Fun for Families

All aboard for a day of high-speed discovery at the National Railway Museum! From the magic of the Victorian era to the tech of tomorrow, we’re bringing the rails to life.

Immerse yourself in the wonderful world of 3D animation, motion capture and storytelling in a series of interactive family-friendly demonstrations and workshops with XR Stories.

Help researchers reimagine school toilets at our interactive, family-friendly event. Step into life-size cardboard toilet cubicles and graffiti your thoughts, and build Lego models of your perfect loo.

Come along and join the fabulous Pride Parade March from York Minster through the city centre streets to the Knavesmire.

Immerse yourself in the wonderful world of 3D animation, motion capture and storytelling in a series of interactive family-friendly demonstrations and workshops with XR Stories.

York Pride returns to the Knavesmire with a vibrant afternoon of entertainment and family-friendly activities. Why not come along and celebrate inclusivity and diversity?

Immerse yourself in the wonderful world of 3D animation, motion capture and storytelling in a series of interactive family-friendly demonstrations and workshops with XR Stories.

Join us for an educational walk and some Himalayan balsam bashing. Help protect the important habitats on Fulford Ings by removing the invasive plant, minimising its spread across our watercourses and floodplains.

Come aboard and explore York’s rivers on a curated boat journey. See how flood resilience and natural flood management help people, wildlife and place.

Join York Army Museum as they commemorate the 82nd anniversary of D-Day with a free living history event featuring Second World War East Yorkshire Regiment kit, vehicles and demonstrations.

Get crafty and enjoy a special Festival edition of All Saints Church’s regular Creative Club. Have a go at the Children's Trail to discover a thousand years of history in a York parish church and take part in fun creative activities.

Journey through space to discover how layout, scale and placement can change the meaning of words at our out-of-this-world hands-on children’s workshop.

Meet author-illustrator Salomey Doku for an interactive exploration of the world of graphic novels and gain the tools you need to create a book.

Join us for an afternoon of energetic, creative, crafty, puzzling, scientific and historical fun at this year’s Festival Fringe Family Fun Afternoon.

What might extraterrestrial life be like and how are we trying to find it? What could it mean if we did? Mike Shaw of Bootham School presents an exploration of the search for life beyond the Earth.

Join us for some family fun as we spark children’s imaginations with a range of hands-on, interactive activities.

Step into a world where stories come to life. Listen to an exciting tale via a Kamishibai - a centuries-old traditional Japanese form of storytelling with picture cards - before taking part in a treasure hunt and making origami figures to take home.

What does the future hold for the trees in our towns and cities? Dive into Urban Labor-a Tree, a fast-paced strategy board game where you are the architect of a greener city.

Join one of Britain’s favourite storytellers, Michael Morpurgo, for a spellbinding evening of words and music exploring our deep connection to the natural world.

Enjoy watching a concert-style musical and learn more about the innovative bioscience research being carried out at the University of York, followed by a ‘meet the researchers’ session.