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.

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Date: Wednesday 16 December 2026, 10:00 am-5:00 pm
Venue: York Castle Museum

Green Father Christmas
Wednesday 16 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: Wednesday 16 December 2026, 1:30 pm-3:30 pm
Venue: York Art Gallery

Sketchbook Circle
Wednesday  16 December  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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Date: Thursday 17 December 2026, 10:00 am-12:00 pm
Venue: York Art Gallery

Gallery Babies
Thursday 17 December 2026 |10am - 12pm
£2 per person | Book Now

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Date: Thursday 17 December 2026, 10:00 am-5:00 pm
Venue: York Castle Museum

Green Father Christmas
Thursday 17 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 18 December 2026, 10:00 am-5:00 pm
Venue: York Castle Museum

Scrooge: A Christmas Carol
Friday 18 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: Saturday 19 December 2026, 10:00 am-5:00 pm
Venue: York Castle Museum

Victorian Carol Singers
Saturday 19 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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