Date: Sunday 30 November 2025, 11:00 am-5:00 pm
Venue:

Museum Shop Sunday at York Castle Museum
30 November 2025 | 10am – 5pm

We are taking part in Museum Shop Sunday, a day dedicated to celebrating the amazing shops in arts, heritage and cultural attractions around the UK!

Museum Shop Sunday is organised by Cultural Enterprises and is an annual campaign to highlight the vital role of retail in helping arts, cultural and heritage venues to survive and thrive. On Sunday 30 November 2025 over 2,200 visitor attractions worldwide will be coming together to celebrate with special events or promotions in store. Instead of shopping with big business this year, why not visit one of our shops and discover some great gift ideas, wonderful local products, and festive decorations?

We’re excited to be welcoming Hooting Owl Distillery to the York Castle Museum shop on Sunday 30 November, where you’ll be able to talk to their team and try some of their produce!

Please note a Challenge 25 policy (requiring proof of age for anyone who appears under 25) will be displayed and enforced for any sampling. 

View event >

Date: Monday 1 December 2025, 10:00 am-5:00 pm
Venue: York Castle Museum

Victorian Carol Singers
Monday 1 December 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.

View event >

Date: Tuesday 2 December 2025, 10:30 am-1:00 pm
Venue: York Castle Museum

Story Craft Theatre: A Christmice Tale
Tuesday 2 December 2025 | Throughout the day* | Included in general admission – Book Now

Story Craft 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 a heart-warming festive tale. Winnie and Nell are two little mice who need some extra help to make their Christmas one to remember! This magical storytelling experience is supported by Makaton signs and puppetry. Stick around for some festive craft activities too!

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

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

View event >

Date: Wednesday 3 December 2025, 10:00 am-5:00 pm
Venue: York Castle Museum

Green Father Christmas
Wednesday 3 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, 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.

View event >

Date: Wednesday 3 December 2025, 2:00 pm-2:30 pm
Venue: York Art Gallery

View event >

Date: Thursday 4 December 2025, 10:00 am-5:00 pm
Venue: York Castle Museum

View event >

Date: Thursday 4 December 2025, 10:00 am-12:00 pm
Venue: York Art Gallery

View event >

Date: Thursday 4 December 2025, 10:00 am-5:00 pm
Venue: York Castle Museum

Green Father Christmas
Thursday 4 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, 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.

View event >

Date: Friday 5 December 2025, 12:30 pm-4:30 pm
Venue: York Castle Museum

Scrooge: A Christmas Carol
Friday 5 December 2025 | Throughout the day* | Included in general admission – Book Now

This 25-minute family-friendly performance of A Christmas Carol will run every Friday from 21 November until 19 December, and Tuesday 23 December, with performances throughout the day.

Join Ebenezer Scrooge on Kirkgate for a journey of redemption, generosity and joy, in an immersive one-man show of the classic Christmas tale, A Christmas Carol.

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

View event >

Date: Saturday 6 December 2025, 10:00 am-5:00 pm
Venue: York Castle Museum

Castle Kitchen – Mince Pies
Saturday 6 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!

View event >