Dates: Saturday 28 March 2026–Sunday 31 May 2026, 10:00 am-5:00 pm
Venue: York Museum Gardens

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Dates: Saturday 23 May 2026–Sunday 24 May 2026, All Day
Venue: York Museum Gardens

Living History Camp in York Museum Gardens
23 and 24 May 2026 | 10am – 5pm | Free 

Romans will once again take over York Museum Gardens with a living history encampment demonstrating the Roman way of life. This is a family friendly and free event for everyone to enjoy.

Explore the day-to-day lives of citizens and centurions through living-history demonstrations, expert talks, hands-on activities and storytelling for all ages.

Image credit Gareth Buddo

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Dates: Saturday 23 May 2026–Saturday 30 May 2026, 10:30 am-4:30 pm
Venue: York Castle Museum

Pop Up Play
Saturday 23 May – Saturday 30 May 2026
Drop in between 10.30am – 4.30pm
Included in general admission
Suitable for all ages 

This Half-Term, Playful Anywhere are joining us with games glore! Head outside to our Mill Yard to enjoy some playground games from the past. We’ll also have some games on our 1960’s street including Cat’s Cradle and Slinkys. 

A member of the Playful Anywhere Team will be on hand to facilitate play sessions on Saturday 23 May and Saturday 30 May if you’d like some guidance. Games will be self-led on all other dates, please be considerate when playing around others. 

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Dates: Saturday 23 May 2026–Sunday 24 May 2026, 10:30 am-3:30 pm
Venue: York Museum Gardens

Stories Alive: Labours of Hercules
Saturday 23 May and Sunday 24 May 2026 | 10.30am, 11.30am, 1.30pm and 3.30pm
Free
Suitable for all ages
York Museum Gardens 

Step into the world of heroes and legends and discover the legendary story of the Twelve Labours of Hercules, the heroic demigod famed for his strength and courage. Join Eden from Stories Alive for an action-packed journey full of drama, danger and heroism.  

Meet in the Storytelling Area. 

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Dates: Saturday 23 May 2026–Sunday 24 May 2026, 11:00 am-4:00 pm
Venue:

Roman Discovery Trail
Saturday 23 May and Sunday 24 May 2026
11am – 4pm
Free | Collect a trail sheet from the Information Tent in York Museum Gardens

Explore key Roman York locations across the city in this Roman Discovery Trail, designed by the University of York. At each stop, you’ll collect a stamp and a letter for the name of the Roman lost dog, learning about York’s Roman history through stories and objects along the way.

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Dates: Saturday 23 May 2026–Sunday 24 May 2026, 11:30 am-2:30 pm
Venue: York Museum Gardens

Roman Plants and Herbs
Saturday 23 May and Sunday 24 May 2026 | 11.30am – 12 noon, and 2pm – 2.30pm (Saturday only)
Free
Suitable for all ages
Edible Wood, York Museum Gardens 

Join a member of the Gardens Team to learn about medicinal and edible plants and herbs which were introduced to Britain by the Romans, which can be found in York Museum Garden’s Edible Garden.

There will be an opportunity to ask questions at the end. 

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Dates: Saturday 23 May 2026–Sunday 31 May 2026, 12:30 pm-3:00 pm
Venue: York Castle Museum

Victorian Classroom: Physical Education 
Daily, Saturday 23 May – Sunday 31 May 2026 | 12.30pm – 1pm and 3pm – 3.30pm  (2 x 15 minute sessions)
Included in general admission 
Suitable for all ages 

Learn about physical education lessons from the past in our Victorian classroom. 

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Date: Sunday 24 May 2026, All Day
Venue: York Art Gallery

Make and Play 
Sunday 24 May 2026
Included in general admission 
Suitable for all ages 

Drop into The Studio during your visit and discover fun, self-led creative activities inspired by the Making Waves exhibition. Experiment with inks and stamps whilst listening to Japanese inspired music and add your design to a large-scale collaborative, colourful stamped wall art piece. 

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Date: Sunday 24 May 2026, 11:00 am-1:15 pm
Venue: York Museum Gardens

Kids Barbaric Battle 
Sunday 24 May 2026
11am – 11.30am and 1.15pm – 1.45pm
£10 per child* | Book Tickets
York Museum Gardens

Barbaric Battles Live! return to York with a new Roman-themed conquest. Warriors young and old will take to the battlefield to take part in the UK’s largest Roman Family Battle, set in York Museum Gardens. 

Children take on parents and vice-versa in this fully immersive play-fight, re-enacting the battle of Boudicca’s army of Ancient Britons against the might of the Roman Legions. 

 The show encompasses battlefield manoeuvres, historical set pieces and entertaining historical commentary while families battle it out on the field. 

Safety comes first, little legionaries under 7 will need an adult by their side on the battlefield (each child ticket includes one adult to supervise) and foam weapons, shields and equipment are provided. 

Tickets can be purchased at the Yorkshire Museum’s admissions desk on the day if spaces are available.

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Date: Sunday 24 May 2026, 11:00 am-4:00 pm
Venue: Yorkshire Museum

Meet Me at the Yorkshire Museum 
Sunday 24 May 2026 
Drop in between 11am – 4pm | (Performances at 11am, 12 noon, 1.30pm and 2.30pm) 
Included in general admission to the Yorkshire Museum 
Suitable for all ages 

Have you ever wanted to meet a Roman? History Riot return with another interactive storytelling experience, centred around life in Roman York.  

 Discover tales of the brave and bold, told by a Roman and set on a real Roman mosaic, through stories, games and laughter. 

 ‘Meet me at the Yorkshire Museum’ is brought to you by History Riot, a performance company connecting people to place and past, through riotous performance and storytelling. 

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