May Half Term 2017 at York Museums Trust
Enjoy half term activities from 27 May to 4 June at our York Museums Trust sites including York Castle Museum, York Art Gallery and the Yorkshire Museum and Gardens.
Click here to download the May half term leaflet.
York Castle Museum
Find out about the chocolate gifts sent to York soldiers during the First World War, as part of ‘Chocolate: York’s Sweet Past’. Activities are FREE with museum admission, no booking required.
Chocolate: York’s Sweet Past
Daily, 9.30am – 5pm
Delve into the delicious history of chocolate and sweets galore at our brand new chocolate experience.
A Box of Hope
Daily, 11am – 1pm & 2pm – 4pm
Learn how the City of York sent a chocolately gift to soldiers at the front during the First World War. Inspired by these tins, you’ll have the chance to make your own version with a sweet treat inside.
Meet the People
Daily, 9.30am – 5pm
Come and meet costumed characters from York’s sweet past on Kirkgate, our recreated Victorian street. Look out for Sir Joseph Terry, Joseph Rowntree and Mary Ann Craven who will tell you about their world famous chocolates and sweets.
York Art Gallery
Make garlands, origami fans, become a poet and create new artwork in our special family workshops. Activities are FREE with gallery admission, no booking required.
Fancy Fans and Garlands
27 May – 2 June daily, 11am – 1pm & 2pm – 4pm
Enjoy the beauty and aesthetics of the Albert Moore exhibition by making your own decoration to take home.
The Art of the Aesthetic
3 June, 11am – 1pm & 2pm – 4pm
Make an origami fan or be a romantic poet with students from the Department of History of Art at the University of York.
Kate Haywood: Hoard Workshops
4 June, 10.30am – 12.30pm & 1.30pm – 3.30pm
Choose and assemble a work of art from a range of mysterious components, inspired by Kate’s work and by archaeological finds. Kate will choose a selection of the work created on the day to include in her forthcoming Project Gallery exhibition.
Yorkshire Museum
Make traditional Viking stones to tell your stories and describe in words or pictures what ‘Viking’ means to you. Activities are FREE with museum admission, no booking required.
Being Viking!
Daily, 11am – 1pm & 2pm – 4pm
Get involved in our community art project; describe in words or pictures what ‘Being Viking’ means to you. The artwork will go on display in the Medieval Gallery from June to October 2017.
Traditional Viking Stones
Daily, 11am – 1pm & 2pm – 4pm
Vikings recorded their stories by painting pictures on stones. Design and paint your own stone to take away of Viking Battles, Gods and Monsters.
Eboracum Roman Festival 1-4 June
Yorkshire Museum and Gardens
Back by popular demand, the armies of ancient Rome are marching on York this summer complete with military parades, siege weapon demonstrations, archaeological investigations, birds of prey displays, a living history camp and talks by expert speakers. See the full list of events on our website.
Visit the Yorkshire Museum for our special half term activities – FREE with museum admission, no booking required.
A Legionary’s Life
2 June – 4 June, 11am – 1pm and 2pm – 4pm
Be put through your paces as you take part in our recruitment process to see if you measure up to be enlisted into the Roman Army. Learn about Lucius, Standard Bearer for the Ninth Legion, and make your own Eagle of the Ninth standard before taking part in sword and shield drill.
Kids Curator Talk: Life in the Legions
3 June & 4 June 11.30am – 12 noon
Find out about the lives of the 5,000 Roman soldiers who lived in the fortress at York – from what they wore and what they ate, to how they relaxed.
Kids Curator Talk: Roman Children
3 June& 4 June, 2.30pm – 3pm
Discover what we know about the lives of Roman children. We’ll look at what children got up to in school, work, play, and at home through the objects found from Roman York. Kids Curator Talks are aimed at age 7 – 12, but all are welcome.
Kids Curator Talks are aimed at age 7 – 12, but all are welcome.
For full event listings for the Eboracum Roman Festival, please visit our website.