After being transported to medieval England, the Greenbank Cidery is bracing for a Viking raid this Saturday.

As a crowd of English peasants enjoys food and drinks in celebration of the cidery’s first ever Wassailfest, a small army of Vikings will invade the picturesque barn in Freeland, bringing a mix of entertainment and immersive education.

The Wassailfest and Viking Raid will take place from noon to 6 p.m. on Jan. 18 at 5488 South Freeland Ave., a location that housed the Penn Cove Brewery before it closed its doors last year. The lease has since been taken over by 4-year-old Greenbank Cidery, run by Jeff Stoner and Kim Taylor.

Stoner and Taylor are planning to host this event every year, with a second, greater celebration expected for this summer.

The tradition, Stoner said, originated in the United Kingdom.

“It’s a tradition that involves singing, dancing and drinking to encourage a good harvest for the next year,” he said. “People would make lots of noise to wake up the trees and ward off the spirits.”

The partners then decided to add more intrigue and historical accuracy by bringing Sea Wolf Voyages, a nonprofit living history museum made up of Viking-era re-enactors. Hierophant Meadery, also located in Freeland, hosted a Viking Raid in November, inspiring the idea of a viking invasion.

In the midst of the celebration, the Vikings will announce their arrival with the sound of their drums and horns, while the Rampant Kilt Society will mingle with the crowd in their Scottish garb.

The family-friendly event will include Viking games, educational storytelling, live Celtic music performed by Plastic Paddies and face painting, Stoner said. The drink choices will include 10 ciders on tap, lots of Wassail hot spices cider (as per tradition) and non-alcoholic options, like non alcoholic beer, kombucha and non-alcoholic cider and ginger beer.

Those with an appetite might want to check out Bubba’s Burgers, Whidbey Pies and the Braeburn Wiener Wagon’s shepherd’s pie and half-pound smoked turkey leg.

No entry fee is required, though dressing up in historical fashion is encouraged.