Enjoy a variety of family-friendly and adult events at York Castle Museum throughout the year.

Events

Festive Wreath Workshop – Wed 10 Dec 2025

Date: Wednesday 10 December 2025, 10:30 am-1:30 pm
Venue: York Castle Museum

Festive Wreath Workshop
Wednesday 10 December 2025 | 10.30am – 1:30pm | £30pp* | Book here

*Materials and tools are provided and no experience is necessary. Refreshments are included. Ticket includes admission to York Castle Museum on the date of the workshop.
Come along to make a traditional Christmas wreath for your door or as a table centrepiece with Mandy Barker of Wedding Blossoms, York. You’ll use locally grown seasonal materials to make the base then add the embellishments you choose to reflect your own style.
Mandy has over 20 years of experience of floristry and loves decorating for Christmas with wreaths of all sizes, from front doors to churches and cathedrals.

Ages 16+ (under 18 must be accompanied by an adult).

There is an additional Festive Wreath Workshop, Saturday 22 November 2025 | 10:30am – 13:30pm | £30pp* | Book Now

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A Christmas Carol: An Evening with Ebenezer Scrooge – Wed 10 Dec 2025

Date: Wednesday 10 December 2025, 6:30 pm-8:30 pm
Venue: York Castle Museum

A Christmas Carol: An Evening with Ebenezer Scrooge
10 December 2025 | 6:30pm – 8:30pm |£23pp* | Book Here

*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.

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

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Castle Kitchen: Mince Pies – Thu 11 Dec 2025

Date: Thursday 11 December 2025, 10:00 am-5:00 pm
Venue: York Castle Museum

Castle Kitchen – Mince Pies
Thursday 11 December 2025 | Demonstrations throughout the day | Included in general admission – Book Now

Join us in the Castle Kitchen for mince pie making. Demonstrations of Tudor and Georgian mince pie recipes will run throughout the day on Thursdays and Saturdays in the run-up to Christmas.

Recipes will also be available to take home so you can have a go yourself over the festive period!

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Green Father Christmas – Thu 11 Dec 2025

Green Father Christmas

Date: Thursday 11 December 2025, 10:00 am-5:00 pm
Venue: York Castle Museum

Green Father Christmas
Thursday 11 December 2025 | Throughout the day* | Included in general admission – Book Now

Father Christmas returns to York Castle Museum every Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday from 15 November until Christmas Eve, and Tuesday 23 December, 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, bringing fun and jollity 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!

*Times will be advertised at the admissions desk on the day.

Please note, this is not a meet Santa experience.

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Lino Printing Festive Decorations – Fri 12 Dec 2025

Date: Friday 12 December 2025, 10:30 am-1:30 pm
Venue: York Castle Musuem

Lino Printing Workshop: Festive Decorations
Friday 12 December 2025 | 10.30am – 13:30pm | £25pp* | Book Here

*All materials and tools are provided – just bring your creativity and Christmas spirit! Refreshments are included. Admission to York Castle Museum is included for the day of the workshop only.
Get into the festive spirit with experienced teacher and artist Becky Long-Smith to make your own festive decorations.
Learn how to design, carve and print your own lino block that you can use to create beautiful handmade Christmas decorations. Perfect for all skill levels, you’ll leave this relaxed and inspiring workshop with handprinted decorations that you can hang on your tree or give as gifts to loved ones.
No experience is necessary but participants will need to have good hand dexterity.
Ages 16+ (under 18’s must be accompanied by an adult)

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Scrooge – Fri 12 Dec 2025

Scrooge

Date: Friday 12 December 2025, 12:30 pm-4:30 pm
Venue: York Castle Museum

Scrooge: A Christmas Carol
Friday 12 December 2025 | 12:30pm – 12:55pm, 3:30pm – 3:55pm and 4:00pm – 4:25pm | Included in general admission – Book Now

This 25-minute family-friendly performance of A Christmas Carol will run every Friday from 21 November until 12 December, with performances at 12:30, 3:30pm and 4:00pm.

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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Festive Marbling Baubles – Sat 13 Dec 2025

Date: Saturday 13 December 2025, 12:00 am-11:59 pm
Venue: York Castle Museum

Festive Marbling Baubles
Saturday 13 December 2025 | 11.00am – 12:00 noon, 12.30pm – 1:30pm and 2:00pm – 3:00pm | £25pp* | Book Here

*Materials and tools are provided and no experience is necessary. Refreshments are included. Ticket includes admission to York Castle Museum on the date of the workshop.

Make your own one-of-a-kind ornaments with unique and beautiful patterns using inks and water. Experiment with different colours and patterns and leave the workshop with a set of colourful Christmas decorations — the perfect addition to your festive décor or gift for a loved one!

Your ceramic baubles will take twenty minutes to marble and the same time to fully dry – why not explore the museum as you wait?

Ages 16+ (under 18 must be accompanied by an adult).

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Castle Kitchen: Mince Pies – Sat 13 Dec 2025

Date: Saturday 13 December 2025, 10:00 am-5:00 pm
Venue: York Castle Museum

Castle Kitchen – Mince Pies
Saturday 13 December 2025 | Demonstrations throughout the day | Included in general admission – Book Now

Join us in the Castle Kitchen for mince pie making. Demonstrations of Tudor and Georgian mince pie recipes will run throughout the day on Thursdays and Saturdays in the run-up to Christmas.

Recipes will also be available to take home so you can have a go yourself over the festive period!

View event >

Green Father Christmas – Sat 13 Dec 2025

Green Father Christmas

Date: Saturday 13 December 2025, 10:00 am-5:00 pm
Venue: York Castle Museum

Green Father Christmas
Saturday 13 December 2025 | Throughout the day* | Included in general admission – Book Now

Father Christmas returns to York Castle Museum every Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday from 15 November until Christmas Eve, and Tuesday 23 December, 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, bringing fun and jollity 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!

*Times will be advertised at the admissions desk on the day.

Please note, this is not a meet Santa experience.

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Sunday Sounds: Paul the Historical Musician – Sun 14 Dec 2025

Date: Sunday 14 December 2025, 10:00 am-5:00 pm
Venue: York Castle Museum

Sunday Sounds: Paul the Historical Musician
Sunday 14 December 2025 | Throughout the day* | Included in general admission – Book Now

Enjoy live carols and tunes throughout the museum every Sunday from 16 November until 21 December 2025.

Get in the festive spirit with live, energetic performances of Christmas tunes throughout the day from Paul the Historical Musician.

*Times will be advertised at the admissions desk on the day.

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