York Museums Trust

Events

Tales of Nut-Crack Night – Fri 30 Oct 2026

Tales of Nut-Crack Night

Date: Friday 30 October 2026, 10:30 am-4:00 pm
Venue: York Castle Museum

Tales of Nut-Crack Night
Daily, Saturday 24 October – Saturday 31 October 2026
Performances throughout the day
Included in general admission | Book Tickets

History Riot return to York Castle Museum this October Half-Term daily from Saturday 24 – Saturday 31 October, with an array of family friendly performances.

Join two eccentric Victorian characters for silliness and autumnal adventures on Kirkgate. Experience and learn about Yorkshire traditions from All Hallow’s Eve, or as the Victorian’s called it, Nut-Crack Night!

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Family Life Drawing – Fri 30 Oct 2026

Date: Friday 30 October 2026, 2:00 pm-3:30 pm
Venue: York Art Gallery

Family Life Drawing 
Friday 30 October 2026
2pm – 3.30pm 
£10 per person* | Book Now
Suitable for ages 5+

*Ticket price includes general admission to York Art Gallery, including our exhibition Turner, Wedgwood & Beyond: Inspired by Flaxman.

Join us at York Art Gallery for a family-friendly life drawing class, set in our latest exhibition Turner, Wedgwood and Beyond: Inspired by Flaxman.

Led by York based artist and tutor, Rob Oldfield, you’ll draw from a live model, exploring gesture, movement, shape and storytelling — turning what we see into expressive drawings. Expect quick sketches, big movements, curious observations and plenty of imagination.

This session is all about having a go, looking carefully and enjoying drawing together, no experience is necessary.

Important information:

These Life Drawing sessions are suitable for ages 5+. Under 18s must be accompanied by an adult.

Basic drawing materials will be supplied, but please feel free to bring your own too.

Sessions will take place on gallery which will continue to be open to the public throughout, the model will be fully clothed for this session.

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Make and Play: Bayeux Tapestry Weaving – Sat 31 Oct 2026

Date: Saturday 31 October 2026, 10:00 am-4:00 pm
Venue: Yorkshire Museum

Make and Play: Bayeux Tapestry Weaving
Saturday 31 October 2026 | 10am – 4pm
Included in general admission | Book Tickets

Celebrate the display of the Bayeux Tapestry at the British Museum, one of the Yorkshire Museum’s partners, by having a go at weaving in our craft room.

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Tales of Nut-Crack Night – Sat 31 Oct 2026

Tales of Nut-Crack Night

Date: Saturday 31 October 2026, 10:30 am-4:00 pm
Venue: York Castle Museum

Tales of Nut-Crack Night
Daily, Saturday 24 October – Saturday 31 October 2026
Performances throughout the day
Included in general admission | Book Tickets

History Riot return to York Castle Museum this October Half-Term daily from Saturday 24 – Saturday 31 October, with an array of family friendly performances.

Join two eccentric Victorian characters for silliness and autumnal adventures on Kirkgate. Experience and learn about Yorkshire traditions from All Hallow’s Eve, or as the Victorian’s called it, Nut-Crack Night!

View event >

Life Drawing: Model as Muse – Sat 31 Oct 2026

Life Drawing: Model as Muse

Date: Saturday 31 October 2026, 2:00 pm-4:00 pm
Venue: York Art Gallery

Life Drawing: Model as Muse
Saturday 31 October 2026
2pm – 4pm
£15 per person* | Book Now
Adult only (18+)

*Ticket price includes general admission to York Art Gallery, including our exhibition Turner, Wedgwood & Beyond: Inspired by Flaxman.

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 2-hour immersive Saturday sessions, led by York based artist and tutor Rob Oldfield, are a wonderful way to experience life drawing in a supportive and friendly environment.

Throughout autumn and winter, our sessions will be inspired by our latest exhibition, Turner, Wedgwood & Beyond: Inspired by Flaxman.

Important information:

Sessions are suitable for ages 18+. By booking, you are confirming that you are over 18. Proof of age may be required.

Basic drawing materials will be supplied, but please feel free to bring your own too.

If you’re more than 15 minutes late for your workshop, unfortunately we may not be able to guarantee entry. This is to ensure that participants have the best experience.

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Make and Play: Bayeux Tapestry Weaving – Sun 1 Nov 2026

Date: Sunday 1 November 2026, 10:00 am-4:00 pm
Venue: Yorkshire Museum

Make and Play: Bayeux Tapestry Weaving
Sunday 1 November 2026 | 10am – 4pm
Included in general admission | Book Tickets

Celebrate the display of the Bayeux Tapestry at the British Museum, one of the Yorkshire Museum’s partners, by having a go at weaving in our craft room.

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Sketchbook Circle at York Art Gallery – Wed 4 Nov 2026

Date: Wednesday 4 November 2026, 1:30 pm-3:30 pm
Venue: York Art Gallery

Sketchbook Circle
Wednesday 4 November  2026 | 1:30pm – 3:30pm
Suitable for ages 16+ | £5 per person* | Book Now

*General admission to York Art Gallery is included.

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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Ghosts After Dark – Wed 4 Nov 2026

Ghosts After Dark

Dates: Wednesday 4 November 2026–Sunday 8 November 2026, 5:30 pm-9:00 pm
Venue: York Museum Gardens

Ghosts After Dark
Sunday 4 – Thursday 8 November 2026
5.30pm – 9pm (last admission 8pm)
Child £2, Adult £10 | Book Tickets

Ghosts After Dark returns bigger than ever, with 70 unique ghostly sculptures inspired by York’s rich history lurking throughout York Museum Gardens, King’s Manor Courtyard, and Library Lawn. Meet York’s finest storytellers as they bring the city’s legendary ghosts to life, against an atmospheric background of smoke and sound.

Ghosts After Dark is brought to you by York BID and York Museums Trust.

For more information, see York BID’s website here

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Gallery Babies – Thu 5 Nov 2026

Gallery Babies

Date: Thursday 5 November 2026, 10:00 am-12:00 pm
Venue: York Art Gallery

Gallery Babies
Thursday 5 November 2026 |10am - 12pm
£2 per person | Book Now

Drop-in sensory play sessions every Thursday during term-time, for pre-walking babies and their grown-ups, set 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 be out in the Burton 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. The session takes place in the Burton Gallery, a space with plenty of room to play, read and The Studio is also available to 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 £7.00 and lunch and drink £15.00.

Please note: Participants must have a pre-booked ticket to attend the session. Gallery Babies admission includes free access to the permanent gallery spaces, tickets for temporary exhibitions require a separate admissions ticket. This event takes place in the Burton Gallery.

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Art for Wellbeing – Sat 14 Nov 2026

Art for Wellbeing

Date: Saturday 14 November 2026, 10:30 am-12:30 pm
Venue: York Art Gallery

Art for Wellbeing
Sunday 14 November  2026, 10.30am – 12.30pm
Suitable for ages 16+ Included in general admission | Book Tickets

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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