Things to do in York for Easter 2023: Your guide to what’s on
Who else is looking forward to a packed Easter in York, filled with chocolate, chocolate and more chocolate?
As exciting as that is, there’s also loads of fun events happening in York this Easter that are perfect for the whole family.
There’s Easter Adventures at Beningbrough with a unique trail and a chocolate egg at the end, and Easter fun at York Mansion House and Piglets Adventure Farm.
Decorate the perfect Easter egg with York Chocolate Story and visit a special Easter Fete at Carlton Towers. There’s also great family-friendly theatre with Chitty Chitty Bang Bang at Grand Opera House York and Fireman Sam at York Theatre Royal
And much more! Take a look at what’s in store this Easter in York. This guide will be regularly updated with more events.
Don’t miss
Easter adventures at Beningbrough
From blooming blossom to nodding spring bulbs and a brilliant Easter trail in between. Head into the gardens at Beningbrough Hall, Gallery and Gardens 1 – 16 April for a brand-new school holiday adventure. Follow the 10 nature inspired play points on the trail to earn your Rainforest Alliance chocolate egg. Are you brave enough to sniff the smelly wellies?
Elsewhere you can’t help but see the signs of spring emerging around you. Cheery daffodils head move over to tulips. Fruit blossom and magnolias open-up their scented petals attracting a myriad of pollinators and birds to live and visit the garden.
Complete your day with a visit to the restaurant and shop, and your dog is welcome to join you on your visit. Find Beningbrough just 8-miles north of York, signposted from the A19, with free entry to National Trust and RHS members, and under-fives. The hall remains closed until summer.
- Beningbrough Hall, Gallery and Gardens, York YO30 1DD
- 1-16 Apr
- 10am – 4pm
- More info
Easter Family Day at Thirsk Races
The flat is back at Thirsk, come and join us for our Season Opener! Falling in the Easter Holidays, we’re hosting a range of easter themed entertainment for the children, including an Easter egg hunt, bouncy castles and face painting!
- Thirsk Racecourse, Station Road, Thirsk, YO7 1QL
- 4 Apr
- From 11am
- More info
Family fun
Easter Activities at York Castle Museum
Join us at the Castle Museum for special springtime activities over the Easter holidays for the whole family. Down by the river, have a play with all the toys and games, follow our Spring Trail through the museum to find our springy-est objects, and design a postcard to wish the Castle Museum a happy 85th birthday and be entered to win a prize!
- York Castle Museum, York, YO1 9RY
- 1-16 April
- All day
- More info
Flying Scotsman Family Fun
This Easter we’re celebrating 100 years of Flying Scotsman with hands-on activities, storytelling and fun for all the family—plus a visit from the famous loco itself!
- National Railway Museum, Leeman Road, York YO26 4XJ
- 1-16 April
- All day
- More info
Easter Eggstravaganza at Piglets Adventure Farm
Get ready for non-stop egg-citement, entertainment and activities for all ages! Join the famous ‘great easter egg hunt’ with a special prize for all successful egg-splorers, lambing live and lamb bottle feeding, panto show, and much more.
- Piglets Adventure Farm, Towthorpe Grange, Towthorpe Moor Ln, Towthorpe, York YO32 9ST
- 1-16 Apr
- 10am – 4pm
- More info
Wildlife Willow Sculpture Trail
Go on an epic adventure around our Grounds, and seek out Wildlife Willow Sculptures of Yorkshire creatures created by local artist Dragon Willow. Spot owls in the trees and hares in the hedges, and be rewarded with a tasty treat courtesy of York Cocoa House. Included with a Gardens Ticket.
- Castle Howard, York, YO60 7DA
- 1-16 Apr
- All day
- More info
Trending
Easter at Murton Park
Head to Murton Park this Easter for a spring trail, Easter crafts and of course, a visit from the Easter bunny! There’s also biscuit decorating, train rides, cowboy reenactment, and more.
- Murton Park, Murton, York, YO19 5UF
- 1-16 Apr
- 10am – 4:30pm
- More info
Easter at Mother Shipton’s
This Easter, EVERY BUNNY is invited to join us for an EGG-CITING Springtime adventure! Nestled within our enchanting Easter Village tons of CRACKING surprises are waiting to be found. Follow the Bunny Door Trail through our BLOOMING beautiful woodland and watch it come alive with the colours of Spring. Be sure to look out for giant eggs and see if you can find all the charming Easter scenes and EGG-CEPTIONAL photo opportunities along the way. You might even get to meet the Easter Bunny himself!
- Mother Shipton’s Cave, Prophecy Lodge, High Bridge, Knaresborough, HG5 8DD
- 1-16 Apr
- 10am – 4:30pm
- More info
Easter at Nunnington Hall
This Easter join us for a week packed with fun games and activities.
Take part in the Easter activity trail and win a chocolate egg. Weave between sticks, compare your hand size to animal footprints, and race with an egg and spoon; there are 10 activity stations to complete around the garden. Venture on an indoor trail to spot the different eggs found in the natural world. £3 per trail, including a chocolate egg prize.
Indoors is a trail to spot 10 eggs that belong to the many different species of Yorkshire birds.
- Nunnington, York YO62 5UY
- 1-16 Apr
- 10:30am – 5pm
- More info
Easter Adventures at William’s Den
Kids will be Egg-static to join us for Easter Adventures, where they can make all kinds of new friends, including the Easter Bunny! There are all kinds of Egg-cellent activities in store, such as: The Celeggrity Egg hunt, meet the Easter Bunny, run wild with our new Play Pioneers, design in Carrot Corner, build a teddy, plus, much more.
- William’s Den, Castle Farm, Wold Hill, North Cave, HU15 2LS
- 1-16 Apr
- 10am – 5pm
- More info
Easter at Yorkshire Air Museum
Two treats for visitors young and old over the Easter Holidays.
One of the French RAF Squadrons based here at RAF Elvington in WW2 had a real white rabbit called Nostradamus as their mascot. They painted an image of him on their aircraft. This Easter, find the hidden white rabbits around the Museum.
One of our magnificent Pathfinder fire engines will be open for visitors on certain days over the holiday. Visitors will be able to climb aboard and be given a guided tour of the mighty machine by our volunteers.
- Yorkshire Air Museum, Halifax Way, Elvington, York YO41 4AU
- From 1 Apr
- 10am – 5pm
- More info
Easter fun at Harlow Carr
Hop on down to RHS Garden Harlow Carr this Easter holiday and search for giant eggs hidden around the garden to win a chocolate prize. Go on a larger-than-life egg hunt, get stuck in with forest school and family workshops, and enjoy adventure walks with the Garden Detectives.
- RHS Garden Harlow Carr, Crag Ln, Beckwithshaw, Harrogate HG3 1QB
- 1-17 Apr
- 10am – 5pm
- More info
York Chocolate Festival
Learn more about York’s rich chocolate history and sample some of the city’s finest cocoa at York Chocolate Festival. There’ll be workshops, free chocolate lollipop or egg making, chocolate tastings and a festival market.
- Parliament Street
- 5-9 April
- 10am – 5pm
- More info
Dragon Egg Quest
Rumours are circulating that a dragon has hidden its eggs somewhere in the Himalayan Garden. Join storyteller Dragonella to look for hidden signs of magic as you adventure through the garden on a quest to find the eggs and keep them safe.
- Himalayan Garden & Sculpture Park, The Hutts, Grewelthorpe, Ripon, HG4 3DA
- 10 April
- 10:30am, 12pm & 2pm
- More info
Easter extravaganza
Tour and Mini Easter Egg Rolling
Enhance your Easter Tour with our hands-on mini Easter Egg Rolling session where you get to roll four of your very own truffles in different chocolate couverture powders. Then you can take home your new creating and wow your friends with your chocolatier skills!
- York’s Chocolate Story, King’s Square, York YO1 7LD
- 27 Mar – 9 Apr
- 5pm, 5:30pm, 6pm
- More info
Easter Chocolate Workshops at Castle Howard
Join the York Cocoa Works in our Courtyard Gallery to craft your own chocolate lollipop, chocolate Easter Bunny or Easter Egg. We’ll bring your chocolate, instructions and range of decorations to you to craft your own chocolate treat. You will learn how to work with tempered chocolate to decorate, mould and package up your own chocolate Easter creation.
- York’s Chocolate Story, King’s Square, York YO1 7LD
- 1-16 Apr
- 11am – 3pm
- More info
Easter Wreath Making Workshop
Join Jemma from Riverbend Flowers for this exciting spring wreath workshop and learn the methods and techniques required to make your own Easter wreath with seasonal flowers. Includes a hot cross bun / carrot cake and tea or coffee.
- Three Hagges Woodmeadow York Road Escrick YO19 6EE
- 2 Apr
- 10am-12pm and 1-3pm
- More info
Paint Your Own Easter Egg
Join us this Easter and paint your very own egg for someone special or to enjoy yourself! Take time to relax, get creative and take part in some seasonal activities in the beautiful Georgian State Room of York Mansion House.
- York Mansion House, St. Helen’s Square, York YO1 9QL
- 2, 3, 4 April
- Multiple times
- More info
Holy Week and Easter Highlight Services at York Minster
York Minster’s highlight services during the season of Easter, including services and Choral Evensong on Palm Sunday, Good Friday and Easter Sunday.
- York Minster, Deangate, York, YO1 7HH
- 2-9 April
- Various times
- More info
All Of Our Eggs Are Missing!
Can you come and help the Easter bunny? They have laid a trail of eggs around the theatre but someone has stolen them! Only the empty wrappers are left. Can you solve the clues and riddles to help find the missing eggs? If you succeed, you’re sure to be given an eggtastic reward!
- York Theatre Royal, St. Leonard’s Place, York, YO1 7HD
- 3 & 5 April
- 10am and 12pm
- More info
Easter Masterclass
Choctastic crafting of stunning Easter products while sampling some of the finest chocolates with our chocolatier-led masterclass.
Join our master chocolatiers where they will teach you the secrets of chocolate making as they guide you through decorating the perfect Easter egg. You’ll make exquisite chocolate truffles and learn techniques to try at home. Perfect for all of the family as you get to create and take home your very own handmade Easter treats.
- York’s Chocolate Story, King’s Square, York YO1 7LD
- 3-9 Apr
- 11am and 3pm
- More info
Easter Eggstravaganza Trail
Join us for Easter fun in the park. Search the park for clues to help the Easter Bunny find her missing pal and earn a reward for all your help.
Children will collect a trail sheet to find hidden clues around the park to help solve the missing bunny mystery. Once solved, they can return to find the bunny and receive a small reward for all their hard work. This has always been a popular event as a lovely way to have fun together with family and friends exploring nature. Bring a picnic and make a full day of it!
- Rowntree Park, Terry Ave, York YO23 1JQ
- 6 Apr
- 10am
- More info
ARTventurers Easter Party
Looking for a way to help celebrate Easter with your little ones? Come and join us for some arts, crafts and messy play with the ARTventurers Easter party! This holiday special is suitable for ages 6 months to approx 7 years.
- Haxby and Wigginton Methodist Church, The Village, Haxby, York YO32 2JJ
- 6 Apr
- 10:30am
- More info
Easter Trail
Our popular Easter trail will be back again! A small prize will be given for every correct trail sheet returned and they will then be put into a draw for a bigger prize at the end of the day. Rumours have been going around of a sighting of a large bunny in the reserve, see if you can spot him hopping around. There will be refreshments available on the day including bacon or sausage sandwiches, homemade biscuits and cakes.
- New Earswick Nature Reserve, Alder Way, New Earswick, York
- 8 Apr
- 10:30am – 3pm
- More info
Easter Fete
This Easter, Carlton Towers invites you to our Easter Fete. Set in our stunning grounds with the magnificent house as your backdrop, there’ll be an Easter egg hunt, market stalls, craft tent, face painting, refreshments, and more.
- Carlton Towers, Carlton DN14 9LZ
- 8-9 Apr
- 10am – 4pm
- More info
Family Easter Egg Hunt
Free event, All ages welcome, come and explore, refreshments provided.
- York Cemetery, The Gatehouse, 49 Cemetery Rd, York YO10 5AJ
- 9 Apr
- 10:30am – 12pm
- More info
Easter Fair
A family friendly fair featuring a variety of stalls offering games, prizes, cakes, food, plants, books, crafts, refreshments and much more.
- RSPCA York Animal Home, Landing Lane, York YO26 4RH
- 9 Apr
- 10:30am – 3pm
- More info
Egg Decorating Workshop
Come and join us on Easter Sunday, 11am – 1pm for a bit of egg decoration fun. No booking needed, just hope we have enough eggs!
- Foss Fairy Trail, Heworth, York YO31 8RP
- 9 Apr
- 11am – 1pm
- More info
Easter Family Activity Day
A Easter family activity day at Holy Trinity Church! Activities include clay sculpting, craft activities, storytelling and a chance to explore a stunning medieval church.
- Holy Trinity Church, 70 Goodramgate, York YO1 7LF
- 11 Apr
- 11am – 3pm
- More info
Fab shows
The Magic Flute
Join the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment (OAE) for a fun packed family show of a newly crafted version of Mozart’s The Magic Flute by Hazel Gould. Kirsty is a bird. Tim is a bird catcher. Every day he must catch a new bird to take to the queen for her collection. In return she gives him food and drink.
One day Tim catches Kirsty – and is going to take her to the Queen – but Kirsty does not want to be caught or to live in a palace. She wants to be free…
- National Centre for Early Music, St. Margaret’s Church, Walmgate, York YO1 9TL
- 1 Apr
- 10:30-11:30am
- More info
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
One of the world’s favourite musicals, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang is set to have audiences of all ages flying high with its mixture of madness, mayhem and magic!
Can the loveable but whacky inventor, Potts, along with his two children and the gorgeous Truly Scrumptious outwit the bombastic Baron Bomburst who has decreed that all children be banished from his kingdom? What happens when the evil Childcatcher is sent out to capture the children? Will it all end happily-ever-after?
- Grand Opera House York, Cumberland Street, York YO1 9SW
- 6-15 Apr
- 7:30pm, 2:30pm matinees
- More info
Fireman Sam Saves the Circus
When all of his friends go away, Norman Price decides to find adventure in Pontypandy and become the star of a visiting circus. But with a tiger on the loose and faulty lights, the adventure soon turns to danger. Can Fireman Sam come to the rescue and save the circus?
Join Sam, Penny, Elvis, Station Officer Steele and Norman in an all singing, dancing, action-packed show. You can become a fire-fighter cadet and then watch the magic of the circus.
- York Theatre Royal, St. Leonard’s Place, York, YO1 7HD
- 4 Apr
- 3:30pm
- More info
Ugly Duckling
Ugly Duckling is lonely and fed-up, ignored by those around her who think she is too ugly to fit in. She tries to make friends with fellow ducklings as well as with frogs, cats and even a fox, but realising she is not like any of these animals, she is left sad and alone.
Follow the duckling on her journey as she overcomes her troubles and realises that she was beautiful all along. As seen on CBeebies, Northern Ballet’s sell-out productions for children are not to be missed.
- York Theatre Royal, St. Leonard’s Place, York, YO1 7HD
- 6 Apr
- 2pm and 4pm
- More info
More holiday fun
Spring Museum Gardens Activities
Have fun exploring the Museum Gardens before you head inside to explore The Yorkshire Museum! Follow our springtime garden trail to discover new plants and flowers, and make a spring nature hat with craft materials provided by the Museum! Collect materials at reception inside the Yorkshire Museum.
- York Museum Gardens
- 1-16 Apr
- All day
- More info
York Model Railway Show
Model Railway Show – The York Model Railway Show has been held every Easter since 1962.
- Knavesmire Stand York Racecourse YO23 1EX
- 8-10 Apr
- 10-5pm
- More info
Living History Weekend
Become a part of the comradery of life on the Home Front and Front Line and experience the sights and sounds of war time Britain as our Living History and Re-enactor volunteers take you back in time to show what life was like living in the 1940’s.
Learn all about the history of the era from uniforms, military equipment, memorabilia, and vehicles to fashion, rationing and how civilians and troops alike let their hair down. On the day there will be talks, demonstrations and military displays.
- Eden Camp Modern History Museum, Malton, YO17 6RT
- 8-9 Apr
- 10-5pm
- More info
Read and Play! Blown Away
Join us at 11:00am for story time and a fun activity. This week we will read ‘Blown Away’ by Rob Biddulph and we will make our own kite!
- Waterstones York, 15 Coney Street, York, YO1 9QL
- 9 Apr
- 11am
- More info