York 800 celebrations news and events | York Press
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York is gearing up for a massive celebration in 2012 to mark 800 years since the granting of its city charter.
Details of York 800 events can be found at yorkfestivals.com
If you are planning an event that you wish to publicise, let us know at newsdesk@thepress.co.uk, or submit it to our online events section.
‘Jewel of York ’ is set in stone
8:40am Wednesday 23rd May 2012
A RARE beetle whose only UK habitat is small patches on the banks of the River Ouse is being recorded in stone by a York sculptor.
Children get chance to play part in York 800 celebrations
10:54am Wednesday 16th May 2012
YOUNGSTERS at schools across York are to get the chance to play their part in the York 800 celebrations.
Special beer for York 800 - and a chance to win some!
3:10pm Friday 11th May 2012
A CHAMPION brewer and an award-winning pub landlord have teamed up to produce a special beer for the York 800 celebrations - and readers of The Press have the chance to win some of it.
Residents join in with King John play
9:15am Wednesday 2nd May 2012
RESIDENTS from a City of York Council care home are visiting a school to take part in an inter-generational playwriting project in celebration of York 800.
Traders praised for getting into spirit of York 800
4:54pm Wednesday 25th April 2012
TRADERS in York have been praised for getting into the spirit of an eight-century milestone for the city.
Now here’s an idea for you
10:18am Wednesday 25th April 2012
York will be fizzing with ideas during a two-week festival in June. STEPHEN LEWIS reports.
York Stories help offered
8:34am Tuesday 17th April 2012
A FREE training workshop is being organised for any groups, organisations and freelance artists wanting to run a York Stories activity, workshop or project.
Gospel choir forms for York 800 celebrations
8:04am Friday 13th April 2012
A NEW community gospel choir has been formed to take part in the York 800 celebrations.
Share your York stories
8:40am Friday 30th March 2012
THE team behind a storytelling project which is helping celebrate a milestone in York’s history is appealing for people to share their tales of the city.
Bringing pupils up to date with York’s history
10:43am Wednesday 28th March 2012
THOUSANDS of school children in York are taking part in celebrating the 800th anniversary of the city’s Royal Charter.
Poet’s rhyme wins Ebor Vox contest
8:23am Wednesday 28th March 2012
A FORMER York St John University student is to have his poem set to music by an award-winning composer after winning a citywide competition.
Service to mark those who died in York Blitz
8:18am Thursday 15th March 2012
A SERVICE will be held in a city-centre church next month to commemorate the 70th anniversary of York’s blitz, in which 72 residents were killed and the church was destroyed.
Ebor Vox community choir launched as part of York 800
8:55am Friday 24th February 2012
As part of York800 celebrations, hundreds of choir singers in the city will be coming together to form a huge community choir called Ebor Vox.
Mystery plays to be shown live on internet
9:35am Thursday 23rd February 2012
PEOPLE around the world will be able to watch the York Mystery Plays as they are streamed live on the internet this summer.
Course for visually impaired jobless people will culminate in river exhibition
8:15am Thursday 23rd February 2012
JOBLESS people with sight problems will have the chance to learn employable skills and show them off as part of the York800 celebrations.
Shrove Tuesday celebrated with pancake races in York
9:37am Wednesday 22nd February 2012
SHROVE Tuesday was celebrated throughout the region with pancake races through the streets of North Yorkshire’s towns and cities.
In good voice for York 800 celebrations
9:35am Monday 20th February 2012
HUNDREDS of singers in York will join voices for a huge community choir this summer – and rehearsals are about to get under way.
Dear sir, your train nearly blinded me!
9:17am Wednesday 15th February 2012
IT will be a familiar story for many passengers – a railway journey isn’t all it should be, and an angry letter to the train company follows.
Search on for York 800 poems
7:55am Wednesday 15th February 2012
HUNDREDS of choristers from across York will come together this summer to perform music specially written for the city.
Charity Gala Concert revived for York 800 celebrations
9:18am Monday 13th February 2012
IT was last staged in the early 1980s – but now the Lord Mayor of York’s Charity Gala Concert is being revived as part of the York 800 celebrations.
International Women’s Week events lined up
7:58am Wednesday 8th February 2012
WOMEN have “pulled out all the stops” to stage a record 78 events in York to mark International Women’s Week during the city’s 800th anniversary year.
Bid to bring learning to fore in York 800 festivities
8:01am Thursday 2nd February 2012
ADULT learners are being urged to get involved in the York 800 celebrations.
David Cameron urged to celebrate York 800
9:05am Thursday 26th January 2012
THE Prime Minister has been invited to visit York as it celebrates the 800th anniversary of being granted a Royal charter by King John, which allowed it to take charge of its financial affairs, trade freely and create a council led by a mayor.
Tourist attractions gear up for Residents Festival
8:48am Tuesday 24th January 2012
TOURIST attractions across the York area are gearing up for the city’s best-ever Residents Festival this weekend.
Minister’s support for York 800 celebrations
8:59am Monday 23rd January 2012
CULTURE Secretary Jeremy Hunt has thrown his support behind the York 800 celebrations.
More York 800 stories>>
York 800 what’s on
On-going:
York Stories
A chance for residents to record their stories about their home city for posterity.
Until 31 August: Views of York: Portrait of a City – 1610 to the Present Day
An exhibition at Fairfax House of paintings, drawings, photographs, watercolours and prints of the city.
May 2012
24 May: Mayor Making as part of the Annual Council meeting
May-July: York Science and Innovation Grand Tour 2012
Showcasing York’s innovative past, present and future around the city.
June 2012
2-10 June: Railfest, National Railway Museum
Get fired up at Britain’s biggest rail celebration.
2-3 June: Buskival
The streets of York will be alivewith entertainment as buskers from far and wide perform for your delight. From the weird to the wonderful, York has them all and the streets will be packed with
performers over the two days to celebrate our first Buskival, to commemorate York 800.
2-3 June: Celebrating the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee
Watch out for special events at York’s Explore Centres.
15-17 June: ‘Spirit of Adventure’ flower festival, Merchant Adventurers Hall, 10am - 4pm
Celebrating the York Guilds, present and past, the wonderful setting of the medieval Merchant Adventurers Hall will be the backdrop to a stunning display of summer flower art.
16-30 June: Festival of Ideas and Innovation
This year’s theme ‘Metamorphosis and Transformation’ at venues across the city.
16 June: York Carnival: Parliament Street and St Sampson’s Square
19 June: Olympic Torch Relay and Knavesmire Concert
A wide range of sports demonstrations that you can take part in. Knavesmire concert: 16.00 to 19.30.
19 June - 9 September: Sports participation activity across the city
Creating our Olympic legacy with voluntary sports clubs across the city.
30 June: Heworth 800 Golf Open Tournament
A York 800 open tournament to celebrate over 100 years of golf at this wonderful course.
30 June - 1 July: Brassed On: Rowntree Park
York 800 Brass Band Showcase.
July 2012
2 July: Script Factor AllWinners Final, York Theatre Royal
The winners of each heat of Script Yorkshire’s York Branch Script Factor events pitted against each other for the final, to win the Script Factor Champions Trophy. The theme will be York 800.
3 July - 2 September: The Glory of York: Blue Tree Gallery, 23 Bootham, York
Works by Colin Carruthers on the rivers and gardens of York; Richard Burel on York city life; Giuliana Lazzerini on the architecture of the city; Graham K Cook on the Doors of York.
6-14 July: Early Music Festival
Reflecting the Olympic ideals of excellence and aspiration with music from the Renaissance, and music from South America.
7-22 July: Festival of the Rivers
Annual celebration of the Rivers Ouse and Foss, featuring a flotilla of boats on the River Ouse.
7-8 July: Meet the King: Cliffords Tower 11am-5pm
King John returns to the centre of York Castle for one weekend only.Come and see the King on his throne in full regalia.
9 July: Charter Day
800 years to the day since York was granted its City Charter by King John. Evening: Climax of Ebor Vox at the Eye of York, featuring York choirs and musicians, after a procession across the city.
Unveiling of York 800 schools tapestry.
14 July: One Voice York, Tower Gardens, Skeldergate bridge 2pm - 4pm
Performance by the One Voice Gospel Choir - members from churches all across York.
21 July - 2 September: Time Travellers Go Royal, Cliffords Tower 11am - 5pm
Become King for a day - children can dress up as medieval nobles.
July: Youth Charter
The young people of York will create and present a new Charter for the city.
Late July: Archives Exhibition, York Explore
The best archives outside London open their doors to the public whose histories they hold - part of York’s Medieval Summer.
25 July - End September: Big City Read
Featuring a specially commissioned medieval murder mystery novel set in the Minster, by Susanna Gregory.
End July: Archaeological dig, Mansion House
For at least the last 700 years the Guildhall and Mansion House have been the seat of local democracy in York. The six week archaeological excavation led by York Archaeological Trust will hope to
unlock the secrets that lie hidden.
August 2012
2-27 August: York Cycle of Mystery Plays
The magnificent Mystery Plays return to their outdoor setting in the Museum Gardens for the first time since the 1980s.
4-12 August: Yorkshire Medieval Festival
For the first time, York Archaeological Trust will join forces with partners in York and the region to bring you the Yorkshire Medieval Festival. The programme will combine falconry, archery,
thrilling re-enactments, activities for children, dramatic performances and guided visits to a host of medieval sites in gorgeous settings - plus traditional medieval merriment with banqueting,
jesters and minstrels. Visit www.jorvik-viking-centre.co.uk.
5 August: Jane Tomlinson 10k and kids’ 2k run
This year the races will be themed York 800.
September 2012
8 September: Traditional Dance Festival
Morris Dancers from all over England, including teams from York, perform at various locations in the city centre, with a grand finale at St Sampson’s Square.
21-30 September: Festival of Food and Drink
Ten days of markets, events and activities with a York 800 ‘foodie’ theme.
October 2012
October: Launch of Stories in Glass and Stone
New interactive galleries in the Minster allowing visitors to reflect on the scale and craftsmanship of the Great East Window.
October: Local Democracy Week
Events in and around the Guildhall.
1-5 October: 50+ Games
Fun and games for the over 50s at sports clubs across the city.
24-27 October: Illuminating York
York transformed into a wonderland.
November 2012
November: Inter-Faith Festival
A celebration of the different traditions, beliefs and values represented across the city.
1-4 November: Aesthetica Short Film Festival (ASFF)
A celebration of short films from around the world, presented in unique venues across the city.
12-16 November: York Business Week
29 November - 2 December: St Nicholas Fayre
December 2012
Early December: A York Christmas/Festival of Angels
31 December: Community New Year’s Eve
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