Seasonal events
Seasonal events
Find out more about:
- Starr Carr, Life after the ice at the Yorkshire Museum
- Go Quest Adventures
- The Wizard Walk of York
- Wonderlab: The Bramwell Gallery - National Railway Museum
May events:
- The Island Family Community Event
- Peachy and Me at York Theatre Royal
- York City FC Familiarisation Session
- The Wizard of Oz at Joseph Rowntree Theatre
- Hoglets at The Family Hubs
- Discovery Zone space themed activity New Earswick Folk Hall
June events:
July events:
Starr Carr, Life after the ice at the Yorkshire Museum
Opened in March 2024, Discover what human life was like 11,000 years ago, a few hundred years after the last Ice Age, through an exciting and interactive new exhibition Star Carr: Life after the ice which brings together wonderful artefacts from one the most famous Mesolithic sites in the world.
Our younger visitors can also follow the story of Star Carr through the eyes of a friendly dog who lived with the people by the lake!
We also have an exciting programme of events running alongside the exhibition, which are included in your general admission ticket.
For more information and to book tickets visit the Yorkshire Museum.
For full details of pricing visit the Yorkshire museum website. Free concessions are available for max card holders, claimants of means tested benefits, people seeking sanctuary or in the asylum process and more…
Go Quest Adventures
Self guided city walk and interactive treasure hunt. Explore the streets of York's city centre, unlocking a hidden trail by finding clues, solving puzzles and completing challenges, earning points along the way all self-guided through the Go Quest Adventures app. See the area's highlights, explore it's hidden gems and learn some insider history and fun facts along the way (even locals will discover something new!).
Book a ticket for Go Quest Adventures.
The Wizard Walk of York
The only tour in York specifically aimed at children. Spellbinding magic, comedy and a dash of York’s history! Help search for magical creatures on a tour that wizard fans are going Potty for, ideal for children but suitable for all.
Selected days and times starting from The Shambles.
Visit The Wizard Walk of York website for more information.
- Cost: adults £9, children £9, Wizard Wand Kits £5
- Email: [email protected]
Wonderlab: The Bramwell Gallery - National Railway Museum
The Wonderlab experience is a paid for attraction inside the National Railway Museum (which is free entry). The Wonderlab is a new interactive experience for families with 18 hands on challenges and live experiments!
Max card holders will receive 50% off entry to the Wonderlab: The Bramwell Gallery, for up to 4 people.
It's free to visit the National Railway Museum.
For more information about the Wonderlab visit the Railway Museum’s website.
The Island Family Community Event
A fundraising event. All proceeds from the event will be donated to The Island, York. Held on Saturday 11 May from 1.00pm to 5.00pm at Clifton Hotel, Water Lane, York, YO30 6PL.
There will be:
- karaoke
- tombola
- raffles
- fire engine visit
- and much more…
Find out more about the Island Family Community Event.
Peachy and Me at York Theatre Royal
Held on Tuesday 14 May 2024, a family friendly show with storeytelling, music, magic and comedy, taking the audience on a journey through overcoming the complexities of the modern world through the metaphor of magic.
Suitable for ages 7 and above, the run time is 50 minutes and will be held in The Studio. Ticket prices are £10 for standards and under 16s are £5.
Book tickets for Peachy and Me.
York City FC Familiarisation Session
The York City FC Familiarisation Session will take place on Tuesday 21 May 2024, from 5.30pm until 7.00pm. This is a free session at designed for supporters who, for various reasons, may have hesitated to visit the LNER Community Stadium in the past.
We're committed to ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to enjoy the excitement of sports in a welcoming and supportive environment.
The familiarisation session is open events that invite you to explore the stadium with the guidance of our club staff and volunteers.
You'll be led along a designated quiet route into the stadium, and we'll show you the locations of key facilities such as toilets and concession stands. Additionally, we'll take you to various areas of the stadium, allowing you to experience different entry and exit points as well as different viewing spots.
Our goal is to help you find the best areas that suit your specific needs and preferences.
We want to create a warm and inclusive environment for all fans, ensuring that every individual, regardless of their abilities or conditions, can partake in the joy of sports.
We hope that the familiarisation session will provide a positive and comfortable experience for those who attend, ultimately encouraging them to return for a match in the future.
The familiarisation session is designed for families and individuals who may benefit from this offering, including but not limited to:
- individuals with learning disabilities
- those with sensory sensitivities
- families with children who require a quieter and less crowded environment
- supporters who may have physical mobility challenges
- anyone who simply wants to familiarise themselves with the stadium before attending a match
We welcome individuals with all kinds of disabilities, conditions, or sensitivities to join us for this session.
Our aim is to accommodate your unique needs and provide a comfortable and enjoyable experience for all.
To ensure we are well-prepared for the session and can make any necessary accommodations, please complete this form on the York City FC website. It will help us understand how many people to expect and allow us to address any specific considerations to make your visit as pleasant as possible. We look forward to welcoming you to our familiarisation session at the LNER Community Stadium.
To discuss this initiative further, contact Steve Dorey, Development Officer, York City FC, either by telephone: 01904 624447 via email: [email protected].
The Wizard of Oz at Joseph Rowntree Theatre
York Musical Theatre Company presents… Follow the yellow brick road to the Emerald City in this delightful stage adaptation of L. Frank Baum's beloved tale, featuring the iconic musical score from the MGM film.
Wednesday 22 May until Saturday 25 May. Various times.
Prices range from £16 to £18 a ticket.
Book tickets for The Wizard of Oz at Joseph Rowntree Theatre.
Hoglets at The Family Hubs
Join Hoglets for a Midsummer Night’s Dream workshop at the Family Hubs this May half term. This is a free activity aimed at Early Years and Key Stage 1 aged children but all are welcome.
Where can you find them:
- Wednesday 29 May, 10.30am to 11.30am at The Avenues Children’s Centre in Willow room
- Thursday 30 May, 10.30am to 11.30am at Hob Moor Children’s Centre (ring the Raise York Family Hub doorbell to access the activity)
Discovery Zone space themed activity New Earswick Folk Hall
Thursday 30 May, 12.00pm to 1.30pm.
Step inside the inflatable cosmodome to explore the wonders of space:
- search for aliens
- put on a VR headset and become an astronaut
- make your own shooting star to take home
- create your own constellations using glow in the dark stars
- sensory space for younger visitors
- FREE packed lunch in the discovery room
- space themed activity pack and cooked meal to take away
Limited places – drop in or call the Folk Hall to book on telephone: 01904 769621. All children must be accompanied by an adult. The University of York are facilitating a drop in following this session from 1.00pm to 4.00pm for the wider community of families.
Read more about the Discovery Zone Space themed activity.
York Festival of Ideas 2024
Spark children’s imaginations at York Festival of Ideas, from 1 to 14 June, and enjoy lots of FREE family fun with activities ranging from nature rambles to concerts, and storytelling to games.
Free events include:
- Discovery Zone, Acomb (Thursday 30 May) - Meet robots, have fun with numbers, get crafty decorating a brain hat and extract DNA from fruit
- Discovery Zone, New Earswick (Thursday 30 May) - Venture into the Cosmodome, try driving a mini space rover, and glimpse new worlds and other planets with virtual reality
- Exploring Science Through Art (Saturday 8 June) – Get crafty, hear short talks and follow the Long Biology art trail created in memory of York’s most famous duck, Long Boi
- Festival Fringe Family Fun Afternoon (Saturday 8 June) - Learn about the 'zoo' in your belly, and devise a code to write secret messages. See if you can you tell the difference between a black and a brown rat just from their skeleton
- Curious Minds Discovery Zone (Saturday 8 June) – Solve puzzles, play games and discover facts about the human brain
- Long Live Print (Sunday 9 June) – Experiment with colours and hand-inking, and print a one-of-a-kind poster
- Be sure to book early for Warhorse: The concert (Monday 10 June) with children’s author Michael Morpurgo
Find more fun for families.
York St John Community Festival
FREE event held at Haxby Road Sports site on Saturday 8 June – fun for all ages!
Experience our festival which will be filled with food, music, and fun!
Expect to find:
- food vans
- live music
- funfair activities
- obstacle course
- sporting workshops
- creative activities, and much more!
Book your tickets for the York St John Community Festival.
Zog and the Flying Doctors at the Grand Opera House
Zog and the Flying Doctors performed on Friday 5 July until Sunday 7 July 2024. The performance is 1 hour with no interval.
Suitable for ages 3 and above (but all ages welcome).
