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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Date: Saturday 23 May 2026, 11:00 am-3:00 pm
Venue: York Museum Gardens

Kids Barbaric Battle 
Saturday 23 May 2026
11am – 11.30am, 1.15pm – 1.45pm and 3pm – 3.30pm
£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.

Kids Barbaric Battle also returns Sunday 24 May 2026 at 11am and 1.15pm.

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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: Saturday 23 May 2026, 2:00 pm
Venue: York Museum Gardens

Vlad and the Roman Triumph 
Saturday 23 May and Sunday 24 May 2026 
2pm | Free admission | Suitable for all ages 

What did the Romans put in their museums? How did they get their clothes really white? 
What was it like being in Rome for the first time, after growing up in ancient Egypt? 
Discover the answers to these questions and more through a storytelling experience with Kate Cunningham and Vlad Flea in the storytelling area of York Museum Gardens. 

Kate will be reading Vlad and the Roman Triumph and talking about Roman life and strange facts. 

Kate is author of the Flea in History series, illustrated by Sam Cunningham and published by Reading Riddle www.readingriddle.co.uk 

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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, 2:00 pm-4:00 pm
Venue: Yorkshire Museum

Terry Deary: ‘Revolting – A Riotous History of Rebellions and Revolutions’
Sunday 24 May 2026 | 2:00pm
£7.50pp | Book Tickets
Suitable for ages 16+ 

Writer Terry Deary will be talking about his best-selling adult non-fiction titles, ‘Revolting’ and ‘A history of Britain in Ten enemies’. He’ll be focusing especially on entertaining tales from the Roman Republic and the struggles of the victims of Roman oppression.

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Date: Sunday 24 May 2026, 2:00 pm
Venue: York Museum Gardens

Vlad and the Roman Triumph 
Saturday 23 May and Sunday 24 May 2026 
2pm | Free admission | Suitable for all ages 

What did the Romans put in their museums? How did they get their clothes really white? 
What was it like being in Rome for the first time, after growing up in ancient Egypt? 
Discover the answers to these questions and more through a storytelling experience with Kate Cunningham and Vlad Flea in the storytelling area of York Museum Gardens. 

Kate will be reading Vlad and the Roman Triumph and talking about Roman life and strange facts. 

Kate is author of the Flea in History series, illustrated by Sam Cunningham and published by Reading Riddle www.readingriddle.co.uk 

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