Staying here over Christmas?
Get the real Christmas Experience in York!
There’s loads going on in York, whether it’s shopping, learning about British Christmas
traditions, making decorations, listening to carols, or meeting Father Christmas himself!
Don’t miss out on a wonderful time of year in York.
Christmas Markets
St Nicholas Market: 27th November – 21st December: At the ever popular St Nicholas
Market there are bustling Victorian market stalls selling everything from local produce to
traditional gifts and crafts, all accompanied by the smell of roasting chestnuts and the sound
of carol singers. The stalls stretch along Parliament Street in the town centre, and are also
in the Guildhall and St Mary’s Square. Open 9am to 6pm. Late night Thursdays till 8pm.
Medieval Market at Barley Hall (2 Coffee Yard, Off Stonegate, YO1 8AR): For unique
presents from a different era head to the Medieval Market at Barley Hall. Be sure to try a
pint of traditional ale or a glass of mulled wine at the Medieval bar!
Christmas Craft & Artisan Market: Sunday 14 December, Merchant Adventurers Hall,
Fossgate, York, YO1 9XD Made Locally With Love will be filling the enchanting Merchant
Adventurers’ Hall full of wonderfully talented, Yorkshire based local businesses who will be
there to offer you everything you need for the perfect Handmade Christmas. Over 30
exhibitors, selling contemporary crafts, artisan foods, stunning jewellery and affordable art.
The event also includes Christmas Craft Workshops, live music and cakey treats in our
Yorkshire tea room. For more information see: www.madelocallywithlove.co.uk. £2 entry,
£1 with Discount Card
Leeds Christmas Market: 14 November - 20 December 2014: Millennium Square Venture
further afield, with a trip to Leeds Christkindelmarkt, one of the largest and most
established traditional German Christmas Markets. Millennium Square is transformed into a
scenic winter village, with over 40 traditional wooden chalets decorated with festive
greenery and Christmas lights. Open Monday-Saturday, 10.30am-9.30pm; Sunday, 10.30am6.30pm In addition to the German market a Festive Family Funfair will be taking place on
Victoria Gardens and Cookridge Street (between the Headrow and St Anne’s street) every
Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 21 November to 21 December 2014.
Things to Do and See
Yorkshire's Winter Wonderland: 22 November 2014 to 4 January 2015: The Ice Factor,
York Designer Outlet The Ice Factor, York’s award-winning real ice rink, brings the Christmas
magic back at McArthurGlen’s York Designer Outlet, celebrating the festive season in the
historic city. The ice rink will become the centre piece of the event, encompassing a
traditional fun fair with a dodgems, helter-skelter and 1930’s speedway as well as children’s
rides and games stalls all adding to the festive magic. And the fun doesn’t stop there with
Christmas shopping in over 160 stores right next door.
Christmas at Castle Howard: Experience the Magic of Christmas. Approach the magnificent
18th-century house along the Christmas tree-lined drive. Inside, discover breathtaking
interiors lit by candle and firelight, dressed with magnificent trees, a stunning display of
traditional Howard family ‘twigs’, winter garlands and floral arrangements.
Fairfax House Exhibition: The Keeping of Christmas: 20th November – 2nd January,
Fairfax House Visit Fairfax House this Christmas and see the elegant decorations,
extravagant dining room displays with sugar temples and the Georgians’ love of the natural
world as they decorated their homes for the festive season. Normal admission prices
apply. fairfaxhouse.co.uk
Chocolate Making Workshops: Thursdays and Saturdays until 20th December, 6.30 pm –
8pm, York Cocoa House Christmas is about sharing experiences with loved ones so why not
share a chocolate making at York Cocoa House? Create your own Christmas Chocolate
Model, learn how to make a Chocolate Christmas House or a Chocolate Christmas Tree that
you can paint and decorate beautifully with edible chocolate paints and sweets! Please be
aware that places can be booked in advance or you can join us on the day, space
permitting.
Garland Making: Saturday 13th December, 10am – 4pm, Howsham Mill: Make Christmas
Garlands for windows and fireplaces made from recycled fabrics (silks and velvet) and
handmade felt. For further details see www.howshammill.org.uk Prices: £10
Christmas Family Event: The Mummers’ Play and Merriment: Saturday 20th & Sunday 21st
December, 5.00pm, Fairfax House Christmas is a time for traditions and the ‘Gorgeous
Georgians’ certainly knew how to make merry! Just what is in a Yorkshire Pie and why is
plum porridge really a soup? Come with us around the house us to find out. Swap your
family traditions over a warm cup of mulled wine or cocoa, then welcome in The Christmas
Players! Children will be invited to take part in an 800 year old Christmas ritual, The
Mummers’ Play. Who wants to play St. George? The Turkish Knight? Quack Doctor, Robin
Hood or even a new superhero? The Mummers’ plays are for anyone who likes to play the
fool! Bring the whole family for some timeless tomfoolery – and keep our heritage alive!
Suitable for children 5+ Tickets: £15.00 Family Ticket (2 Adults and 2 Children)
Adult £7.00, Child £5.00 (spaces limited so please book early)
Refreshments included. www.fairfaxhouse.co.uk
Santa’s Steam Adventure, 5–7, 12–14, and 17–24 December 2014, National Railway
Museum Disaster strikes! Poor Santa has crash landed somewhere near our museum. We
need to find everything that was on his sleigh – can you help us and more importantly can
you save Christmas? Join Santa on an exciting steam adventure where kids will discover
plenty of magic and fun and receive a very special present (if they’ve been good this year of
course!) Relax and enjoy a festive snack and drink in Station Hall as part of the experience.
With interactive and immersive activities, the National Railway Museum is the perfect place
to enjoy your Christmas celebrations. For more information and to book online visit
nrm.org.uk/Christmas or call 0844 8153 139* (*telephone lines open weekdays 9am-5pm
only).
A Chocolate Covered Christmas, Monday 1 – Wednesday 31 December, York Chocolate
Story Join us and get into the festive spirit at York's CHOCOLATE Story this December. Enjoy
seasonal tours, learn more about the vital contribution made by York's chocolate heritage to
festive merriments and meet the one and only Father Christmas each weekend.
Home Alone Film and Festive Buffet, Thursday 11th December, Yorkshire Museum: The
museum is opening up its 300 seater cinema to screen Home Alone, alongside a festive
buffet. For further details see www.yorkshiremuseum.org.uk Tickets cost £15 including the
buffet.
South Bank Community Cinema presents The Wizard of Oz, Friday 19 December 2014
Clements Hall, Nunthorpe Road, York, YO23 1BW Judy Garland still sparkles in the glorious
Technicolor of this perennially popular film. Whatever your age, delight in revisiting this
charming picture on the big screen. We’re dusting off our ruby slippers and searching out
the gingham already! Enjoy the film with our licensed bar and cabaret style seating. Doors
and licensed bar open 7.30, film starts at 8.00pm with an introduction. Certificate U.
info@sbcommunitycinema.co.uk.
A Little Diggers Christmas, Saturday 20th December, 10.30 – 11.30, York DIG Dig, Delve and
Discover the fun side of history with our Little Diggers learn and play sessions for 2-5 year
olds! At this seasonally themed session, we’ll have Christmas stories, activities and a very
special visitor! Pre-booking strongly advised to avoid disappointment: 01904 615505. For
further details see digyork.com/ Price: £3 per child, includes one free accompanying adult
Visit Santa! Father Christmas is very busy this year – why not go along and tell him your
Christmas wishes?
Piglets Farm Park, 6th – 24th December, Towthorpe Take a ride on one of Elf-Airlines new
wonderful sonic sleighs, taking you on a magical ride through Santa's woodland village. You
can find Santa in his grotto where he will give you a magic key to unlock the toy shop in the
enchanted wood. Santa's elves will help you choose a toy from our amazing selection.
Flights available Dec 6 - Dec 24. Book online, see http://pigletsfarmpark.co.uk/ .
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Santa’s Grotto, 4th- 5th December, York Designer Outlet
Father Christmas, Saturday 6th December, York Castle Museum
Festive Fun and Meet Father Christmas, Sat 6th and Sun 7th December, Barley Hall
YorkBoat Santa Cruises, Sat 6th and Sun 7th December, YorkBoat, Lendal
Pantomimes Traditional festive entertainment, based on children’s fairy tales with lots of
fun for everyone!
Old Mother Goose, 11th Dec – 31st Jan, York Theatre Royal: Good versus evil is put to the
test when two fairies battle for supremacy. The bad fairy claims any human being can be
corrupted; the good fairy throws down a challenge and chooses Old Mother Goose as an
example of all that is good and cannot be corrupted. The bad fairy sets off to prove the good
fairy wrong. For further details see www.yorktheatreroyal.co.uk
Cinderella, 12th Dec – 3rd Jan, Grand Opera House
Christmas Carols
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York Minster Christmas Carol Concerts, 5th and 6th December at York Minster
Family Christmas Concert, 9th December, at Central Methodist Church
Handel’s Messiah performed by York Minster Choir, Sat 13th December, York
Minster
York Community Carols, Sunday 14th December, York Barbican Centre
Carols by Candlelight, Fri 19th December, York Minster
Carol Singing in the Micklegate Quarter , Saturday 20th December, the Micklegate
Quarter
For more information on the events above and more, see:
http://www.visityork.org/christmas.aspx
http://www.york360.co.uk/whats-on/december