A NEW pop-up festival - featuring an open air cinema, tipi bar and exhibitions - is to be staged in Dean’s Park this summer.

The Heart of Yorkshire Festival will see the space behind York Minster transformed for a range of events, including an international stone carving festival and a bar from the team behind Thor's tipi bar which runs in Parliament Street in the run-up to Christmas.

A spokeswoman said the centrepiece of the festival would be an international York Minster Stone Carving Festival - the first the cathedral had hosted since 2010 – which would run from August 17 to 19.

"More than 70 stonemasons and carvers from across the UK and Europe will showcase their skills during the three-day festival, which starts with the popular annual Stoneyard Open Day, followed by two days of carving in Dean’s Park," she said.

Other highlights from the festival, which runs from July 4 to September 2, included family music, dance and storytelling workshops, talks and activities for adults and children’s craft activities.

"The festival is themed around sustainability, the environment and conservation, reflecting the completion of the 10-year, £11.5 million project to restore the cathedral’s East End and Great East Window, and the ideas of life and restoration which sit at the heart of the Christian faith," she said.

"Pop-up tipi bar SÓL ÁST will provide street food and drinks with a summery vibe, including their signature cocktail the ‘Minster Martini.'

"A large outdoor garden and terrace will host an exhibition of contemporary sculptures by renowned Yorkshire artist Michael Lyons, paying homage to the bar’s theme of sun and light.

"To conclude the festival, the country’s leading producer of open-air cinema, The Luna Cinema, will screen three blockbuster films between the 28 and 30 August, allowing viewers to enjoy a film under the stars with the Gothic cathedral as a backdrop. The films are Pan’s Labyrinth (28 August), Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone (29 August) and The Greatest Showman (30 August).

"Family workshops include ‘Trashbang!’, an interactive music workshop from Billy Hickling, previously performer and rehearsal director with international stage hit Stomp and a song-writing workshop with award-winning songwriter and musician David Gibb."

She said hands-on children’s craft activities would run throughout the school holidays celebrating the theme ‘All Things Bright and Beautiful, All Creatures Great and Small’, with the chance for youngsters to earn stickers towards the Arts Award Discover certificate.

Adult activities included flower arranging workshops with York Minster’s flower arrangers, willow weaving sessions, urban beekeeping demonstrations and interactive displays with the cathedral’s broderers.

Chapter steward Kathryn Blacker said the festival programme had been created to 'celebrate and pay thanks to the depth of skill and dedication which goes into caring for this sacred place.'

Co-Founder of Thor's Bars Ltd, Amanda Monaghan, said: “Our summer theme will offer the perfect setting to enjoy the sunshine with a terrace, large garden and an amazing summer drinks menu carefully designed to ensure there is something for everyone."

News of the festival comes as the Minster prepares to stage an exhibition in Dean's Park tomorrow and on Saturday about long-term plans to transform open spaces and historic buildings around the cathedral - which includes looking at 'how to make Dean’s Park a vibrant open space at the heart of the city.'