The York BID

Ghosts After Dark
2024-11-07 18:30 - 2024-11-10 21:30 (Europe/London) | York Museum Gardens
Experience Ghosts in the Gardens like never before!
Explore York Museum Gardens after dark and discover 45 ghostly sculptures inspired by York’s past, illuminated with dramatic lighting, smoke, and sound. Uncover the history behind the ghosts at six storytelling areas, featuring York’s top storytellers sharing both classic and new tales.
Ticket prices are £7.50 per adult and £1 per child (0-15 years). Up to 5 children per adult. All children must be accompanied by an adult.
Last entry 8.30 pm.
This is an outdoor event, so do come prepared for all weathers!
The gardens will be lit and the pathways are wheelchair accessible. In St Olave’s churchyard the ground is rough and there are some narrow pathways.
Interested? Book your tickets via the York Museums Trust website.

York Nutcracker Trail
2024-11-14 - 2025-01-05
The York Nutcracker Trail runs from 14th November to 5th January.
York BID have partnered with local artist Marc Godfrey-Murphy to celebrate togetherness and community with this year’s internationally inspired Nutcracker Trail. This year’s theme, Christmas Around the World, celebrates the unique and diverse communities that make up York.
Find out more here.

Winter Lights
2024-11-14 - 2025-02-03
York will be illuminated with Winter Lights from 14th November 2024 until the new year. Over 50 streets will be covered, with a total 175,000 bulbs in the city!
The York Winter Lights scheme is delivered by York BID in partnership with Make It York.

Meet Inka the Polar Bear
2025-01-18 14:00 - 18:00 | St Helen’s Square, 5 St Helen's Square, York, YO18QN, United Kingdom
This January, Inka the Polar Bear will be making her way to St Helen’s Square.
Experience an unforgettable encounter with Inka, a life-sized puppet, and her adorable cubs. This one-of-a-kind event invites families, children, and visitors of all ages to experience the magic of meeting the planet’s largest carnivore.
Inka the Polar Bear will be visiting St Helen’s Square from 2pm till 6pm on Saturday 18th January.
Please note, in the case of rain, Inka will be keeping her fur dry in St Helen’s Church.

Shop York
2025-02-01 - 2025-02-28
Join us for Shop York throughout February, a month-long celebration of our city’s vibrant high streets, from well-loved brands to independent boutiques.
Experience the joy of shopping locally to access exclusive offers and be in with a chance of winning incredible prizes donated by York businesses. Click here to find out more: Shop York – 1st-28th February 2025
Shop York and Support Local this February!

York Ice Trail
2025-02-01 - 2025-02-02
The UK’s biggest outdoor Ice Trail, and one of York’s best loved events, is back for more family-friendly fun on 1st and 2nd February 2025, with a range of magnificent ice sculptures transforming the city centre.
Get ready for an icy adventure as you walk through history and enjoy the ‘coolest’ sculptures lining the streets.
York BID is proud to sponsor 5 sculptures in this Make It York event.

Colour & Light
2025-02-12 18:00 - 2025-03-02 21:00 | York Minster, Deangate, York, North Yorkshire, YO1 7HH, United Kingdom
Colour & Light will transform the iconic South Transept of York Minster from Wednesday 12th February to Sunday 2nd March 2025.
This year’s free event will celebrate the beauty of York’s wildlife, creating an unforgettable event for all ages, and highlighting the city’s heritage and creativity. It will run nightly from 6pm to 9pm, with projections on a 10-minute loop.
The display will combine famous and lesser-known stories about York’s wildlife, from the peregrine falcons that call the Minster home and the foxes that roam the city after dark, to the horses that the Roman’s rode into Eboracum on, and the legendary dragons carved into York’s history.

Reignite VII: The Intersection of Art & Technology
2025-02-13 18:00 - 21:00 | Yorkshire Museum
Reignite VII: The Intersection of Art & Technology takes place on Thursday 13th February, from 6pm to 9pm, and celebrates innovation and collaboration.
The event begins at 6pm at the Yorkshire Museum, followed by a tour of York Minster’s new Centre for Excellence. Guests are then invited to join us for a LATE event in York Minster, with complimentary drinks and local DJ, Upside Your Mind.
There will also be a chance to experience York BID’s ‘Colour & Light’ event, a large-scale projection which will see the south transept of the Minster transformed into a canvas of digital creativity.
Book your place here: Reginite VII | Eventbrite

How York’s High Street Is Performing In 2025
2025-02-27 18:00 - 21:00
York BID is pleased to invite local businesses and partner organisations to a special business event focusing on ‘How York’s High Street Is Performing In 2025’, taking place at the new Patch offices, at The Bonding Warehouse, Terry Ave, York, on the evening of Thursday 27th February 2025, starting at 6pm.
During the event, we will hear from Diane Wehrle, a retail and destination insights expert who will examine York’s recent economic performance and offer her projections for 2025, based on recent national trends.
Once presentations have finished, guests are invited to join us in the impressive co-working space at Patch for drinks and networking. This event is free to attend, but due to limited capacity, ticket orders are restricted to 3 per business. Click here to register your place.
We look forward to welcoming you and discussing the future of our city.

York Restaurant Week
2025-03-10 - 2025-03-23
Discover delicious dining on a budget with York Restaurant Week. Enjoy a huge variety of offers on food and drink, from over 100 eateries in York city centre, all temptingly priced between £5 and £30.

For the first time, York Restaurant Week will run for an extended 2-week period from Monday 10th to Sunday 23rd March, giving diners even more opportunities to explore some of York’s best venues and indulge with friends and family. Click the link below to discover more.

March Rejuvenation Days
2025-03-11 09:00 - 2025-03-20 13:00
Join York BID to help keep York looking its best by cleaning and repainting street furniture like bike racks, benches, bollards, and more.
The sessions will take place on Tuesday 11th, Thursday 13th, Tuesday 18th, and Thursday 20th. Each session will run from 09:00 to 13:00 and we ask that volunteers wear clothing they are happy to risk getting paint on.
Find out more and sign up here: Rejuvenation Days | Eventbrite

Reignite VIII: The Stories We Tell Ourselves
2025-03-27 18:00 - 21:00 | Yorkshire Museum
Join us for the eighth edition of Reignite, the leading cultural event for York & North Yorkshire, to explore the transformative power of culture in shaping our places and communities.
The event will take place on Thursday 27th March from 5.30pm at the Yorkshire Museum, followed by a LATE event at York Art Gallery, where guests can experience the recently opened Harland Millar exhibition.
For more information and to book your place, please visit: Reignite VIII: The Stories We Tell Ourselves | 27 March.

Cycle Day of Action
2025-04-04 12:00 - 15:00 | Deangate
York BID is joining forces with North Yorkshire Police, York Cycle Campaign, and Minster Police for a Cycle Day of Action on Friday 4th April, aimed at improving cycle security and safe cycling in the city.
For more information, see here: Cycle Day of action to planned to tackle bike theft and promote safe cycling – The York BID

Meet Titan the Robot
2025-04-05 13:30 - 17:00 | King’s Square, York, YO17LD, United Kingdom
This April, get ready to meet the world-famous Titan the Robot in York!
Watch as the larger-than-life robot interacts with the crowd, cracks jokes, and shows off his futuristic mechanical dance moves. Combining cutting-edge technology with humour and spectacle, Titan is sure to amaze audiences of all ages.
Titan the Robot will be visiting King’s Square from 1.30pm to 5pm on Saturday 5th April.

Tommy Treebark's Wild Adventure
2025-04-25 - 2025-09-14
York BID have partnered with local artist Selkie Ray to create a brand-new family friendly trail, celebrating Yorkshire’s wild animals, from 25th April to 14th September 2025.
Hidden on brightly coloured benches all around York are 50 amazing animals – each one can be found somewhere in the wilds of Yorkshire. Pick up a leaflet from the Visitor Information Centre on Parliament Street and find all 50 animals to win a prize!

Rowntree Mural
2025-06-06 - 2025-07-06 | North Street Gardens, North Street, York, YO1 6JD, United Kingdom
Check out the latest edition to the York Mural Trail!
This bold new mural celebrates the life and legacy of the Rowntree family, particularly his gift of North Street Gardens to improve workers’ wellbeing. Commissioned by York BID and installed by Art of Protest Projects, it can be found in North Street Gardens, one of York’s most cherished, but sometimes overlooked, green spaces.
The mural is supported by York Cares, City of York Eco Team, Joseph Rowntree Foundation, the Joseph Rowntree Society, and generously funded by Nestle.
Discover the York Art Trail here: York Art Trail – The York BID

Reignite IX: The Next Generation
2025-06-06 18:00 - 21:00
Join us for Reignite IX to celebrate York’s emerging talent and reinforce the city’s commitment to shaping the future of the creative industries.
The event will take place on Friday 6th June, from 18:00-21:00, at York St John University and will feature 150 exhibiting artists and designers. Attendees will have the opportunity to explore the YSJ Art & Design Degree Show and hear from a panel including emerging talent, academics, industry professionals, and more.
Register your place here: Reignite IX | Eventbrite

June Rejuvenation Days
2025-06-10 09:00 - 2025-06-26 13:00
Join York BID to help keep York looking its best by cleaning and repainting street furniture like bike racks, benches, bollards, and more.
The June sessions will take place on Tuesday 10th, Thursday 12th, Tuesday 17th, and Thursday 26th June. Each session will run from 09:00 to 13:00 and we ask that volunteers wear clothing they are happy to risk getting paint on.
Find out more: Rejuvenation Days – The York BID
Sign up: Rejuvenation Days | Eventbrite

The Actual Reality Arcade
2025-07-05 11:00 - 17:00 | Parliament Street, Parliament Street, York
This July, Parliament Street will be transformed into The Actual Reality Arcade – a hands-on experience where iconic retro games are brought to life.
Become the player in 7 larger-than-life games from a huge-scale laser run, a giant Tetris wall, and whack-a-mole with human volunteers! Visitors can get their face painted and meet representatives from the local police and fire service, check out the emergency vehicles, and discover how York’s first responders keep the city safe.
Great fun for the entire family, this free event promises a day of unforgettable fun.

York Art Trail
2025-07-08 - 2025-09-30
Make the most of summer with the York Art Trail!
Explore over 25 murals across York City Centre, from a giant peregrine falcon on Back Swinegate to 12 colourfully painted exchange boxes along the Stonebow.
Don’t miss the newest addition in North Street Gardens – a colourful celebration of everything the Rowntree family did for York.
Find out more here: York Art Trail | York BID

Annual General Meeting
2025-07-16 18:00 - 21:00 | Malmaison, York, 2 Rougier Street, York, YO90 1UU, United Kingdom
York BID’s Annual General Meeting is taking place from 6-9pm on Wednesday 16th July 2025 at Malmaison.
This year marks 10 years of York BID and we’ll be celebrating with an engaging and informative evening, featuring Stephen Toal, Head of Property Management Insights at Savills, a nationally recognised expert in retail and leisure performance.
Stephen is widely respected for providing industry leading insights into retail & leisure performance, consumer behaviour, occupier opinion and much more – knowledge that shapes decision-making across the UK. Drawing on national trends and data, Stephen will offer valuable commentary on how York fits into the broader UK landscape.
The evening will also include the official launch of our new business plan, outlining bold priorities for the next phase of York BID’s work.
Book your spot here: York BID AGM 2025 | Eventbrite

Flock
2025-08-02 12:00 - 17:00
York BID is delighted to announce a special event as Flock – a herd of baa-rmy dancing sheep – arrive outside York Minster to celebrate Yorkshire Day!
Experience an unforgettable encounter with Flock as Heidi, Henrietta, and their adorable lambs dance outside York Minster and through Goodramgate on Saturday 2nd August from 12pm to 6pm.
Event Details:

Where: Outside York Minster
When: Saturday 2nd August, 2pm to 6pm with performances at 12:30pm, 2pm, 3:30pm, and 5pm
Free event – no tickets required

Support York
2025-08-05 - 2025-12-01
Shop local, win big, and keep High Petergate thriving during the Bootham Bar essential conservation works.
Running until December, Support York encourages residents and visitors to support businesses on High Petergate through a monthly £50 York Gift Card giveaway, and it couldn’t be easier to take part:

From Tuesday 5th August, spend £10 or more in any participating business.
Send a photo of your receipt to info@theyorkbid.com.
Wait to see if you’re a lucky winner!

Find out more here: Support York – The York BID

York's Biggest Rugby Ball Hunt
2025-08-14 11:00 - 17:00 | Parliament Street, Parliament Street, York
To celebrate the Women’s Rugby World Cup arriving in York, we’re hiding 100 rugby balls across York City Centre – find one and you’ll not only get to keep it, but you could also win tickets to the World Cup!
That’s not all! Parliament Street is turning into rugby central with free face painting, a surprise special guest, and local rugby clubs showing kids how to get stuck in.
📍 Parliament Street
📅 Thursday 14th August
⏰ 11am – 5pm
🏷️ FREE – no tickets required

Free Bike Marking
2025-09-03 09:30 - 14:00 | York Minster, Deangate, York, North Yorkshire, YO1 7HH, United Kingdom
York BID have partnered with North Yorkshire Police and SecureCycle York to provide free BikeRegister marking on Wednesday 3rd September, from 9:30am to 2pm at Minster Yard, York Minster.
Registering your bike only takes 5 minutes but can help reduce the likelihood of cycle theft by 83%!
Pop along on your lunch break – there’ll be a ‘speed lane’ for marking for all levy-paying businesses from 12-2pm.
The BID Street Rangers will be working with North Yorkshire Police on other anti-cycle-theft activities throughout the day.

September Rejuvenation Days
2025-09-09 09:00 - 2025-09-18 13:00
Join York BID to help keep York looking its best by cleaning and repainting street furniture like bike racks, benches, bollards, and more.
The September sessions will take place on Tuesday 9th, Thursday 11th, Tuesday 16th, and Thursday 18th September. Each session will run from 09:00 to 13:00 and we ask that volunteers wear clothing they are happy to risk getting paint on.
Find out more and sign up here: Rejuvenation Days | Eventbrite

Ghosts in the Gardens
2025-09-19 - 2025-11-02
Ghosts in the Gardens returns from Friday 19th September to Sunday 2nd November, with nearly 60 ethereal sculptures taking their place across the city.
Crafted in partnership with York-based creative team Unconventional Design, the translucent wire-mesh figures range from soldiers to monks, each one evoking a different layer of the city’s haunted past.
Ghosts in the Gardens remains free to enjoy, making it accessible to all.
Find out more here: Ghosts in the Gardens | York BID

Live for St Leonard's 2025
2025-09-19 17:00 - 2025-09-27 21:00 | Parliament Street, Parliament Street, York
York’s homegrown music festival is back! Live for St Leonard’s takes place every day between 5pm – 9pm, from Friday 19th to Saturday 27th September.
Live For St Leonard’s is a vibrant, homegrown music festival bringing nine days of outstanding live performances to the heart of York. Taking place on stages in Parliament Street and St Sampson’s Square, the festival offers free-to-attend live music every evening from 5pm to 9pm, as part of the York Food & Drinks Festival
Held in support of St Leonard’s Hospice, the event invites visitors to give generously to this vital local charity. Our friendly staff and volunteers will be onsite throughout the festival to collect donations by cash or card. In September 2024, Live For St Leonard’s raised over £6,000, contributing to an impressive total of more than £20,000 since its launch in 2021.

Martyn's Law - Business Engagement Event
2025-09-25 18:00 - 21:00 | Impossible, York, 3 St. Helen's Square, YO1 8QN
Join us for an informative evening to find out more about Martyn’s Law, the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025, and what it means for your business.
The free event will take place on Thursday 25th September, from 6pm, at Impossible York.
At this event, you’ll hear from:

Figen Murray OBE, Mother of Martyn Hett and the driving force behind Martyn’s Law, sharing the journey of Martyn’s Law to Royal Assent
Nathan Emmerich, a key figure behind the campaign to introduce Martyn’s Law to Parliament, discussing how businesses should use the Act to proactively consider their internal and external communication functions to mitigate risk and reduce instances of hostile reconnaissance
Inspector Jen Stockwell, giving a local policing perspective and practical advice for York businesses

You’ll also have the chance to put forward any questions about how Martyn’s Law will affect your business.

Register your place here: Martyn’s Law | Eventbrite

Reignite X: Exporting Ideas
2025-10-01 18:00 - 21:00 | York Theatre Royal, St Leonards Place, York, YO1 7HD
Join us for Reignite X: Exporting Ideas to explore how creativity developed here reaches national and international audiences and what that means for growth, collaboration, and opportunity across every sector. The event takes place from on Wednesday 1st October, 6pm – 9pm, at York Theatre Royal.
Featuring:

Delma Tomlin, National Centre for Early Music – on attracting 1M+ BBC Radio 3 listeners
Tim Leigh, Stage One – the 2025 Serpentine Pavilion by Marina Tabassum
Paul Crewes, York Theatre Royal – reflecting on their 35‑night sell‑out Gary Oldman production, which captured national and international media
attention from outlets including The Guardian, Evening Standard and The New York Times.
Curator, Marie-Anne McQuay, Liverpool Biennial – insights from the 2025 edition, BEDROCK, and its global legacy
