Date: Monday 7 December 2026, 10:00 am-5:00 pm
Venue: York Castle Museum

The Ran Tanners
Monday 7 December 2026 | Performances throughout the day
Included in general admission | Book Tickets

Enjoy live carols and tunes throughout the museum every Monday on the lead-up to Christmas, from 7 until 21 December 2026.

Get in the festive spirit with live, energetic performances of carols and tunes throughout the day from The Ran Tanners.

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Date: Wednesday 9 December 2026, 10:00 am-5:00 pm
Venue: York Castle Museum

Green Father Christmas
Wednesday 9 December 2026 | Throughout the day
Included in general admission | Book Tickets
Suitable for all ages

Father Christmas returns to York Castle Museum 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, the famous Victorian street at York Castle Museum, bringing fun and cheer 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!

Please note, this is not a meet Santa experience.

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Date: Thursday 10 December 2026, 10:00 am-5:00 pm
Venue: York Castle Museum

Green Father Christmas
Thursday 10 December 2026 | Throughout the day
Included in general admission | Book Tickets
Suitable for all ages

Father Christmas returns to York Castle Museum 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, the famous Victorian street at York Castle Museum, bringing fun and cheer 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!

Please note, this is not a meet Santa experience.

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Date: Friday 11 December 2026, 10:00 am-5:00 pm
Venue: York Castle Museum

Scrooge: A Christmas Carol
Friday 11 December 2026 | Performances throughout the day
Included in general admission | Book Tickets
Suitable for all ages

This 25-minute family-friendly performance of A Christmas Carol will run every Friday from 20 November until 18 December, and Thursday 24 December for Christmas Eve, 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.

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Date: Friday 11 December 2026, 6:30 pm-8:30 pm
Venue: York Castle Museum

A Christmas Carol: An Evening with Ebenezer Scrooge
Friday 11 December 2026 | 6.30pm – 8.30pm
Tickets £23 pp* | Tickets coming soon

Ages 16+, under 18’s must be accompanied by an adult).

*Includes a mince pie and mulled wine or soft drink.

Join us on the snow-covered cobbles of Kirkgate for an immersive and intimate production of A Christmas Carol, bringing the magic of a much-loved Dickens classic to life.

Chat to Victorian shopkeepers, enjoy the sounds or sing along to carols with our choir and discover the true meaning of Christmas as you encounter Scrooge – Bah Humbug!

Seating is very limited and available on a first come, first served basis. Those with mobility difficulties can reserve a seat in advance by emailing participation@ymt.org.uk as soon as you have made your booking. As seats are limited, please only reserve them for those in your party who would be unable to stand for the performance (45 – 60 mins).

If you have any specific dietary requirements such as vegan or gluten free, do let us know as soon as you have made your booking by emailing us at: participation@ymt.org.uk. Please note that our food is prepared in an environment which is not guaranteed to be free from nut or dairy cross-contamination, so we are unable to cater for anyone with a severe allergy.

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Date: Saturday 12 December 2026, 10:00 am-5:00 pm
Venue: York Castle Museum

Victorian Carol Singers
Saturday 12 December 2026 | Performances throughout the day
Included in general admission | Book Tickets

Victorian Carol Singers will perform every Saturday from 14 November until 19 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.

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Date: Saturday 12 December 2026, 2:00 pm-4:00 pm
Venue: York Art Gallery

Life Drawing: Model as Muse
Saturday 12 December 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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Date: Sunday 13 December 2026, 10:00 am-5:00 pm
Venue: York Castle Museum

Green Father Christmas
Sunday 13 December 2026 | Throughout the day
Included in general admission | Book Tickets
Suitable for all ages

Father Christmas returns to York Castle Museum 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, the famous Victorian street at York Castle Museum, bringing fun and cheer 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!

Please note, this is not a meet Santa experience.

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Date: Sunday 13 December 2026, 6:30 pm-8:30 pm
Venue: York Castle Museum

Ghost Stories for Christmas by Edwyrdian Tales
Sunday 13 December 2026 | 6.30pm – 8.30pm
£23 pp | Tickets coming soon
Suitable for ages 10+, under 18’s must be accompanied by an adult.

*Includes a mince pie and mulled wine or soft drink.

Join Edwyrdian Tales for an evening of haunting ghost stories set during Christmastide.

Featuring bone-chilling tales from classic authors of the age including H.R. Wakefield, Algernon Blackwood, and an original tale from the pen of our storyteller, this live storytelling performance is sure to conjure the spirits of Christmas.

This one-man performance, directed and haunted by Matthew Wood, was an instant sell out last year. Don’t miss your chance to secure tickets early!

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Date: Monday 14 December 2026, 10:00 am-5:00 pm
Venue: York Castle Museum

The Ran Tanners
Monday 14 December 2026 | Performances throughout the day
Included in general admission | Book Tickets

Enjoy live carols and tunes throughout the museum every Monday on the lead-up to Christmas, from 7 until 21 December 2026.

Get in the festive spirit with live, energetic performances of carols and tunes throughout the day from The Ran Tanners.

View event >