to lead the festival, parading through the streets of the town and leading the evening torchlit procession. They looked resplendent in their Viking suits, beautifully crafted in Shetland in the months leading up to the festival.
Guizer Jarl Richard Moar leads the daytime celebrations David Gifford
For the Jarl’s Squad, Up Helly Aa is a 24-hour event, involving morning parades, afternoon visits, the fiery procession, and stopping off and performing at halls around Lerwick until the small hours of the morning. At each of the halls, guests are gathered to enjoy a night of feasting, dancing and singing.
The spectacular torch-lit procession and galley burning David Gifford
If you’d like to know more about what happens on Lerwick Up Helly Aa day, head over to this blog post.
The festival is a spectacular occasion and a celebration of Shetland’s community spirit. Each year around 1,000 people take part in the torchlit procession in Lerwick, with many more watching from the streets or attending the hall parties later in the night.
If you missed the procession or want to relive the occasion here’s our recording of the livestream.
Discover more about Shetland’s fantastic fire festival season and start planning your visit to Shetland.