York Museums Trust

Events

Ghost Stories for Christmas by Edwyrdian Tales – Sun 14 Dec 2025

Date: Sunday 14 December 2025, 7:00 pm-8:30 pm
Venue: York Castle Museum

Ghost Stories for Christmas by Edwyrdian Tales
Sunday 14 December 2025 | 7.00pm – 8:30pm | £15pp | Book Here

Join Edwyrdian Tales for an evening of haunting ghost stories set during Christmastide. Featuring bone-chilling tales from classic authors of the age including M.R. James and Marjorie Bowen, this live storytelling performance is sure to conjure the spirits of Christmas.

Not suitable for children under 10 years of age. Under 18’s must be accompanied by an adult.

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Victorian Carol Singers – Mon 15 Dec 2025

Victorian Carol Singers

Date: Monday 15 December 2025, 10:00 am-5:00 pm
Venue: York Castle Museum

Victorian Carol Singers
Monday 15 December 2025 | Throughout the day* | Included in general admission – Book Now

Victorian Carol Singers will perform every Monday from 17 November until 22 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 in the 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 16 Dec 2025

Storycraft Theatre: Ralf the Robin’s Christmas Party

Date: Tuesday 16 December 2025, 10:30 am-1:00 pm
Venue: York Castle Museum

Storycraft Theatre: Ralph the Robin’s Christmas Party
Tuesday 16 December 2025 | 10:30am – 10:50am, 11:15am – 11:35am, 12:30pm – 12:50pm | 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 at 10:30am, 11:15am and 12:30pm.

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.

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Green Father Christmas – Wed 17 Dec 2025

Green Father Christmas

Date: Wednesday 17 December 2025, 10:00 am-5:00 pm
Venue: York Castle Museum

Green Father Christmas
Wednesday 17 December 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, and Tuesday 23 December, 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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Sketchbook Circle at York Art Gallery – Wed 17 Dec 2025

Sketchbook Circle at York Art Gallery

Date: Wednesday 17 December 2025, 1:30 pm-3:30 pm
Venue: York Art Gallery

Sketchbook Circle
Wednesday 17 December 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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Castle Kitchen: Mince Pies – Thu 18 Dec 2025

Date: Thursday 18 December 2025, 10:00 am-5:00 pm
Venue: York Castle Museum

Castle Kitchen – Mince Pies
Thursday 18 December 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 18 Dec 2025

Gallery Babies

Date: Thursday 18 December 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 18 Dec 2025

Green Father Christmas

Date: Thursday 18 December 2025, 10:00 am-5:00 pm
Venue: York Castle Museum

Green Father Christmas
Thursday 18 December 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, and Tuesday 23 December, 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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Castle Kitchen: Mince Pies – Sat 20 Dec 2025

Date: Saturday 20 December 2025, 10:00 am-5:00 pm
Venue: York Castle Museum

Castle Kitchen: Mince Pies
Saturday 20 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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Green Father Christmas – Sat 20 Dec 2025

Green Father Christmas

Date: Saturday 20 December 2025, 10:00 am-5:00 pm
Venue: York Castle Museum

Green Father Christmas
Saturday 20 December 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, and Tuesday 23 December, 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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