The one-day festival involves a series of marches and visitations, ending in a torch-lit procession and the burning of a galley.
The Up Helly Aa festival, a celebration of culture and history, takes place in Lerwick, the main town and port of the Shetland archipelago in Scotland. Although there are many local versions of the festival, Lerwick’s festival is famous for its grandeur. The one-day festival involves a series of marches and visitations, ending in a torch-lit procession and the burning of a galley. Preparations for the big event are made around the year in secrecy by volunteers.