What's On in York
Things to do in and around York: events, days out and family activities, with the practical details.
Top story
York Pubs: The Best Pubs and Where to Drink
The Blue Bell is York CAMRA's Pub of the Year; the Starre claims the oldest licence. 13 York pubs with hours, dog and child rules, checked October 2026.
Dates for the diary
- On now to 31 Oct The Penelopiad
- On now to 1 Nov Ghost Week VII
- On now to 1 Nov October half term at York Castle Museum
- On now to 31 Oct October half term at York Minster
- On now to 31 Oct Hallowtween at York Maze
- 26 to 28 Oct The Little York Ghost Hunt
- Tue 27 Oct Halloween in Concert
- 27 to 30 Oct Jekyll & Hyde: Unbound
- 27 to 31 Oct The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time
- Wed 28 Oct Joe Marler Will See You Live
- Thu 29 Oct BLACK: the Color of Velvet
- 29 to 31 Oct Remember, Remember at the Mansion House
More stories
Food & Drink
York Restaurants: The Best Places to Eat
Roots has York's only Michelin star and Skosh its Bib Gourmand: 13 York restaurants with prices, hours, dog rules and hygiene ratings, checked October 2026.
Music
Black Art Song Concert at York Quakers: Free, 29 Oct
Soprano Quanda Johnson sings songs by Black composers with cello, djembe and dance at Friargate Quaker Meeting House, 6pm on 29 October. Entry is free.
Christmas
York Carol Concerts 2026: Minster 3 Dec, Barbican 13 Dec
York's carol concerts for Christmas 2026: the Minster choir on 3 and 4 December from £15, the Barbican's 68th community carols on 13 December, free services.
Christmas
York Castle Museum Christmas: Kirkgate From 14 Nov, £18
York Castle Museum's Christmas runs 14 November to 3 January: Kirkgate set on Christmas Eve, Green Father Christmas, Scrooge and carols, adults £18.
Music
Baka Rainforest Singing Day in York: 29 Nov, From £33
Baka Beyond singer Su Hart teaches Yelli rainforest singing at St Lawrence Church Hall on 29 November. Early bird £42 until 29 October, then £55.
Snooker
UK Snooker Championship York: 28 Nov-6 Dec, 1pm and 7pm
The UK Championship is at York Barbican 28 November to 6 December, sessions at 1pm and 7pm. Tickets on sale now; last year seats started at £30 a session.
Yorkshire Marathon
York Foodbank Marathon Relay Passes £2,000 Target
York Foodbank's six-church Yorkshire Marathon relay has raised £2,083 from 64 donations, past its £2,000 target. How the team ran it, and how to give.
Christmas
York Lights Switch-On 2026: Minster 28 Nov, Haxby 3 Dec
York city centre has no lights switch-on ceremony. The two dated for 2026: York Minster's free tree lights on 28 November at 10am and Haxby's on 3 December.
Energy
York Home Upgrade Champions: Free Heat Pump Chats by Email
Email champions@yorkcommunityenergy.org.uk to talk to a York neighbour who has fitted a heat pump, insulation or solar. Free, and the network runs to 2027.
Christmas
Castle Howard Christmas 2026: Dickens From 12 Nov, From £24
Castle Howard's Christmas is A Dickens of a Christmas, 12 November to 3 January: adults £24 to £40 by date, Father Christmas from £60, parking £7.25.
Halloween
Halloween in York 2026: Ghost Week, Hallowscream, Free Hunts
Halloween in York is Saturday 31 October, the last night of Ghost Week: free ghost hunts, Hallowscream for 16s and over, and adults-only ghost evenings.
Christmas
York Ice Rinks 2026: Two Open 13 November, From £12
York has two ice rinks this Christmas, both open 13 November to 3 January: a new one in Museum Gardens from £12 and Winter Wonderland at the Designer Outlet.
Ghosts in the Gardens
Ghosts After Dark York: 4-8 Nov, £10 Adults, £2 Children
Ghosts After Dark is 4 to 8 November in York Museum Gardens: 70 lit ghosts, storytellers and a night market, 5.30pm to 9.30pm, £10 adults and £2 children.
Events
What's On in York: Ghost Week, Fireworks 7 Nov, Snooker
Ghost Week and half term from 24 October, Rawcliffe fireworks on 7 November, the Christmas Market from the 12th and UK snooker from the 28th: 38 York dates.
Things to Do
York, 26-27 Sept (Past): Tom Bailey, Jeremy Bowen, Walks
Now past: what was on in York on 26 and 27 September: Tom Bailey and Blancmange at the Barbican, Jeremy Bowen at the Grand Opera House, and two free guided walks.
Christmas
Santa in York 2026: Four Grottos From £7, Dates and Prices
Where to see Santa in York this Christmas: Winter Wonderland from £7 a child, Murton Park's train and grotto, York's Chocolate Story, and the Air Museum's Dakota.
Remembrance
York Remembrance Sunday 2026: Sunday 8 November, Parade Times
York's Remembrance Sunday is 8 November 2026. Last year the parade left Clifford's Tower at 10.20am for the City War Memorial, with the silence at 11am.
Christmas
York Minster at Christmas 2026: Tree Festival, Carols, Tickets
York Minster's Christmas Tree Festival runs 28 November to 5 January, free for York residents. Carol service tickets, concert prices and Christmas Day times.
Yorkshire Marathon
York Marathon Road Closures: Next Race Sunday 17 Oct 2027
York Marathon 2026 ran on 18 October and roads have reopened. The 2027 race is Sunday 17 October, 09:30 start; this year's closure list shows what to expect.
Bonfire Night
York Fireworks 2026: Rawcliffe Sat 7 Nov, Tickets £12.50
Rawcliffe's charity bonfire is Saturday 7 November, adults £12.50 and on sale now. Plus Poppleton, Rufforth and every other York bonfire night 2026 date.
Pantomime
York Panto 2026: Snow White and Peter Pan Dates, Times
York panto 2026: Snow White from 4 December with seats from £15, Peter Pan from 5 December, and a £20 Rowntree panto. Dates, times, prices and access shows.
Food and Drink
York Food Festival 2026 Has Ended: It Ran 18-27 September
The 2026 festival is over: it ran 18 to 27 September on Parliament Street, free, market 10am to 5pm and bars to 9pm. The full programme as it ran is below.