The city is about to get a lot more chocolatey – as the York Chocolate Festival returns next week.
The highly anticipated festival is back on Parliament Street and St Crux Hall from Wednesday 16 to Sunday 20 April, and will once again be bringing tasty experiences that are fun for all the family.
Entry is free to York Chocolate Festival, and this year has an increased emphasis on hands-on chocolate making and culinary experiences.
We’ve put together a guide to six of the sweetest events to get involved in over the festival. From masterclasses, to taste trails, to chocolate sculptures – there’s something for everyone.
Parliament Street will also be filled with a diverse selection of baking, chocolate, and confectionery stands, so there’s plenty of delicious treats to explore.
To find out more about the York Chocolate Festival, visit their website here.
Guided Tour & Mini Easter Egg Truffle Rolling
Celebrate Easter in the sweetest way! Enjoy a Classic Guided Tour, followed by a hands-on truffle rolling experience that’s sure to delight your taste buds.
- York’s Chocolate Story, King’s Square, York YO1 7LD
- Wed 16 – Sun 20 Apr
- Multiple times
- Adult £26, Child £24.50
- More info
Chocolate Festival Taste Trail
A self-guided walking trail around the city of York and an opportunity to try samples from some of the best of York’s food scene. The trail features 10+ sample stops and you will receive a map and guide of when each business is open and offering samples. The samples provided on the taste trail vary widely depending on the participating businesses, but may include small bites of chocolate, cakes, confectionary, and drinks.
- Multiple locations
- Wed 16 – Sun 20 Apr
- From 10am
- £8.50
- More info
Easter Family Activities at St Crux
A range of fun and often free activities for the family, in and around St Crux Hall between 10am and 4pm.
Giant Egg Painting – All levels of artistic talent (or lack of) welcome! Paint your egg in whatever design you’d like, and once finished we’ll submit to our picture gallery on our website.
Eggs vs Bunnies – See how many bunnies you can knock over with a (non-painted!) egg.
Chocolate Café – a range of hot drinks and snacks in association with Chocolate and Co
Face painter – One or other of our face painters every day
Make Truffles and Scones as part of our hands on cookery opportunities
- St Crux, Pavement, York YO1 8BL
- Wed 16 – Sun 20 Apr
- 11am – 5pm
- Free
- More info
Ashley McCarthy – Chocolate Sculpture
Ashley McCarthy, an experienced chocolatier and professionally trained chef, known for being on Channel 4’s Extreme Chocolate Makers, will be showcasing his chocolate sculpturing skills live during the festival. Free for all to visit and watch him build his latest creation!
- Parliament Street (Marquee between Halifax and Barclays)
- Wed 16 – Sun 20 Apr
- 11am – 5pm
- Free
- More info
Cookery Workshops
Get hands on with our simple cookery workshops. Participants will make scoop and roll Chocolate Truffles and make Lemonade Scones. Both can be taken away and enjoyed at home!
- St Crux, Pavement, York YO1 8BL
- Wed 16 Apr
- 10am – 4pm
- £5 – available on a first come first serve basis
- More info
Joseph Rowntree Centenary Easter Event 2025
Join the team at The Cocoa Works (HAXBY ROAD) on Saturday 19th April for their Easter Event! You can get adventurous in the scavenger hunt, find treats at the Easter Market, get your face painted and enter the raffle. Everyone is welcome!
The Cocoa Works was built by Joseph Rowntree in the early 1890s, this was York’s famous ‘garden factory’, where open space and education facilities supported the wellbeing of factory workers and their families. The site is of historical significance to York, and this restoration brings life back to a building that for years was central to the economy of the city.
- The Cocoa Works, Haxby Road, York, YO31 8TA
- Sat 19 Apr
- 11am – 2pm
- Free
- More info