York Museums Trust

Events

Green Father Christmas – Sat 15 Nov 2025

Green Father Christmas

Date: Saturday 15 November 2025, 10:00 am-5:00 pm
Venue: York Castle Museum

Green Father Christmas
Saturday 15 November 2025 | Throughout the day* | Included in general admission – Book Now

Father Christmas returns to York Castle Museum every Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday from 15 November until Christmas Eve, with an array of performances throughout the day.

A figure the Victorians will have known well, Father Christmas will be dressed in his traditional long green cloak greeting visitors on Kirkgate, bringing fun and jollity to all. Come along with friends and family to talk to him about food and feasting, games, dancing and songs, as well as his many different guises, companions and transport across the world!

*Times will be advertised at the admissions desk on the day.

Please note, this is not a meet Santa experience.

 

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Sunday Sounds: The Ran Tanners – Sun 16 Nov 2025

Date: Sunday 16 November 2025, 10:00 am-5:00 pm
Venue: York Castle Museum

Sunday Sounds: The Ran Tanners
Sunday 16 November 2025 | Throughout the day* | Included in general admission – Book Now

Enjoy live carols and tunes throughout the museum every Sunday from 16 November until 21 December 2025.

Get in the festive spirit with live, energetic performances of carols and tunes throughout the day from The Ran Tanners.

*Times will be advertised at the admissions desk on the day.

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Art for Wellbeing – Sun 16 Nov 2025

Art for Wellbeing

Date: Sunday 16 November 2025, 10:30 am-12:30 pm
Venue: York Art Gallery

Art for Wellbeing
Sunday 16 November 2025, 10.30am – 12.30pm
Suitable for ages 16+ Included in general admission | Booking not required

Art activities to release your creative energy!
Set in the beautiful surroundings of York Art Gallery’s Studio space, this 2-hour workshop gives opportunity for discovery and time to explore a variety of art materials and inspiring themes designed to promote wellbeing.
Enjoy the company of others, creating art with gentle guidance from artist Griselda Goldsbrough.
Please note: This practical art workshop is for ages 16+ and runs one Sunday each month. There is no need to pre-book for this session and it is suitable for all abilities.

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Victorian Carol Singers – Mon 17 Nov 2025

Victorian Carol Singers

Date: Monday 17 November 2025, 10:00 am-5:00 pm
Venue: York Castle Museum

Victorian Carol Singers
Monday 17 November 2025 | Throughout the day* | Included in general admission – Book Now

Victorian Carol Singers will perform every Monday from 17 November until 22 December, and Sunday 7 December, with performances throughout the day.

Get in the festive spirit and experience Christmas tradition with Same Difference Arts with their atmospheric live performances on Kirkgate. Inspired by traditional Christmas carols, performances will feature classic ditties from the period including ‘O, Christmas Tree’, ‘God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen’ and ‘Hark the Herald’, certain to get everyone in the festive mood.

*Times will be advertised at the admissions desk on the day.

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Storycraft Theatre: Ralf the Robin’s Christmas Party – Tue 18 Nov 2025

Storycraft Theatre: Ralf the Robin’s Christmas Party

Date: Tuesday 18 November 2025, 10:30 am-1:00 pm
Venue: York Castle Museum

Storycraft Theatre: Ralph the Robin’s Christmas Party
Tuesday 18 November 2025 | Throughout the day* | Included in general admission – Book Now

Storycraft Theatre’s live storytelling experience will run every Tuesday from 18 November until 16 December, with 20-minute performances throughout the day.

Story Craft Theatre return to York Castle Museum with another festive tale. Ralf the Robin is planning the biggest Christmas party ever, but he can’t do it without all his friends. This magical storytelling experience is support by Makaton signs and puppetry.

Suitable for under 5’s, children must be accompanied by an adult.

*Times will be advertised at the admissions desk on the day.

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Green Father Christmas – Wed 19 Nov 2025

Green Father Christmas

Date: Wednesday 19 November 2025, 10:00 am-5:00 pm
Venue: York Castle Museum

Green Father Christmas
Wednesday 19 November 2025 | Throughout the day* | Included in general admission – Book Now

Father Christmas returns to York Castle Museum every Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday from 15 November until Christmas Eve, with an array of performances throughout the day.

A figure the Victorians will have known well, Father Christmas will be dressed in his traditional long green cloak greeting visitors on Kirkgate, bringing fun and jollity to all. Come along with friends and family to talk to him about food and feasting, games, dancing and songs, as well as his many different guises, companions and transport across the world!

*Times will be advertised at the admissions desk on the day.

Please note, this is not a meet Santa experience.

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Community Birdwatch – Wed 19 Nov 2025

Community Birdwatch

Date: Wednesday 19 November 2025, 10:30 am-11:30 am
Venue: York Museum Gardens

Community Birdwatch

19 November 2025 | 10.30am – 11:30am | Free

Join us for a community bird watch in the gardens and look out for the diverse range of birds in the garden.

Meet at the Birdwatching Station behind the Rock Garden.

Suitable for all ages, no pre booking required.

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Castle Kitchen: Mince Pies – Thu 20 Nov 2025

Date: Thursday 20 November 2025, 10:00 am-5:00 pm
Venue: York Castle Museum

Castle Kitchen – Mince Pies
Thursday 20 November 2025 | Demonstrations throughout the day | Included in general admission – Book Now

Join us in the Castle Kitchen for mince pie making. Demonstrations of Tudor and Georgian mince pie recipes will run throughout the day on Thursdays and Saturdays in the run-up to Christmas.

Recipes will also be available to take home so you can have a go yourself over the festive period!

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Gallery Babies – Thu 20 Nov 2025

Gallery Babies

Date: Thursday 20 November 2025, 10:00 am-12:00 pm
Venue: York Art Gallery

Gallery Babies
Thursdays, 10-12pm*, Burton Gallery (term-time only)
Pilot from Thursday 13th November – Thursday 18th December
Free| tickets coming soon
*Please note the session on Thursday 11th December will run from 11:00-13:00.
Drop-in sensory play sessions for pre-walking babies and their grown-ups in the atmospheric surroundings of York Art Gallery.
Using our beautiful sensory toolkit, a collection of colourful squishy sculptural objects, sessions will be gently facilitated, exploring shape, colour and texture.
Gallery Babies is a welcoming and supportive space to relax, bond with your baby and meet other parents and carers, providing a bit of calm and care to your daily routine.
The session starts at 10am and finishes at 12pm, but you can drop in and out at any time. Even after the session has finished, our sensory toolkit will remain on gallery for you to continue to explore with your baby.
These sessions are designed for pre-walking babies, however we understand that you may have your hands full with more than one child! If that’s the case the Studio will be open and can be used as a space to play, read and eat much needed snacks outside of the galleries if needed. Buggy parking and baby changing facilities available.

We are also offering a special offer in Sketch café for anybody attending a session: Hot drink and cake £6.00 and

Lunch and drink £12.00.

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Green Father Christmas – Thu 20 Nov 2025

Green Father Christmas

Date: Thursday 20 November 2025, 10:00 am-5:00 pm
Venue: York Castle Museum

Green Father Christmas
Thursday 20 November 2025 | Throughout the day* | Included in general admission – Book Now

Father Christmas returns to York Castle Museum every Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday from 15 November until Christmas Eve, with an array of performances throughout the day.

A figure the Victorians will have known well, Father Christmas will be dressed in his traditional long green cloak greeting visitors on Kirkgate, bringing fun and jollity to all. Come along with friends and family to talk to him about food and feasting, games, dancing and songs, as well as his many different guises, companions and transport across the world!

*Times will be advertised at the admissions desk on the day.

Please note, this is not a meet Santa experience.

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