York BID AGM 2024
2024-07-11 18:00 - 21:00 (Europe/London)
York BID is pleased to invite local business representatives and partners to its upcoming Annual General Meeting which will take place on the evening of Thursday 11th July 2024, at the Principal York Hotel Events Centre, starting 6pm.
During the event we will hear from the following speakers:
David Skaith, Mayor for York & North Yorkshire – An overview of his early days in office and ambitions for supporting high streets across York & North Yorkshire.
Andrew Lowson, Executive Director of York BID – A health check for the high street. How York is performing economically compared to the rest of the country.
Allan Cook, Founder of Arlington Real Estate – An update on progress for the York Central development, ambitions for the site, and how businesses can get involved.
York BID Team – Key projects delivered during the last year of operations (2023/24).
The formal business will be conducted towards the end of the event. The meeting papers are available via the following link, which contain an agenda, details of the formal business to be raised, and members’ voting process: https://rb.gy/8du9i1
Guests are invited to join us in the hotel bar for drinks and networking after the presentations. The event is free to attend. Please confirm your attendance by no later than Tuesday 9th July 2024.
If you have any questions please feel free to contact us at info@theyorkbid.com
We look forward to seeing you then.

Dinosaur Experience
2024-09-07 14:00 - 18:00 | Parliament Street, Parliament Street, York
Experience a roarsome Saturday with the Dinosaur Experience in York city centre!

Join us on 7th September for an adventure you won’t forget – nothing will tricero-top it! From 2pm until 6pm, get ready on Parliament Street to meet Betsy the Triceratops and Roxy the T-Rex, along with a selection of adorable baby dinosaurs and their dinosaur rangers to keep them in order…

There’ll also be representatives from the police and fire services on site, with the opportunity to check out the emergency vehicles! Alternatively, sit back and marvel at the themed lights in the nearby trees as dusk falls.

Get the date in your diaries for braving the dinosaurs, snapping some selfies and hearing them roar!

Autumn Rejuvenation Days
2024-09-10 - 2024-09-18
Due to the popularity of our Spring project, we are pleased to announce more rejuvenation days, taking place on 10th, 12th & 18th September.
If you or your team members would like to be involved with the Autumn Rejuvenation Days, offering a helping hand to get York looking its best, please contact info@theyorkbid.com with the date/s you can commit to.

York Food & Drink Festival
2024-09-20 - 2024-09-29
York Food & Drink Festival promotes local food producers, independent restaurants and retailers in York.
In addition to delicious food and drink, you will find educational and fun workshops and cookery demonstrations from top chefs.
Stay tuned for more exciting updates!

Live For St Leonard's 2024
2024-09-20 17:00 - 2024-09-28 21:00
Live For St Leonard’s will return between 20th and 28th September. This live music event is organised by York BID and supported by YorkMix, as part of the York Food & Drink Festival, and all charitable funds raised are donated in aid of St Leonard’s Hospice. Last year, Live For St Leonard’s was successful in raising over £5,000, and since it first launched in 2021 has generated a fundraising total of nearly £14,000.
The events is free for the public to attend and St Leonard’s volunteers will be on-site collecting cash and card donations.
This year’s line-up includes The Supermodels, Jess Gardham, Attention Freaks, Gary Stewart, Bang Bang Bang, The Echoes, Miles & The Chain Gang, In Pictures, Harry Arnison Band, Tri-Starrs, Paisley Flames, The Rusty Pegs, Embers, Accidently Acoustic and many more.
The full nine days line-up is available on our website: https://www.theyorkbid.com/live-for-st-leonards/

Ghosts In The Gardens
2024-09-21 - 2024-11-05
Cementing York’s reputation as one of the most haunted cities in Europe, York BID brings you Ghosts in The Gardens – historic sculptures in beautiful settings.

York BID has again partnered with local design agency Unconventional Design to create translucent 3D sculptures skillfully formed from narrow gauge wire mesh. This year’s display is bigger and better than ever, with 45 ghosts to discover in some of the city’s beautiful gardens. Stay tuned for further details…

Ghosts In The Gardens runs from 21st September until 5th November 2024. Opening times for other venues vary – check out our dedicated Ghosts In The Gardens page for updates before visiting.

York Restaurant Week
2024-10-14 - 2024-10-20
It’s time to dine! York Restaurant Week is back, running from 14th to 20th October 2024, and the exclusive offers are now live! With over 100 participating eateries, now is the perfect time to explore York’s thriving culinary scene.
Whether a casual bite or a fine dining experience, you’ll find a wide range of offers, all priced between £5 and £30—making it easier than ever to dine out on any budget. Simply visit www.yorkrestaurantweek.co.uk to browse the offers and start planning the perfect meal out with family and friends.
Any businesses interested in participating in our next event should contact chris.bush@theyorkbid.com.
Bon Appétit!

The Dragon Experience
2024-10-26 14:00 - 18:00
The Dragons have hatched, and now they’re roaming around York city centre!
Get ready to meet Ash the Giant Dragon, along with a selection of adorable baby dragons and their rangers to keep them in order! There’ll also be representatives from the police and fire services on site, with the opportunity to check out the emergency vehicles! Alternatively, sit back and marvel at the themed lights in the nearby trees as dusk falls.
The Dragon Experience is visiting on Saturday 26th October, from 2pm – 6pm.
The Dragon Experience will be on Parliament Street and St Sampson’s Square, so keep your eyes peeled!
Meet the dragons, snap some selfies and hear them roar!

Live Pumpkin Carving
2024-10-31 14:00 - 17:00 | Parliament Street, Parliament Street, York
York BID and Make It York have partnered to celebrate Halloween with live pumpkin carving on Thursday 31st October, from 14:00 to 17:00.
Local design agency Sand In Your Eye will be creating the spooky masterpieces on Parliament Street. This is a free event with no tickets needed.

Reignite VI: Culture Makes Places
2024-11-07 18:30 - 21:00 | Yorkshire Museum
Reignite is returning for its sixth event, Reignite VI: Culture Makes Places on Thursday 7th November, from 18:30 at the Yorkshire Museum.
The event will be opened by Mayor David Skaith and followed by an address from Cherie Federico, Director of Aesthetica and features representatives from three UNESCO Cities of Media Arts – Braga (Portugal), Linz (Austria), and Oulu (Finland) – sharing how they leverage culture to drive transformative change in their cities.
The event begins in the Yorkshire Museum, and then on to the Guildhall for the UNESCO City of Media Arts EXPO, celebrating 10 years of York’s UNESCO City of Media Arts designation. All this is happening during the BAFTA-Qualifying Aesthetica Film Festival.
Join us to discover how culture enhances economic development, creates jobs, and offers skills and opportunities for young people, fostering growth and innovation across the entire urban ecosystem.
Places are limited so register early to avoid disappointment: Reignite VI: Culture Makes Places Tickets, Thu, Nov 7, 2024 at 6:30 PM | Eventbrite

Ghosts After Dark
2024-11-07 18:30 - 2024-11-10 21:30 | 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
