It’s the weekend!
There’s lots of fun to be had in York this weekend – The huge LGBTQ+ celebration York Pride will once again be marching to the Knavesmire, Tractorfest is back at Newby Hall, the inaugural York Horror Fest is here, a new exhibition opens at York Minster, it’s the return of the Poppleton Beer & Music Festival, and much more.
Take a look at our full guide below.
What’s on in York this weekend, Friday 6 – Sunday 8 June
York Pride
North Yorkshire’s largest LGBTQ+ celebration and York’s biggest free one-day festival is back! Join the Parade from its new starting point on Parliament Street and march to the Knavesmire for music, entertainment, food and drink, and family fun. The main stage line-up includes headliners Angels of the North, and performances from La Voix, Kerry Ellis, The Cheeky Girls, Marcus Collins, Eva Iglesias, Pet Shop Boys, Actually, Janice D, Ryan Petitjean and more.
- Parade will start from Parliament Street to the Knavesmire
- Sat 7 Jun
- From 11:30am
- More info
Tractorfest
Tractor Fest is the UK’s largest vintage tractor & engine show. With over 1,600 exhibitors and a host of entertainment, crafts, food & drink Tractorfest is a great day out for anyone, of any age interested in farm or industrial machinery.
- Newby Hall & Gardens, Newby Hall, Ripon, HG4 5AE
- Sat 7 – Sun 8 Jun
- 10am – 4:30pm
- More info
York Horror Fest 2025
A horror themed comic con for all ages that’s brand new for York! With over 30 horror themed stalls and special guests including Rachel Hurd-Wood, Martin Portlock, and Megan Placito.
- The Guildhall, Coney St, York YO1 9QN
- Sat 7 Jun
- 11am – 4pm
- More info
Poppleton Beer & Music Festival 2025
It’s the lucky for everyone 13th Poppleton Beer & Music Festival, serving perfectly conditioned cask ales, keg, lagers, ciders, wines, a collection of gins and soft drinks. The hugely popular Pimms and Prosecco tent returns of course, along with lots of music and dancing, a fantastic line up of bands, and a selection of food outlets serving popular festival fodder.
- Poppleton Football Club, Nether Poppleton, York YO26 6LY
- Fri 6 – Sat 7 Jun
- 4-11pm (Fri), 12-11pm (Sat)
- More info
Matthew Bourne’s The Midnight Bell
Matthew Bourne’s New Adventures company return to York Theatre Royal with The Midnight Bell. In 1930s London ordinary people emerge from cheap boarding houses nightly to pour out their passions, hopes and dreams in the pubs and fog-bound streets of Soho and Fitzrovia. Step inside The Midnight Bell, a tavern where one particular lonely-hearts club gather to play out their lovelorn affairs of the heart; bitter comedies of longing, frustration, betrayal and redemption. Read our shining review here.
- York Theatre Royal, St. Leonard’s Place, York, YO1 7HD
- Wed 4 – Sat 7 Jun
- Multiple times
- More info
Carousel
The award winning NETheatre York now brings you Carousel, the fully staged concert. Featuring an 18 piece orchestra, with an ensemble cast of 29 fantastic voices. Follow the story of Billy Bigelow, a swaggering, carefree carnival barker, who falls in love with and marries the sweet but naive Julie Jordan. A stunning tale of hope, redemption and the power of love.
- York Theatre Royal, St. Leonard’s Place, York, YO1 7HD
- Thu 5 – Sat 7 Jun
- 7:30pm (2:30pm Sat matinee)
- More info
Visions, Voices, Vocations: Celebrating Women in York Minster
Step inside the medieval Chapter House and meet the women who shape life at York Minster today through a new portrait exhibition in collaboration with award-winning photographer Olivia Hemingway.
The exhibition features high-definition screens that display the specially commissioned photographs. The emotive installation captures just some of the inspirational women who contribute to the life and mission of the Minster today, ranging from its police force and musicians to stonemasons and conservators.
- York Minster, Deangate, York, YO1 7HH
- Thu 5 Jun – Sun 16 Nov
- York Minster opening times
- More info
Open Farm Sunday
Open Farm Sunday is a fabulous opportunity to connect farmers and the public to discover the crucial work farmers do producing food, nurturing nature, and protecting the environment for future generations. See which North Yorkshire farms are participating here.
- Various locations
- Sun 8 Jun
- Various times
- More info
Deer Safari
A special opportunity for the whole family to tour the Deer Park and see some of the Red Deer and their calves, up close in their natural habitat. Our Deer Safari is a fantastic event for all the family – our Farm team will pick you up with their tractors and custom-made trailers to take you through the Grounds and over to the Deer Park where you will get up close to our majestic doe’s and be the first to meet their beautiful, new calves. You can ask us any questions and chat to the farmers who care for the herd throughout the year.
- Sledmere House, Sledmere, Driffield, YO25 3XG
- Sat 7 – Sun 8 & Sat 14 – Sun 15 Jun
- 10am – 4:30pm
- More info
Dolls House & Miniatures Fair
The Dolls House & Miniatures Fair is back! Top exhibitors from around the country will be displaying quality dolls houses and miniatures, browse every imaginable miniature in a variety of scales. An excellent chance to stock up on essential modelling items.
- York Racecourse, York, YO23 1EX
- Sun 8 Jun
- 10am – 4pm
- More info
North Yorkshire Summer Open Studios
North Yorkshire Open Studios is an annual event enabling artists and makers to open their studios, meet, promote, and sell their work direct to the public over the first two weekends in June. As North Yorkshire is such a large county, North Yorkshire Open Studios is split into 3 areas – Dales, Central, and Moors & Coast. We include Artists and makers working across a range of different disciplines including painting, printmaking, ceramics, woodwork, glass, jewellery, photography, sculpture, textiles, mixed media, and more!
- Multiple locations
- Sat 7 – Sun 8 & Sat 14 – Sun 15 Jun
- 10am – 5pm
- More info
Josh Glanc: Family Man
The brilliantly offbeat Josh Glanc arrives in York fresh from a smash hit, sold out Edinburgh Fringe run. Wonderfully silly songs. Collusive and tender. Surreal stand-up.The moustachioed aussie has created a ‘wackily inventive absurdism all his own (Times). ‘He’s one of the best out there when it comes to creating his own playground.” (Fest).
- Theatre@41, 41 Monkgate, York, YO31 7PB
- Sun 8 Jun
- 8pm
- More info
The Richard Hall Symposium 2025: A Day Out with the Vikings
The Richard Hall Symposium is returning to its original Festival of Ideas slot in 2025, with ‘A Day Out with the Vikings’, which will look at the past, present and future of festivals and public events on a Viking theme. A panel of invited speakers will join the discussion, which will look at re-enactment, reconstructed Viking ships, Viking festivals across the British Isles and Europe, and the JORVIK Viking Festival itself, which can be traced back to York city centre events staged for the first time in summer 1985.
- De Grey Court, St Johns University Campus, Lord Mayor’s Walk, York YO31 7EX
- Sat 7 Jun
- 9:30am – 1pm
- More info
The Wind in the Willows
Pop Yer Clogs Theatre return to Theatre@41 with a fresh, high-energy reimagining of Kenneth Grahame’s beloved classic. Join Mole, Ratty, Badger, and the ever-chaotic Mr Toad as they bring the riverbank and Wild Wood to life in a whirlwind of mischief and adventure.
- Theatre@41, 41 Monkgate, York, YO31 7PB
- Thu 5 – Sat 7 Jun
- 7pm (2:30pm Sat matinee)
- More info
Narnia
Narnia is a new choreo-drama adapted from the story The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe and is great entertainment for the whole family, performed by young students, teenagers and adults with stunning dances and great drama.
- Joseph Rowntree Theatre, Haxby Road, York, YO31 8TA
- Sun 8 Jun
- 6:30pm
- More info
Queen Of The Night – A Tribute to Whitney Houston
Queen Of The Night – A Tribute to Whitney Houston is a celebration of the music and life of one of the greatest singers of all time: Whitney Houston. Experience the ultimate tribute to Whitney’s remarkable musical repertoire in an electrifying production that honours her timeless songs with sensational vocalists and a full live band.
- York Barbican, Paragon St, York, YO10 4AH
- Fri 6 Jun
- 7:30pm
- More info
Swing Dance Festival
York Lindy invites you to a free one-day swing dance festival, featuring a pop-up exhibition, dance classes, history and music talks. Come along and learn about the fascinating African-American history of jazz and swing dance, hear about the musicians and dancers who made the ballrooms of Harlem swing, and listen to authentic music. Don’t miss the opportunity to try Lindy Hop, Charleston and Jazz dancing.
- The Belfrey, 52 Stonegate, York YO1 8AS
- Sat 7 Jun
- From 11am
- More info
Plant and Craft Fair
Come along and enjoy our early summer Plant & Craft Fair with craft / makers stalls and more in the chapel. There will be a plant sale in the Cemetery grounds and the masons from York Cemetery Memorials will share how they create their incredible pieces.
- York Cemetery, Cemetery Road, York, YO10 5AJ
- Sat 7 Jun
- 10am
- More info
An Afternoon with Simon Bradley
Join Simon Bradley as he introduces his new book, Bradley’s Railway Guide. Simon’s latest book tells the story of Britain’ railways from 1825 to the present in 201 illustrated chapters, documented year by year. As an unrivalled centre of innovation, Britain remains exceptional both for the range and diversity of its railway history and for its commitment to preserve the railways.
As well as key subjects in railway history, the talk will bring you less familiar stories from across two railway centuries, including the advent of passenger railcards, the impact of terrorist attacks in the late nineteenth century, and the poignant world of the station collecting dog.
- mallard Suite, National Railway Museum, Leeman Road, York YO26 4XJ
- Sat 7 Jun
- 4pm
- More info