When Paultons Park prepared to open Valgard: Realm of the Vikings, the launch needed to feel as significant as the investment behind it. The new Viking-themed land marked a major milestone for the park, introducing Drakon, Paultons Park’s first-ever inverting roller coaster, alongside a fully themed guest experience built around mythology, discovery and adventure.

TAG Live® was appointed to create a high-impact opening celebration that would bring the world of Valgard to life, capture guest attention and deliver an unforgettable opening moment for families visiting the park. The result was an immersive opening ceremony combining storytelling, performance, original music, costume, fire effects, large-scale pyrotechnics and a bespoke flaming Viking effigy.

Paultons Park wanted a launch moment that matched the scale, energy and ambition of Valgard. The entertainment needed to celebrate the opening of a brand-new themed land, mark the arrival of Drakon as a landmark new attraction and create a powerful shared moment for guests on opening weekend.

The experience also needed to extend the atmosphere of Valgard beyond the rides. By introducing live performance, characters and spectacle during May half term, the park could give families another way to connect with the Viking world, including younger guests who may not have been ready to experience Drakon.

The team created and delivered the full creative, production and entertainment package for the Valgard launch. This included creative concept development, opening ceremony direction, original script and storytelling, original music, choreography, costume and prop development, performer casting and rehearsal direction.

The live delivery brought together character meet-and-greet experiences, daily performances following launch, technical production planning, fire effects, large-scale pyrotechnics and a bespoke flaming Viking effigy as the ceremony centrepiece. On-site show management and operational support ensured the experience felt spectacular while remaining practical in a busy theme park environment.

The Valgard opening celebration delivered a memorable launch moment for Paultons Park, combining live storytelling, performance, fire and pyrotechnics to create a genuine sense of occasion. With Drakon as a dramatic backdrop, the final ceremony gave guests a powerful introduction to the new land and helped establish Valgard as a major new destination within the park.

The entertainment generated strong positive feedback from both the client and visitors, with guests capturing and sharing the experience across social media. It also added value for families who wanted to engage with Valgard beyond the rides, creating an inclusive live experience built around character, atmosphere and shared storytelling.

The launch entertainment helped Paultons Park create a high-impact opening moment, strengthen the storytelling around Valgard and generate guest excitement across the opening period. It gave the new land a clear sense of occasion while supporting the scale and ambition of the park’s investment.

For families, the entertainment added another layer to the guest experience. Through live performance, character interaction and spectacle, the project helped make Valgard feel active, immersive and accessible from the moment guests entered the new land.