An open air cinema and tipi bar will pop-up next to York Minster in new summer festival

York Minster’s back garden will be filled with fun this summer thanks to a brand new pop-up festival.

Dean’s Park will host the Heart Of Yorkshire Festival, featuring an open-air cinema and a tipi bar, brought to us by the same team who run Thor’s Tipi at Christmas.

There will also be an international stone carving festival, a sculpture exhibition, family music, dance and storytelling workshops.

Aiming to offer something for every age group, the fest will include children’s craft activities and talks for grown ups.

The festival will run from July 4 to September 2. Here’s a lowdown on what’s planned…

Tipi bar

Throughout the two month festival, pop-up tipi bar Sól Ást (‘sun love’ in Old Norse) will provide street food and drinks with a summery vibe.

Drinks will include Pimms, local ales and a new signature cocktail, the Minster Martini.

A barbecue will be serve gourmet Yorkshire sausages and burgers, served with homemade relishes, as well as veggie options.

A large outdoor garden and terrace will host an exhibition of contemporary sculptures by renowned Yorkshire artist Michael Lyons, paying homage to the bar’s theme of sun and light.

“With street food dining, alfresco drinking, day beds, summer tunes and contemporary sculptures to view, Sól Ást tipi bar at the Minster is the sunny and summery place to be in York,” said Amanda Monaghan of Thor’s Bars.

Sól Ást will be open 10am-10pm Monday to Saturday, 12pm-10pm Sundays from July 4-Sept 7

Stone Carving Festival

This will be the first stone carving festival the Minster has hosted since 2010.

More than 70 stonemasons and carvers from across the UK and Europe showcase their skills.

The three-day festival starts with the popular annual Stoneyard Open Day, followed by two days of carving in Dean’s Park.

Stone Carving Festival runs August 17-19

Open air cinema

To conclude the festival, open-air cinema folk The Luna Cinema will screen three blockbuster films.

Viewers will enjoy a film under the stars with the Gothic cathedral as a splendid backdrop.

The films are

• Pan’s Labyrinth (August 28)
• Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone (August 28)
• and The Greatest Showman (August 30)

Meanwhile the Luna Bar with Estrella will be onsite serving a full selection of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks including Estrella beer, prosecco, a selection of Casillero del Diablo wines, spirits and soft drinks.

Food will also be available.

Kids’ stuff

Family workshops include ‘Trashbang!’, an interactive music workshop from Billy Hickling, previously performer and rehearsal director with international stage hit STOMP, and a song-writing workshop with award-winning songwriter and musician David Gibb.

Hands-on children’s craft activities will run throughout the school holidays celebrating the theme All Things Bright and Beautiful, All Creatures Great and Small, with the chance for youngsters to earn stickers towards the Arts Award Discover certificate.

Grown-up stuff

Adult activities include flower arranging workshops with York Minster’s flower arrangers, willow weaving sessions, urban beekeeping demonstrations and interactive displays with the cathedral’s broderers.

As part of the programme, York Minster’s flower arrangers will take centre stage on 7 July demonstrating their skills as part of the Bloom! festival – a city celebration of the 250th anniversary of The Ancient Society of York Florists – the oldest florist society in the world.