29 things to do in York this weekend, July 4-5, 2015
They’ll be dancing in the streets this weekend – well, one street in particular. And you can go bug hunting or take an art trail. As ever, the whole city is in our streets-ahead What’s On Guide.Fossgate Festival & more retail fun
Right after Independence Day, York’s street of independent traders has a party of its own. The street will be shut to traffic on Sunday from 9am till noon, and Fossgate’s finest will be serving up food, drink, music and dance, as well as some retail therapy. More here
| Event | Venue | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Stamp Fair | Wigginton Rec | Sat @ 9.30am-3pm |
| York Antiques & Fine Art Fair | York University | Sat @ 10am-4pm |
Insect Festival & more outdoors fun
It’s a small world. And now you can explore it close up, thanks to the Insect Festival in Museum Gardens. Exhibits and activities will focus on the best of the bugs, from 10am on Sunday – more here.
| Event | Venue | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Eco-Active Day: Balsam Bashing | St Nicks | Sat @ 10am-2pm |
| New Earswick Nature Reserve Open Day | New Earwick Nature Reserve | Sat @ 12pm-4.30pm |
| York Cemetery Lord Mayors Walk | York Cemetery | Sun @ 2pm-3pm |
| Minster Equine Veterinary Clinic Open Day | At the clinic | Sat from 11am |
Holgate Windmill opens & other family fun
Holgate Windmill is five storeys high and more than 250 years old. So take advantage of the open day on Saturday (11am-4pm) to climb through history – and maybe pick up a loaf as well… More here.
| Event | Venue | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Copmanthorpe Carnival | Copmanthorpe Recreation Centre | Sat @ 12pm-6pm |
Love Visual Arts Trail
Put a bit of colour into your weekend with this arts trail around eight venues. Includes wire sculpture, photos and graphic novel artwork, all celebrating the talent of artists whose lives have been touched by mental health issues. Saturday and Sunday – more here.
| Event | Venue | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Life After York Open Studios | Hungry Artist | Sat & Sun Jul 5 @ 9am-7pm |
| Sentimental Landscapes | Shandy Hall, Coxwold | Sun @ 11am-4.30pm |
In Fog – and more theatre
It’s epic, it’s spectacular and it’s garnered some rave notices, not least our own. Community production In Fog And Falling Snow tells the story of ‘railway king’ George Hudson in the NRM – on till July 11, nightly at 7.30pm.
| Event | Venue | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Jekyll & Hyde The Musical | Jo Ro Theatre | Sat @ 7.30pm |
| Dance, Dance, Dance | Jo Ro Theatre | Sun @ 2.30pm |
| Gymfusion Live | Barbican | Sat @ 12pm & 4.30pm |
| Showstoppers | Grand Opera House | Sat @ 2.30pm & 4.30pm |
Early Music Festival & more music
This year’s York Early Music Festival celebrates 300 years of music making across England and France – from the battle of Agincourt in 1415 – commemorated by The Clerks in the Quire of York Minster – to the opulence of the Court of Louis XIV who died in 1715, and whose music and dance is celebrated by the London Handel Players. Until Sat July 16 – more here.
| Event | Venue | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Andreas Staier | NCEM | Sat @ 11am-12.15pm |
| Entente Cordiale | Guildhall | Sat @ 3pm-5pm |
| Taverner Consort and Choir | York Minster | Sat @ 7.30pm-10.30pm |
| Edstock | Fulford Arms | Sat @ 2pm |
| Early Music Show | NCEM | Sun @ 2pm-3pm |
| Minster Minstrels | St Saviourgate Chapel | Sun @ 4pm |
| Luke Saxton | Woolpack Inn | Sat @ 7pm |
| Akari | Fibbers | Sat @ 7.30pm |
| Michael Phelan | Basement Bar | Sun |
| Micklegate Singers | York St John | Sat Jul @ 7.30pm |