Equinox
2026
The boat burn is back
Photo credits: Harvey Mills
Join us for an unforgettable Autumn Festival
Join us for Equinox, our immersive celebration, where Viking and Saxon warriors bring the past to life through thrilling combat displays, alongside live music, traditional crafts, storytelling, authentic living history, and the return of the Viking boat burn! Immerse yourself in the sights, sounds, and traditions of the early medieval period. As day turns to night, the festival culminates in the iconic burning of a Viking boat - a dramatic finale set against the atmospheric backdrop of Butser Ancient Farm.
Time and Place
Butser Ancient Farm
Chalton Lane, Chalton, Hampshire, PO8 0BG
Saturday 19 September.
The event opens at 1:00 pm, with live music, Viking and Saxon displays, talks, traders, and food and drink available throughout the afternoon and evening.
Last entry is 5:00pm.
The evening ends with the Viking boat burn, and the event will finish at 8:30 pm, or once the boat burn has concluded.
Finding your way
We’re located just off the A3, making us easy to reach by car.
Main hilltop car park
If you are coming from the A3. The main hilltop car park is located at the top of Chalton Lane. Please enter through the gate next to the road junction by the A3. This will be signposted.
Premium parking
The entrance to the premium car park is the first gate on the right after you turn off Chalton Lane onto the lane leading down to the farm.
Accessible parking
Please continue down the track towards the farm entrance, where our team will direct you to the hardstanding accessible car park.
Parking must be booked in advance
All parking spaces must be selected and paid for during the ticket booking process.
Please have your tickets ready to show at the gate.
Things to do
There’s plenty to discover for adults and children alike throughout the day. Try your hand at archery, watch and try traditional blacksmithing in action, and get involved with hands-on activities inspired by the Viking and Saxon world. Choose your allegiance with Saxon or Viking warpaint, hear epic retellings of Norse myths and heroic sagas, and explore ancient skills and crafts brought to life by expert demonstrators.
Wander through our bustling market of artisan traders, where you’ll find handcrafted jewellery, leatherwork, woodcraft, textiles, artwork, and other unique Viking and Saxon inspired treasures. It’s the perfect place to discover traditional craftsmanship.
Things to see
This Equinox, experience a day and evening of spectacular entertainment, with live music, inspiring talks, thrilling combat displays, and immersive living history. Watch fearsome Saxon and Viking warriors clash in dramatic battle displays, and discover the stories, beliefs, and traditions that shaped the Viking world. Discover how people lived, worked, cooked, and fought more than a thousand years ago.
Throughout the day, enjoy a vibrant programme of live performances, with multiple bands, ancient instruments, and powerful rhythms. Watch traditional Morris dancers take to the stage and enjoy captivating fire performances.
Food & drink
Feast on delicious food and drink! Get your supper from a food stand - you’ll have the selection of loaded flatbreads, succulent hog roast and many treats from our on-site shop - and enjoy hot and cold drinks from our shop, or alcohol and several varieties of local mead from the bar! Non-alcoholic, vegetarian, vegan, and gluten free options will all be available, and are sure to keep you fuelled for a day of Viking battles and adventure!
We recommend bringing cash with you, as many traders will be taking cash payments
Tickets
Butser Ancient Farm is an independent not-for-profit, and Equinox is a key fundraiser for our work in research & education.
Thank you for your support!
Monday 10th August - Butser Plus Members Presale
Tuesday 11th August - General Sale
What is Equinox?
Butser Ancient Farm is a unique experimental archaeology site in Hampshire, and Equinox is one of our biggest fundraising events of the year. We’re an independent not-for-profit, and we absolutely rely on the support we get through Equinox to allow us to continue our research and educational work in the coming year.
The equinoxes mark the only two times in the year that day and night are equal length, halfway between the longest and shortest days. Ancient peoples have been observing the equinoxes and solstices since the Stone Age - this is what monuments like Stonehenge pay tribute to!
We don’t know if the Vikings themselves celebrated the autumn equinox, but some modern Norse pagans celebrate Haustblot around this time. Our festival isn’t intended as either a historical recreation or a religious celebration; instead, we honour the end of summer with a spectacular festival of activities, performances, and storytelling! We encourage you to bring to it whatever meaning you would like - historical, spiritual, communal, or just a bit of fun! This festival welcomes all comers.
FAQs
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ENTERING: The gate opens at 1pm, and last entrance is at 5pm.
GROUP BOOKINGS: If your group is arriving separately but are all under one booking, please ensure everyone has a copy of your tickets and let us know on the gate to expect the rest of your party.
CARERS: If you need a carer, you’re entitled to a free adult ticket to cover them. Please book all required tickets as normal. We will then email you shortly afterwards for supporting evidence to validate your carer ticket. Evidence can include one of the following: evidence of Middle or Higher rate DLA for care and/or mobility; PIP receipt; Access Card +1; evidence of Armed Forces Independent Payment or War Disablement Pension; D/deaf or blind registration; evidence of carer registration; a medical professional’s letter.
RESALES: RESALES: Please do not buy tickets touted via any other reseller as they may not be genuine and we cannot honour fake tickets.
RETURNS: We are not offering refunds for this event. If you have any questions please email hello@butserancientfarm.co.uk
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WHEELCHAIRS: Butser Ancient Farm is a completely wheelchair accessible site, although please be aware that paths are rustic and many areas are grass. For more accessibility information, see our accessibility page.
MOBILITY SCOOTERS: If you use a mobility scooter, please be aware that we don’t recommend using large or bulky scooters if possible due to large crowds.
DOGS: Service dogs are welcome everywhere on site!
SENSORY INFORMATION: You can find detailed sensory information about the site on our accessibility page. Please be aware that this is a busy festival, and may be more overwhelming than a regular visit.
QUIET SPACE: We will be setting aside one of our roundhouses as a quiet space. Please feel free to use it as much as you need.
FOOD & DRINK: This event will have a variety of delicious food and drink options that are non-alcoholic, vegetarian, vegan, and/or gluten free. Please ask the vendor if you are concerned about allergies.
ACCESSIBLE PARKING: We have accessible spaces for blue badge holders are people needing accesibile parking. Please be aware spaces are VERY limited; we’ll do our very best to accommodate you.
CARERS: If you need a carer, you’re entitled to a free adult ticket to cover them. Please book your other ticket(s) as normal, and then email admin@butserancientfarm.co.uk with your order number and one of the following: evidence of Middle or Higher rate DLA for care and/or mobility; PIP receipt; Access Card +1; evidence of Armed Forces Independent Payment or War Disablement Pension; D/deaf or blind registration; evidence of carer registration; a medical professional’s letter.
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TICKET: Please bring your ticket — on your phone is fine, or you can print it if you prefer.
CASH: This is a cash-preferred event as we can’t guarantee signal to pay by card, so please bring cash if you’d like to purchase anything while on site.
FOOD & DRINK: You are more than welcome to bring your own food, but please don’t bring any alcohol.
CHAIRS:
PETS: Service dogs are welcome.
PHOTOS: Feel free to take photos and videos of this event for personal use! We’d love to see them — tag us on Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook, and use the hashtag #ButserEquinox. If you’d like to take images for commercial or media use, please email us on hello@butserancientfarm.co.uk to discuss.
DRONES: Please do not bring a drone to this event. This is a legal concern, and you may be asked to leave.
KNIVES: According to UK law, we cannot allow locking knives over 3 inches long.
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CLOTHING: Please dress warmly, as this event will mostly be outside!
SHOES: This site is a working farm, so please wear practical shoes.
COSTUME: Many people like to dress up for Equinox, and we love it! Please feel free to wear historical dress and fantasy costumes — show us your best!
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Sorry, we cannot allow camping or overnight parking at Butser. Here are some alternative places to stay that we can recommend:
QUEEN ELIZABETH COUNTRY PARK: This lovely country park has several camping pitches for tents, and is a half hour walk or five minute drive from Butser. For more information please see their website →
SUSTAINABILITY CENTRE: The Sustainability Centre is about a 10 minute drive from Butser and offers a variety of accommodation, from camping pitches and hireable yurts to an eco hostel and B&B. For more information please see their website →
THE HAMPSHIRE HOG: The Hampshire Hog is our local pub and hotel, and is just a two minute drive or 15 minute walk from Butser. Please be aware that the walk includes sections on the road without pavement. For more information please see their website →
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DRIVING: Click here to get directions in Google Maps. We are in Waterlooville, Hampshire, and are a two minute drive from the A3. Take the A3 between Petersfield and Portsmouth, and come off at the Clanfield exit. Follow the brown signs to Butser Ancient Farm, or directions to Chalton.
PUBLIC TRANSPORT: Take the train to Petersfield. Catch the Number 37 bus from Petersfield to Clanfield, and come off at the Hampshire Hog in Clanfield. We are a 10 minute walk down the hill from the Hampshire Hog. Please be aware that parts of this walk are on the road with no pavement.
Please note the guidelines given here do not necessarily mean that public transport will be running at the required times for this event. Please check timetables with train and bus operators in advance of planning your trip.
ENTERING: First entrance is at 1pm, and last entrance is at 5pm.
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CAR PARKS: We have two car parks for this event and one section for accessible parking. There will be staff and signs to direct you.
LARGE VEHICLES: Due to space limitations, we can only park vehicles of under 5m long. If you want to come in a larger vehicle, please email us at hello@butserancientfarm.co.uk with the size of your vehicle to discuss options.
CAR PARK OPENING: The Hilltop car park will open at 12:30pm. The Premium and Accessible car parks will open at 12:45pm. All three will be closed and locked after the event at 9pm.
DROP OFF & PICK UP: If you are being dropped off for this event, please direct your driver to the drop off and pick up layby directly opposite the farm entrance. Please do not drive onto site if you are not parking in the Butser car parks or accessible car parks.
PARKING CHARGES: Standard parking in the Hilltop car park costs £5 per car. Premium parking costs £12 per car. Accessible parking is free (please apply for a parking pass).
ACCESSIBLE PARKING: Blue badge holders are entitled to free accessible parking. Please book your accessible parking tickets as normal. We will then email you shortly afterwards to ask for a photo of your blue badge, which will validate your parking pass. Please be aware spaces are limited and allocated on a first-come-first-served basis; we’ll do our very best to accommodate you.
OVERNIGHT PARKING: Sorry, we cannot allow overnight parking at Butser.
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PHOTOGRAPHY: Please note we will have volunteer photographers and members of the press documenting this special occasion for promotional purposes.
PERSONAL USE: Feel free to take photos and videos of this event for personal use! Tag us on Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook and use the hashtag #ButserEquinox and we may share your pictures.
MEDIA & COMMERCIAL: If you’d like to take images for commercial or media use, please email us on hello@butserancientfarm.co.uk to discuss.
PRESS: If you would like to cover this event for the media, please contact us on hello@butserancientfarm.co.uk to discuss. If your request has been accepted, you will be issued a press pass when you arrive at the event.
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PRESS: If you would like to cover this event for the media, please contact us on admin@butserancientfarm.co.uk to discuss. If your request has been accepted, you will be issued a free press pass when you arrive at the event.
PERFORMERS & CONTRIBUTORS: If you would like to help us make Beltain amazing by performing, holding a demonstration, or offering an activity, please contact us at events@butserancientfarm.co.uk.
TRADERS: If you would like to discuss having a stand at Equinox, please email events@butserancientfarm.co.uk.
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FAKE TICKETS: We are unable to honour fake tickets.
ARRIVAL & DEPARTURE: The car parks will open at 12:45pm. Last entrance to the festival is at 5pm. The event ends at 8:30pm.. Overnight parking is not permitted.
FIRE: Please be aware this event features open fires. By attending you take responsibility for ensuring your party behaves sensibly.
CANCELLATION: This event will take place whatever the weather. If we have to cancel the event for some other reason, you will receive a full refund of your ticket.
ITEMS NOT ALLOWED: You will not be allowed to enter the site with the following: a pet (excluding service dogs), alcohol, a drone, locking knives/knives over 3 inches, or anything to throw onto the bonfire.
LEAVE NO TRACE: Please help us to respect the earth and reduce plastic waste and litter on site by finding one of our bins for your rubbish!