York Easter guide 2019 – What’s on where for the school holidays

Chocolate heaven

Easter Tours at York’s Chocolate Story

Take a fully interactive journey, unearthing fascinating chocolatey facts along the way. Find out why factory workers used to make solid chocolate eggs; learn just how much chocolate we consume at Easter and discover why York is the perfect place for a chocolate covered Easter.

Chocolate Easter Egg Masterclass and Tour

Uncover the connection between Easter and chocolate on a special tour. Then join master chocolatiers who will teach you the secrets of chocolate making as they guide you through decorating the perfect Easter egg.

The Easter Bunny’s Chocolate Egg Hunt

Fun in the fresh air as the Easter Bunny and friends take you from King’s Square to the Merchant Adventurer’s Hall, meeting friends and finding eggs on the way.

York Chocolate Festival Market

Sample some of the tastiest treats at the chocolate market and learn some handy chocolate tips at the demonstration tent. There will be more sweet treats available at the Shambles Food Court, a short stroll from Parliament Street.

Family events

The Great York Bunny Search

Discover the 26 hidden bunny sculptures. Look high, look low, these mischievous bunnies love to hide…

Easter Planting & Egg Hunt

Help plant wildflowers in the nature reserve and make crafts with Eco-Crafters at the St Nick’s special egg hunt.

Palm Sunday at York Minster

This traditional Easter event is a spectacle well worth seeing, with the procession from St Helen’s Square to the Minster featuring choirgirls and boys and a donkey.

York Castle Museum Easter Fun

Easter trails and an egg-rolling competition near the river are on the Castle Museum holiday agenda.

Yorkshire’s Jurassic World

If you’ve not explored this journey back 150 million years to meet the dinosaurs and sea monsters that roamed the earth, now’s a great time to do it.

Easter at Beningbrough Hall

Treks, trails and other adventures are lined up at Beningbrough, along with the Cadbury Easter Egg Hunt over the Bank Holiday Weekend.

Treasurer’s House Cadbury Easter Egg Hunt

Follow the Easter Bunny’s trail to find flowers, animals and mythical creatures that live at Treasurer’s House and claim a prize

Goddards Easter Egg Hunt

Follow the Easter trail, find out more about the great British chocolate families: Cadbury’s, Terry’s, Fry’s and Rowntree’s.

Murton Park Easter Eggstravaganza

Lots of fun, including the Trailblazers Western Reenactment Group, Vikings, the Easter Bunny and the Derwent Valley Light Railway running trains on the Sunday and Monday.

Holgate Windmill Easter Trail

Follow the bunny trail and solve the puzzle to win an Easter prize. Be ready for lots of climbing and fun while exploring this amazing historic windmill.

Eden Camp’s WWII Living History Easter

Reenactment groups will be portraying both military and civilians, helping to enhance the 1940s theme and allowing visitors to get up close to uniforms, clothing and kit of the period.

Trains and planes

Easter Family Fun at the NRM

Get up close to Flying Scotsman, tackle a treasure hunt with a difference and enjoy your favourite family activities, steam rides and explosive science shows, all at the NRM.

The White Rabbit Trail at the Yorkshire Air Museum

To celebrate Easter and in memory of RAF Elvington Station mascot ‘Nostradamus’, the museum is running an Easter trail with a French twist. Follow the white rabbit trail around the museum, answer the questions as you explore, then collect your own yummy white chocolate rabbit.

Model Railway Show

Loads of layouts, and countless trains. Perfect for the trainspotter in your family, big or small.

Piglets Easter Egg-stravaganza

With egg-citing activities, cute baby animals, Lambing Live and lots of family fun, there’s plenty to see and do.

Shows

Dinosaur World Live!

Grab your compass and join our intrepid explorer across unchartered territories to discover a pre-historic world of astonishing (and remarkably life-like) dinosaurs.

The Sound of Music

This must be the best Austrian-based nuns and Nazis family musical featuring ever. And York Stage are sure to fill the hills with some wonderful tunes.

Peter Pan

Featuring Dani Harmer and Bobby Davro, this Easter panto features impressive music, energetic dance routines, lots and lots of laughter and flying.

In The Willows

A musical for all the family, the show brings Wind In The Willows nto the 21st century, with Toad locked up for joyriding and spectacular street dance.

Further afield

Easter Adventure at Stockeld Park

This year there’s a daily egg hunt, Easter circus, a puppet show and some fluffy chicks.

Easter at Castle Howard

The Castle Howard bunnies have lost their eggs around the grounds and need your help to find them. Plus there’s a children’s funfair.

Egg hunt at Nunnington Hall

Join Captain Compost and Lieutenant Leafmould on their crusade to save the Nunnington soil. There are chocolate treats for successful adventurers!