A NEW Christmas attraction is heading to York after the people behind the Yorkshire’s Winter Wonderland at McArthurGlen announced plans for the Museum Gardens.

Lunchbox Theatrical Productions, which is also behind THOR’S tipi bar and the pop-up Shakespeare’s Rose theatre coming to the city next summer, are bringing what it calls an “enchanted trail” through the gardens, with light installations, illuminations and “an after-dark explosion of festive colour and twinkling lights”.

The trail will open on Thursday, November 16 and run until New Years Day from 4:45pm to 9:30pm every day except Christmas Day.

A spokesman for York Museums Trust, which runs the gardens along with York Art Gallery, said both the trust and City of York Council were very supportive of the event.

A trust spokesman added: “To accommodate the operations, York Museum Gardens will close at 4pm and will re-open at 4:45pm to welcome visitors to the attraction.

“Notice of this will be on display well in advance of the event so visitors and York residents are aware. The footpaths along the rivers and Marygate will remain open as usual.”

Lunchbox has joined forces with Raymond Gubbay Ltd, producers of illuminated Christmas trails and festivals, to put on the York attraction.

Entry to Christmas in the Museum Gardens will cost £14.95 for adults, £8.95 for children and £40 for a family of four, while under fours will be able to go in for free.

Tickets are already on sale from www.christmasatyorkmuseumgardens.co.uk.

Visitors to the attraction will see a “fairy-tale Christmas village” with a vintage funfair ride, face painting and pies from the Yorkshire Pudding Pie Company as well as other festive fare.

There will also be a UV light pathway for children to get involved in a unique game of hide and seek, and the garden will show of the “12 Frames of Christmas”, “singing trees” and a spectacular projection onto the ruins of St Mary’s Abbey.

Father Christmas will also take up residence in the gardens, and the attraction’s finale will be a fire on the library lawn, with mulled wine, spiced cider and toasted marshmallows.

Lunchbox has already announced that Yorkshire’s Winter Wonderland will return to McArthurGlen designer outlet for the fourth time this year, opening from Saturday, November 18 until Sunday, January 7.

This year it will have its biggest ever ice rink, at 975 sq m.

James Cundall, CEO of Lunchbox Theatrical Productions, said: “Creating an even bigger rink this year means we can have more penguin stabilisers and a better skating experience for all.

“We listen to our customers every year and strive for our event to give everyone the perfect day out so by giving more space to skate, we are hopefully satisfying these requests.”