There’s chocolate, shopping, chocolate, history, chocolate, dinosaurs – did we mention chocolate?
As always, York’s comprehensive guide to things do to in York is here.
Chocolate heaven
A Cracking Chocolate Adventure
Merchant Adventurers’ Hall
Mar 30th-April 07th, 11.30am-2pm daily
£9.95 (child), £4.95 (adult)
An eggzellent Easter adventure for children organised by York’s Chocolate Story. Gr-egg and Yolko will take children on a hunt from Kings Square to the beautiful Merchant Adventurer’s Hall to recover all the lost Easter eggs.
This is a stand-alone event especially created and run by the attraction’s award winning team. It will take place entirely outside, so clothing suitable to the weather is strongly recommended. Recommended for children aged 4-8.
Women And Confectionery
Since the confectionery industry began, women have played a major part in shaping it. From Mary Tuke – who created a successful cocoa business against all adversity and paved the way for companies such as Rowntree’s – to Mary Ann Craven, made famous for her humbugs and French almonds. This new exhibition tells the stories of those pioneering women that had a profound effect on industry, confectionery and the wider world.
York Chocolate Festival Market
Bigger and even more delicious than in previous years the chocolate festival welcomes 30 craft stalls to York streets. Stroll around and pick up mouth watering bites such as chocolate churros, pies or liquors. Fascinating demonstrations and free tasting demonstrations will be thrown into the mix too.
York Easter Family Festival
York’s Easter Festival returns for the third year running with plenty of family fun – including…
Free pantomime
Step inside the Little Viking marquee to see The Hunt of the Magical Chocolatey Chick. Become a chocolate detective and solve all the clues on a virtual tour around York with the Easter bunny. Make sure to defend your treats from the Evil Egg smuggler.
This interactive show for all ages will be running five times a day.
The Food Factory
Get stuck in with a family cookery session. Roll up your sleeves and make anything from pasta and ice-cream to cheese and bread. There will be a small charge to cover the cost of ingredients.
The Great Bunny Search
Hop around the streets of York and peer in its shop windows to find the hidden bunnies! Just pick up a map from York Information Centre and when you’ve located all 26 bunnies, have a cup of tea!
As an additional incentive Make it York and York Teaching Hospital are offering a whopping prize of a family trip to Disneyland Paris if you complete the conundrum and leave your contact details on the form.
Family events
Yorkshire’s Jurassic World
Yorkshire Museum
Daily from Mar 24th @ 10am-5pm
£7.50, children free with a paying adult
This major new exhibition takes us 150 million years back this Easter! Discover coral reefs, deep oceans and Alan the Sauropod Dinosaur. A Jurassic trail will also be available so bring your field notebooks.
York Castle Museum Easter Fun
York Castle Museum, Eye of York
26 Mar-April 15th
£10, children free with a paying adult
Visit Castle Museum over the Easter break to see how Victorian Hot Cross buns are made (and have a nibble yourself) and make your very own Victorian Easter card designs. An Easter egg trail including clues round the Museum will also feature.
Easter Craft Fair
Pop along to this craft fair and discover a wide variety of handmade gifts, cakes and a lucky prize dip.
Easter at Beningbrough Hall
Follow the trail around the beautiful gardens to herald the beginning of spring and win a Cadbury’s chocolate prize. Other activites include an egg and spoon race and an Easter themed craft activity in the Hayloft Room.
Treasurer’s House Cadbury Easter Egg Hunt
Minster Yard, York
Mar 30th-April 2nd @11.00 am-4.00pm
£4.50-£9.00 plus £1.50 per trail
Hop through the house and along the trail to solve the Easter Bunny’s clues. A Cadbury’s reward awaits you at the end. Also pop into the downstairs cafe to make an Easter bonnet.
York Art Gallery Spring Time Marvels
Get crafty at the gallery this Easter sewing, drawing and folding spring inspired flora and fauna. Alternatively, pick up a trail sheet and fill the empty vase with flower sketches inspired by the gallery’s art work.
Hot cross bun chocolates
Learn about the history of chocolate and Easter at York’s Chocolate Story. In the shop, there are handmade Easter eggs, hot cross bun chocolates and Easter bars (milk, white and dark chocolate bars covered in mini Easter eggs!). Learn more here
York Minster Easter family activities
Follow the activities around the Minster to learn more about the Easter story. On April 4th 10 am-3.00pm join in making chocolate birds nests and decorating Easter biscuits to take it home in a special box.
Murton Park Easter Eggstravaganza
Whether you want to visit a Wild West town or Dark Age Viking Village, there’s plenty to see at Murton park this bank holiday weekend. The Easter bunny will also be paying Murton a visit on Easter Sunday to take chocolate loving children on an egg hunt!
Trains and planes
Easter Family Fun at the NRM
The NRM has engineered three weeks of Easter fun at the museum, including a treasure hunt, steam loco rides and hands-on fun.
The White Rabbit Trail at the Yorkshire Air Museum
An Easter egg trail with a French twist! Follow the questions celebrating the centenary of the creation of the RAF and collect a white chocolate rabbit at the end.
Model Railway Show
Boasting over 100 trade stands and 40 working models this is the North’s premiere event of it’s kind.
Historical highlights
Living History at Barley Hall
An historic character will lead you round the hall and show you life in the late-medieval and early Tudor period.
Holgate Windmill Easter Trail
Explore the oldest five-sail windmill in the country. Clamber and climb round it’s Easter trail. Follow the clues to win a prize!
Eden Camp’s WWII Living History Easter
Get up close and personal with History as WWII renacters take over the sight during the bank holiday weekend. An Eden Camp Wartime Easter Egg Hunt will also be taking place for much of the Easter break.
Shopping
Living North Homes and Garden Fair
A huge interior and spring shopping event that also boasts a large food hall for a respite while shopping.
Shambles Food Court Market
Shambles Food Court will be hosting a spring time petting zoo this Easter. Furthermore there will be a carousel and plenty of sweet treats available at the market.
Further afield
Easter Adventure at Stockeld Park
Featuring large playgrounds, an outdoor roller rink, maze, go karts and, plus some eggstra Easter events
Easter at Castle Howard
Family magic workshops, Easter egg hunts and craft activities are being laid on at the grand house and grounds.
Egg hunt at Nunnington Hall
Bunny has been up to his old tricks again trying to gobble up all the vegetables in the organic garden. Can you help by completing the garden hunt?