Dates: Friday 24 October 2025–Sunday 2 November 2025, 5:00 pm-9:00 pm
Venue: York Museum Gardens

Echoes of Yorkshire: The Museum Illuminated
24 October – 2 November 2025
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Light, colour and music surround you at the extraordinary light and sound installation created by internationally acclaimed Luxmuralis in the York Museum Gardens this autumn.  Immerse yourself in the story of the historic site with contemporary light and music showcasing the Yorkshire Museum’s age-defining artefacts and extraordinary exhibits. Join us to celebrate all that the museum and its gardens bring to our city and the wider north of England.

Perfect for the whole family, experience the gardens’ history from the Roman period to its time as an Abbey, and discover the Yorkshire Museum collection spanning 60 million years from the Jurassic, the Mesolithic, through to the Romans, Viking, Anglo-Saxon and Medieval. Luxmuralis is all about fine art, light and sound reflecting closely on the history and heritage of places and weaves together the contemporary and the ancient, making York Museum Gardens the perfect location for such a show!

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Dates: Wednesday 29 October 2025–Sunday 2 November 2025, All Day
Venue: York Art Gallery

Explore, Play, Create
Daily, Wednesday 29 October – Sunday 2 November 2025 | 10.00am – 5.00pm
Included in general admission | Booking not required

Book General Admission Here

Throughout the gallery, families are invited to discover three engaging areas designed to enhance your experience and help you explore both the space and our wonderful collection.

Explore
Discover the Burton Gallery with our Sensory Toolkit, created by artist Sarah Marsh. This interactive experience, suitable for all ages and abilities, encourages participation through sensory exploration of the gallery’s forms, colours, and textures. It is designed for quiet reflection.

Play
Get playful with costumes inspired by ceramic pots on display. Explore the shapes, colours, textures, and forms you see on gallery and mix and match to design your own wearable pot.

Create
Unleash your creativity with our Art Cart, stocked with drawing materials, intriguing objects, and inspiring activities linked to gallery artworks and exhibitions. Accessible for all ages and abilities, this space is designed for creative exploration.

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Date: Friday 31 October 2025, All Day
Venue: York Castle Museum

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Date: Friday 31 October 2025, 11:00 am-4:00 pm
Venue: York Castle Museum

Stories Alive in the Cells
31 October 2025 | Available throughout the day| Included in general admission – Book Now 

Brand new for October 2025, get involved with immersive performances inviting visitors to play judge and jury, deciding the fate of some of York Castle Prison’s most famous historical felons such as Dick Turpin and Mary Bateman. Join Eden from Stories Alive in York Castle Prison to hear mystifying and peculiar real-life stories in the authentic prison cells. 

*11:00am, 12:00 noon, 1:00pm, 2:00pm, 3:00pm and 4:00pm. Drop-in performances, suitable for all ages.

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Date: Saturday 1 November 2025, All Day
Venue: York Castle Museum

Saturday 1 November 2025 | Throughout the day | Included in general admission 

Watch live cooking demonstrations throughout the day in our studio kitchen.

This October half term, we’re making Soul Cakes, a small cake with sweet spices traditionally made for Halloween. These treats are a symbol of community and remembrance in Christian traditions, used as offerings to commemorate the dead. Tasters may be available if you’re lucky!

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Date: Saturday 1 November 2025, 11:00 am-4:00 pm
Venue: York Castle Museum

Stories Alive in the Cells
1 November 2025 | Throughout the day* | Included in general admission – Book Now

Brand new for October 2025, get involved with immersive performances inviting visitors to play judge and jury, deciding the fate of some of York Castle Prison’s most famous historical felons such as Dick Turpin and Mary Bateman. Join Eden from Stories Alive in York Castle Prison to hear mystifying and peculiar real-life stories in the authentic prison cells. 

*11:00am, 12:00 noon, 1:00pm, 2:00pm, 3:00pm and 4:00pm. Drop-in performances, suitable for all ages.

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Date: Sunday 2 November 2025, 10:30 am-3:30 pm
Venue: York Castle Museum

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Date: Wednesday 5 November 2025, 1:30 pm-3:30 pm
Venue: York Art Gallery

Sketchbook Circle
Wednesday 5 November 2025, 1:30pm – 3:30pm
Suitable for ages 16+ | £5 per person | Book here

Pick up a pencil – draw and discover!

Give yourself time to sharpen and share your drawing skills in this 2-hour sketching workshop with artist Griselda Goldsbrough.

Enjoy working in sketchbooks in a relaxed and friendly group, taking inspiration from the collections at York Art Gallery.

These informal practical art sessions run one Wednesday each month for beginners or those who create regularly. Suitable for ages 16+. Materials are provided.

Please book separately for each session.

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Date: Saturday 8 November 2025, 2:00 pm-4:00 pm
Venue: York Art Gallery

Join us at York Art Gallery for life drawing workshops; whether you are a regular participant, would like to hone your skills, or try life drawing for the first time, these regular two-hour immersive Saturday sessions, led by Rob Oldfield, are a wonderful way to experience life drawing in a supportive and friendly environment.

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Date: Saturday 15 November 2025, All Day
Venue: York Castle Museum

Saturday 15 November 2025 | Throughout the day | Included in general admission 

Watch live cooking demonstrations throughout the day in our studio kitchen.

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