27 things to do in York this weekend, December 10-11, 2016
Hit the Ice Trail, see Santas good and bad, pop in to a craft fair and get your fix of panto slapstick – everything, as always, in our superlative What’s On GuideIce Trail
A polar bear, some spacemen, Marilyn Monroe and a Chocolate Orange Tree – just four of the 35 ice sculptures to see in the 2016 ice trail. There are prizes on offer too… Saturday and Sunday: more here.
| Event | Venue | Time |
|---|---|---|
| A Christmas Mystery | Castle Museum | Daily |
| Saturday story-telling & tours | York Minster | Sat @ 10.30am |
| Santa At The Mill | Holgate Windmill | Sat @ 2pm |
| Christmas Crafts and Games | York Baptist Church | Sat @ 2.15pm-5.30pm |
Pantos
York’s two professional pantos are underway. There’s Berwick and the gang (minus Martin Barrass after his brush with mortality) back at York Theatre Royal after a year away, with Cinderella. While the stars in Aladdin at the Grand Opera House include Debbie McGee and Paul Sinha. More here.
| Event | Venue | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Medieval Music | Barley Hall | Sat @ noon |
| The Goldfinch Ensemble | NCEM | Sat @ 1pm |
| King Lear | John Cooper Studio | Sat @ 2pm & 7.30pm |
| A Christmas Carol | Castle Museum | Till Dec 18 |
| Handel’s Messiah | York Minster | Sat @ 7pm |
| Bach at Christmas | Jack Lyons Hall | Sat @ 7.30pm |
| Cantar Community Choir Winter Concert | Heslington Church | Sat @ 7.30pm |
| Leather’o Christmas Bash | Your Bike Shed | Sat @ 7.30pm |
| The Mothers | Ainsty | Sat @ 9pm |
| Joe Below | Black Horse | Sat @ 9pm |
| 13 Cities | Victoria Vaults | Sun @ 4pm |
| Trevor Pinnock & Friends | NCEM | Sun @ 7.30pm |
Community Carol Concert
One of the city’s Christmas traditions, the York Community Carol Concert at York Barbican features enough festive magic to cheer the grumpiest of Scrooges. Among the performers on Sunday at 2.30pm are the Shepherd Group Concert Brass Band and the Military Wives Choir York. Proceeds to the Lord Mayor’s charities – more here.
| Event | Venue | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Sing for SASH 2016 | Streets of York | Sat and Sun |
| Charity head shave, leg and chest wax | New Earswick Sports Club | Sat @ 7pm |
| Charity evening for Syria | Fulford Arms | Sat @ 6pm |
Pop Up Christmas Market
Looking for something a bit different? This pop-up market, tucked away in The Basement, features unique gifts by local designers, crafters and vintage vendors. Sunday, 10.30am-4.30pm – more here.
| Event | Venue | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Christmas Craft Fair | Tang Hall library | Sat @ 9.30am |
| Christmas Cracker Fayre | St James the Deacon Church | Sun @ 1pm |
Good Santa
Santa drops into York Castle Museum this weekend and next. Seeing him is just one of the festive activities on offer at the museum: why not take part in the Christmas Mystery while you’re there?
Where to see Santa in York this Christmas: Grotto Guide 2016
Bad Santa
If you’re a grown-up looking for something entertainingly different, try the Old Fire Station. Before most of it is demolished you can tour a very different Santa’s grotto and help his miserable elves… On this weekend and next – more here.