15 November 2025 – 4 January 2026
Enjoy Yorkshire Christmases through the ages as you wander through over 200 years of festive history at York Castle Museum. Open now, York Castle Museum is filled with period decorations, and throughout November and December visitors can experience a variety of live performances, music and cookery demonstrations providing a magical Christmas for all the senses.
Snowy scenes and festive delights await you on Kirkgate, the famous Victorian street. Experience a Victorian Christmas with authentic decorations and live performances of traditional carols every Monday, starting Monday 17 November. Browse the shop windows to find a range of Victorian Christmas objects from the York Castle Museum collection. Beautifully decorated trees and twinkling garlands accompany the layer of snow on the cobblestones, transporting you to a Christmas reminiscent of Dickensian England. All the Kirkgate Christmas trees at York Castle Museum have been kindly supplied by Moor Lane Farm Christmas Trees, a local business based in Copmanthorpe, who officially open for the festive season on Monday 17 November.
Green Father Christmas will also be wandering the street this Saturday! Green Father Christmas will be delighting visitors with Victorian games, songs and tales of winter feasts and traditions on Saturdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from Saturday 15 November until Wednesday 24 December with an additional appearance right before Christmas on Tuesday 23 December! Take a photo in the Kirkgate sleigh and capture a memory of 19th century Christmas. The Ran Tanners and Paul the Historical Musician return for the much-loved Sunday Sounds. Throughout November and December, Sundays will feature festive tunes played on traditional instruments throughout the museum.
Peer into the period rooms to see how some homes in the 17th and 18th centuries decorated for Christmas. You might also see some familiar seasonal favourites in the 1940s and 1980s kitchens. Visit the Castle Kitchen on Thursdays and Saturdays from 15 November to 20 December for live baking demonstrations of historic Tudor and Georgian mince pie recipes. There will often be samples to try and recipe cards to take home.
New for 2025, the Sixties Street features festive decor inspired by the popular Biba fashion design, toys such as Etch-a-Sketch and nostalgic Christmas songs straight from the 1960s. There’s nothing like Christmas at York Castle Museum, with so many eras to explore, all ages can enjoy a trip through Christmases past.
Scrooge returns for one-man performances of A Christmas Carol, running on Fridays from 21 November to 19 December, they are not to be missed! Scrooge’s much-loved evening performance also returns on Wednesday 10 December, with mulled wine and mince pies with musical accompaniment from the Ran Tanners, creating the perfect entertainment for a winter evening. Another evening event, new for 2025, Ghost Stories for Christmas by Edwrydian Tales will take place on Sunday 14 December. This event takes visitors back to traditional practices of passing long winter nights in front of the fire sharing stories of the supernatural. Limited tickets are left for these events, so book now to avoid disappointment.
A range of activities will be taking place throughout the winter, for adults and children alike. Storycraft Theatre will be at the museum on Tuesdays, with interactive stories featuring Ralf the Robin and his puppet friends. This magical storytelling experience is perfect for little ones, with 20-minute performances running three times a day from Tuesday 18 November to Tuesday 16 December. On Saturday 20 December, Thin Ice Press will be hosting a ‘drop-in’ card making session. Visit between 10.30am and 3.30pm to design and print your own Christmas cards inspired by the Victorian cards on display.
The seasonal guided craft workshops are also available for adults and are selling fast! Join Mandy on Wednesday 10 December for wreath making, either for your door or as a beautiful centrepiece for your table. Try your hand at lino printing and create your own Christmas cards and decorations. Led by artist Becky Long-Smith, the Christmas card workshop will take place on the Saturday 29 November and decorations on Friday 12 December. Saturday 6 December provides the chance to make your own Christmas crackers complete with printed jokes and a small gift, perfect for adding a handmade touch to your holiday table. You can also have a go at bauble marbling on Saturday 13 December. Create unique and beautiful patterns and take home a set of colourful decorations for your tree. Materials and refreshments will be provided for these craft workshops. Head to the website for more details and to book the few remaining places on these amazing Christmas workshops.
Visit the gift shop and browse the range of seasonal items, find the perfect Christmas gift or something for yourself. A particular highlight for 2025 is a bespoke Green Father Christmas hanging decoration, designed especially for York Castle Museum.
Book now to enjoy a magical and festive Christmas experience and return throughout the festive programme of events and into the new year.
For a full list of activities please head to yorkcastlemuseum.org.uk.
