Who’s looking forward to the weekend?
There’s festivals galore this weekend, with the return of favourites such as Staxtonbury Family Music Festival, Cop Carnival, The Merchant Adventurers’ Charity Beer Festival, and York Early Music Festival, as well as new additions like the Armed Forces Day Football Fest, Gastro Festival, and Starbeck Fest – what a treat!
There’s loads more on too – take a look below.
What’s on in York this weekend, 5-7 July
Staxtonbury Family Music Festival
The Staxtonbury Family Music Festival is back for three days of live music, family entertainment and great food – with festival headliner Toploader! Get a discount weekend ticket into the festival with YorkMix vouchers –>
- A64, Staxton, Scarborough YO12 4HS
- Fri 5 – Sun 7 Jul
- 12-11pm (Fri & Sat), 12-6pm (Sun)
- More info
Cop Carnival
Cop Carnival is back for another year! With a whole day packed with family fun, including live music, dance performances, inflatable assault course, fairground rides, street food vendors, and loads of stalls.
- Recreation Centre, Barons Crescent, Copmanthorpe, York, YO23 3YR
- Sat 6 Jul
- 11:30am – 7pm
- More info
Woodthorpe Festival
A whole day of family fun with live music and entertainment, fairground rides, AMR racing, football, tombola, food and drink, and lots of stalls to browse.
- Woodthorpe Green, York, YO24 2RX
- Sun 7 Jul
- 12-7pm
- More info
Armed Forces Day Football Fest
Members of the British Army will go head-to-head with the North Yorkshire Police in a duo of football matches, as part of the Armed Forces Day celebrations. There will also be display stalls, live music, and aerial displays.
- York Stadium, Kathryn Avenue, Huntington, York, YO32 9AF
- Sat 6 Jul
- 11am – 4:30pm
- More info
The Merchant Adventurers’ Charity Beer Festival
The second Merchant Adventurers’ Charity Beer Festival will feature over 30 breweries showcasing over 70 ales, beers and lagers, with headline sponsor Brew York. The Great Hall will be transformed into our Keg Beer Hall and the atmospheric Undercroft of the Hall will be home to the 50 foot Cask Bar. Outside the garden will host street food by Yuzu and El Chappo. The event aims to raise £17,000 for the Merchant Adventurers’ Charitable Trust, which supports education projects for local children across the city.
- The Hall, Fossgate, York, YO1 9XD
- Fri 5 – Sat 6 Jul
- 12-10pm
- More info
The Sorcerer
First performed in 1877, The Sorcerer was Gilbert and Sullivan’s first full-length comic opera. Based on one of Gilbert’s short stories. A love at first sight elixir is mixed into the celebration tea by a sorcerer – John Wellington Wells. Mayhem follows as the assembled guests fall under the magic spell. What could possibly go wrong? Presented by York Opera.
- York Theatre Royal, St. Leonard’s Place, York, YO1 7HD
- Wed 3 – Sat 6 Jul
- 7:30pm, 2:30pm Sat matinee
- More info
Zog & The Flying Doctors
Based on Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s bestselling sequel, with music and lyrics by Joe Stilgoe for this truly modern take on the classic fairy tale. With a bit of help from some friends and half a pound of cheese, can Pearl make her uncle better and prove princesses can be doctors too?
- Grand Opera House, Cumberland Street, York YO1 9SW
- Fri 5 – Sun 7 Jul
- Multiple times
- More info
Green Day’s American Idiot
Green Day’s American Idiot, inspired by Green Day’s chart-topping 2004 punk rock album, bursts onto the stage with the story of Johnny, ‘Jesus of Suburbia,’ and his friends, Will and Tunny, as they attempt to break out of their mind-numbing, aimless suburban existence. Their journey embodies the youth’s struggle between passionate rebellion and the search for love, echoing the voice of their era. From ‘Boulevard of Broken Dreams’ to ‘Holiday’ and ‘21 Guns,’ American Idiot brings the soundtrack of a generation to the stage and promises to captivate and energise audiences with early 2000s nostalgia.
- Joseph Rowntree Theatre, Haxby Road, York, YO31 8TA
- Thu 4 – Sat 6 Jul
- 7:30pm, 2:30pm Sat matinee
- More info
Nunsense: The Mega Musical
It’s your last chance to catch Nunsense: The Mega-Musical this weekend! It follows a convent of nuns, The Little Sisters of Hoboken, and they are in a predicament! After a “culinary catastrophe” involving soup, the remaining sisters must raise funds to bury their dearly departed sisters who are, shall we say, “chilling out” in the freezer. Their solution? A riotous revue packed with hilarious, show-stopping song and dance numbers, and always proves to be a crowd favourite. Read our review here.
- Theatre@41, 41 Monkgate, York, YO31 7PB
- Wed 26 Jun – Sat 6 Jul
- 7:30pm, 3pm Sat matinee
- More info
York Early Music Festival
The York Early Music Festival was established in 1977 to celebrate music from the medieval to the baroque within an array of historic venues across the city of York. The festival is administered by the National Centre for Early Music. In 2024, we are celebrating this wealth of musical creativity through the human voice and song, the combination prized for its power to communicate with us most directly; and through metamorphosis, the inspiration behind the creation, reimagination and reconstruction of music across time.
- Multiple locations
- Sat 6 – Sat 13 Jul
- Multiple times
- More info
Gastro Festival
A new food, drink and craft festival comes to Pocklington this weekend – with a fab entertainment line-up too.
- West Green Field, Pocklington, YO42 2NJ
- Sat 6 – Sun 7 Jul
- 12-8pm
- More info
York Houseplant Lovers Plant Swap
This is our 5th Plant Social & Plant Swap event – created by houseplant lovers, for houseplant lovers. A chance to socialise with other people who are passionate about houseplants and swap your excess plant babies for something new.
- The Crescent York, 8 The Crescent, York, YO24 1AW
- Sun 7 Jul
- 1-3pm
- More info
Cold War Wheels
Cars and motorbikes from an era when east and west were in a nuclear standoff. A chance to revive memories of the machines your parents/grandparents/self used to own, against the backdrop of our incredible Cold War jets!
- Yorkshire Air Museum, Halifax Way, Elvington, York YO41 4AU
- Sat 6 – Sun 7 Jul
- 10am – 5pm
- More info
Slingsby Duck Race
Come join us for a jam-packed family fun day out at our annual duck race – now in its 33rd year – in Slingsby. Entry is free, with a variety of good old-fashioned attractions on offer ranging from bouncy castles, a tombola, hook-a-duck and splat-a-rat, and face painting to name a few, complete with home baked refreshments. We’re absolutely delighted to also see the return of our ‘Star’ Chef Andrew Pern, owner of the Michelin-starred restaurant The Star Inn at Harome, who will be providing and cooking a mouthwatering BBQ menu on the day to boot.
- Slingsby Sports Field, Church Ln, Slingsby, York YO62 4AD
- Sat 6 Jul
- 11am – 3pm
- More info
Fishergate School Summer Fair
Many Tombolas, Games, Challenges, Huge Raffle, BBQ, Licensed Bar, Tea & Cakes, Ice Cream Van. Entertainment brought to you by The Children of Fishergate School singing some favourite classics from all genres. Everybody Welcome!
- Fishergate Primary School, Fishergate, York YO10 4AP
- Sat 6 Jul
- 12-3pm
- More info
Headlock Vintage Clothing Sale
Headlock Vintage Sales give you the chance to browse thousands of Grade A vintage clothing items. Find gems from all of your favourite brands, including Adidas, Nike, Levi’s, Berghaus, The North Face, Puma, Harley Davidson, Ralph Lauren and more!
- Spark:York, Piccadilly, York, YO1 9PB
- Fri 5 – Sun 7 Jul
- 12-6pm
- More info
Fjør x Remedy
A pop up tasting menu evening by the team at Fjør, taking over the kitchen of remedy. Sharing the same view on waste within the industry, Fjør have created an 8 course plant based tasting menu, utilising pickling, fermentation and other preservation techniques . Chris and the team at remedy will be providing cocktails and a matching wine float to purchase on the evening.
- Remedy, 24 Fossgate, York YO1 9TA
- Sun 7 Jul
- From 5:30pm
- More info
Starbeck Fest
Get ready for a day packed with excitement and adventure at our local park! Bring your loved ones and enjoy a variety of activities that cater to every age group and interest – such as fairground rides, tasty food vendors, live music, and arts and craft activities.
- Belmont Field, Starbeck
- Sat 6 Jul
- 11am – 4pm
- More info
St Oswald’s Church Summer Fair
A family summer fair with donkey rides, book stall, tombola, stalls, refreshments, and more.
- St Oswald’s Church, Main St, Fulford, York YO10 4HJ
- Sat 6 Jul
- 2-4pm
- More info
Bowie Experience
Direct from London’s West End, Bowie Experience is a spectacular concert celebrating the sound and vision of David Bowie. A must see for all Bowie fans, the latest production features all the hits from A to Ziggy.
- York Barbican, Paragon St, York, YO10 4AH
- Sun 7 Jul
- 7:30pm
- More info
York Rescue Boat Recruitment Open Day
Anyone interested in offering some volunteer hours to a great charity! Please come to our recruitment day to find out some more about who we are and what we do.
- York Motor Yacht Club, Love Lane, York, YO10 4PF
- Sat 6 Jul
- 10am – 3pm
- More info