Dates: Friday 31 May 2019–Sunday 2 June 2019, 10:00 am - 5:00 pm
Venue: Yorkshire Museum

The Legions of Rome return to invade the ancient city of York this summer for the annual Eboracum Roman Festival.

From 31 May – 2 June, Roman Eboracum comes to life in the beautiful York Museum Gardens with a Roman Living History camp, Kids Army, demonstrations and activities for all ages.

Visit the Yorkshire Museum to discover York’s Roman history through some of Britain’s greatest Roman treasures:

• walk on a genuine Roman mosaic floor
• see the statue of Mars – the finest example of a Roman statue ever found in Britain
• marvel at the marble head of Constantine
• stand at the tombstone of Lucius Duccius Rufinus, Standard Bearer of the Ninth Legion

Special family-friendly activities will take place throughout the museum; see if you measure up for the Roman Army, make mini catapults and more!

On Saturday and Sunday, don’t miss the Roman Parades as the Roman Emperor, six Roman Legions and Roman civilians march through the iconic streets of York.

Activities in the Museum Gardens and the Roman Parades are free. Museum admission applies to activities in the Yorkshire Museum.

Events Programme

Click here to download the Roman Festival events programme.

Please see below for information about our bookable events.

Romans in the North

Friday 31 May, 10am – 4.30pm

Explore recent archaeological fieldwork, research and community projects at this one day symposium which brings together a range of speakers from York – and beyond. Find out more.

Eboracum Tour: York’s Roman Fortress – Kurt Hunter Mann

Friday 31 May, 6-7.30pm

The original Eboracum fortress, built more than 1,900 years ago, established the centre of York and a pattern of streets that still exist today. Find out more.

Eboracum Tour: Roman Graveyards in York – John Oxley

Saturday 1 June, 6-7.30pm

Back by popular demand, discover how and where the Romans buried their dead in, or rather outside, Roman York. Find out more.

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Date: Friday 31 May 2019, 10:00 am - 4:30 pm
Venue: The Hospitium

The John Hampshire Memorial Symposium in association with the Yorkshire Philosophical Society.

Explore recent archaeological fieldwork, research and community projects at this fascinating and insightful one day symposium which brings together a range of expert speakers from York  and beyond.

Schedule for the day

10am: Welcome from York Museums Trust

10.10am – 11am: Session One

• ‘196 years in the making: the Yorkshire Museum’s Romans collections’ – Lucy Creighton, York Museums Trust
• ‘Recent Roman finds from Yorkshire’ – Adam Parker, Portable Antiquities Scheme

11am: Refreshments (provided with ticket)

11.30am – 12.30pm: Session Two

• ‘Now and then: excavating a Roman cemetery at Mount Vale, York’ – Ben Savine, York Archaeological Trust
• ‘Death, burial and identity at Roman Catterick’ – Greg Speed, Northern Archaeological Associates

12.30pm: Lunch (not provided with ticket)

2pm – 3pm: Session Three

• ‘Corbridge: a biography’ – Kevin Booth, English Heritage
• ‘Hadrian’s Wall Community Archaeology Project: the story so far!’ – Nicky Garland, Newcastle University

3pm: Refreshments (provided with ticket)

3.30pm – 4.30pm:  Session Four

• ‘Petuaria ReVisited: rediscovering Roman Brough’ – Peter Halkon, University of Hull
• ‘Paints and Pigments in the Past: decorating monuments on the margins of empire’ – Louisa Campbell, University of Glasgow

4.30pm: Close

This event costs £7.50 per person and includes refreshments (but not lunch). Click here to book your tickets.

‘Romans in the North’ is just one of many events taking place as part of the Eboracum Roman Festival 2019.

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Date: Friday 31 May 2019, 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Venue: York Art Gallery

Join our Visitor Experience Team for talks based on York Art Gallery’s collections and exhibitions.

The talks take place between 2-3pm every day (expect Wednesdays and Saturdays) and are free with gallery admission. There’s no need to book.

For more details, please ask Admissions on the day of your visit.

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Date: Friday 31 May 2019, 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm
Venue: Yorkshire Museum

The original Eboracum fortress, built more than 1,900 years ago, established the centre of York and a pattern of streets that still exist today.

Walk in the footsteps of the Ninth and the Sixth Roman legions to discover how they shaped the city, looking at the archaeological evidence for the fortress, as well as examining parts of the fortress still standing above ground.

This event costs £6 per person and is a bookable event. Click here to book your tickets on Eventbrite.

Eboracum Roman Festival 2019

This walking tour is just one of many events taking place as part of the Eboracum Roman Festival 2019.

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