The sound of the cornu, a traditional Roman horn, will echo through York’s streets this weekend, as the Eboracum Roman Festival makes its anticipated return.
Starting Saturday 24 May, eight days of family-friendly events, parades, tours, and trails will take place across the city.
A staple in York’s festival calendar, the weekend will bring the colour of the city’s Roman founders back to life, with plenty of opportunities for visitors to get involved.
At the heart of the Bank Holiday weekend is a free living history encampment in the Museum Gardens. From 10am to 5pm on Saturday and Sunday, costumed re-enactors will recreate Roman military and civilian life on the central lawn in front of the Yorkshire Museum.
Eboracum’s soldiers, dressed in plumed helmets and polished armour, will demonstrate the fearsome nature of Roman warriors as they parade from the Yorkshire Museum to York Minster on Saturday and Sunday, beginning at 12 noon each day.
The route takes them from the Museum Gardens, up Lendal to St Helen’s Square, along Stonegate, and through Minster Gates to gather outside the South Front. On Saturday, the return march heads through Bootham Bar.
Siona Mackelworth, Head of Audience and Programme for York Museums Trust, said:
“Inside the museum, we’re also hosting fun Roman-themed activities, from storytelling to mosaic-making, as well as a talk on Roman Coins by David Michaels in the Discovery Den.”
From 29 – 31 May, costumed interpreters from Days Gone By will be stationed at York Minster to share stories of its Roman connections. The activities will include crafts, object handling, and a Roman soldier meet and greet.
Sessions run Thursday to Saturday, from 10am to 3pm, and are included within the admission to York Minster (free for York residents).
At DIG in St Saviourgate, visitors can make their very own Roman face pot, with sessions running daily from from 11am to 3pm, priced at £3 per person. Visitors can also see the only skeleton in the world believed to show evidence of a lion bite on a gladiator.
A free Roman treasure hunt will be running across the city centre on 24, 25, 28, 29 and 30 May too, perfect for the younger explorers.
For those looking to discover the hidden Roman history of York, there are walking tours available on 27, 28. 29, 30 and 31 May.
The festival also features a strong academic programme, including a host of talks by the renowned Roman historian Mary Beard, York’s own Peter Addyman, and CEO of York Archaeology, David Jennings.
Also speaking are Tom Moore of Durham University and Sophia Adams of the British Museum, who will discuss the recent Melsonby Hoard Iron Age finds, currently on display at the Yorkshire Museum.
The latest archaeological research on Roman York will too be highlighted on 23 May, with a special symposium at Tempest Anderson Hall.
For full details, and to book tickets, visit their website here.