As Halloween approaches, here are 9 things to do in York:
1. Family Halloween at York Maze, Elvington
On Saturday, York Maze hosts the North of England stage of the International Giant Pumpkin Commonwealth competition. There is a prize of £2000 if a new UK record is set for the biggest pumpkin, or £500 for the biggest pumpkin on the day. There are also runners-up prizes and children have their own category.
On Sunday it’s the turn of the pumpkin carvers to take centre stage with a first prize of £300 and total prizes to the value of £500 to be won.
Tom Pearcy, from York Maze, said: “We have over 10,000 pumpkins ready to be carved as part of our week-long Halloween festival. Our resident professional pumpkin carver Christian Russell will be carving the winner of the giant pumpkin competition during the week and sharing pumpkin carving tips. Last year we carved the world’s biggest Jack O’Lantern weighing in at a staggering 913.5kg (2014lb). We’ll have to wait and see what this year’s crop of entries brings, but fingers crossed for another record breaker.
“Every child visiting gets a free pumpkin for carving, and you could find a Gold ticket hidden inside with a prize of a real Gold pumpkin worth over £1000!”
The York Maze Halloween Festival for families runs daily until Sunday, November 4 with over 20 Halloween themed attractions, rides and shows.
For details and full competition rules visit www.yorkmazehalloween.co.uk
2 Ghost Cruise on the Ouse
A river cruise with a difference...
City Cruises York have joined up with the York Dungeon for their new Ghost Cruise on the Ouse to mark Halloween.
The Ghost Cruise is aimed at families and welcomes children over the age of six so while the scary factor is dialled back appropriately there are plenty of spooky stories to keep you entertained during the hour-long trip.
Ghost Cruise on the Ouse will sail from King's Staith on Saturday, October 28 and Tuesday, October 31, at 7pm and 8.30pm. Prices: adult £15; child (6-15) £10; family (two adults, two children) £45.
- Find out more at citycruisesyork.com
3 Ghost tours to the cellars at Treasurer's House
Treasurer’s House sits right above a Roman road dating back to 106 AD. The cellars, which are just a few feet above the actual road, were part excavated in the 1950s. During this time, one workman witnessed some ghostly sightings. You can join a tour to explore the Roman history of York below stairs and hear the riveting tale of what Harry Martindale saw on that fateful day.
Tickets to the house are not needed to join and tours cost £4 per adult and £3.50 per child (suitable for 5 yrs +).
- Find out more at https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/treasurers-house-york/features/halloween-fun-at-treasurers-house
4 Margaret Clitherow - Hide and Shriek at York Dungeon
This family friendly event focuses on Margaret Clitherow, the Shambles-based leader of the Catholic faith, who hides those who wish to worship in secret.
But in these Elizabethan times, the Catholics are being hunted and persecuted...and it looks like you might be next.
Take refuge in the hidden rooms of Margaret's home, and stay still, don't even breathe...if the law catches you, your fate is sealed!
- To find out more, visit https://www.thedungeons.com/york/en/what-is-the-dungeon/the-home-of-halloween/
5 Hallowscream at York Maze, Elvington
York Maze Hallowscream has been entertaining Halloween revellers since 2009 with its five live-action haunted house attractions and stage shows. Each year it has grown, picking up several awards along the way, including this year being named Best Scream Park in the UK. The events is for over 14s. Under 18s should be accompanied.
The site has five haunted house attractions with one giving guests 3D glasses to see images jump out of the walls.
Hallowscream is open selected nights until Saturday, November 3. For details and prices visit www.yorkmazehallowscream.co.uk
6. Wigginton Haunted House
A quiet corner of York is once again due to be taken over by creatures of the dark when a haunted house opens for Halloween.
Steve Hagan, the creator of a purpose built haunted house in Wigginton, says this year’s attraction is going back to basics with inspiration from the Exorcist and Freddy Kreuger. (Actors at an earlier event are pictured below)
The haunted house, with spooky-themed rooms and corridors, will be home to a creepy collection of live actors and projections to raise funds for Candlelighters.
Every year hundreds of people pass through the doors.
Tickets on the door cost £2 but further donations are welcome. No under sevens. Under 14s must be accompanied.
All details can be found on the website www.hellsdomain.webs.com
7. Trick or Treat Walking Tour with York’s Chocolate Story
York's SHOCKolate Story will be celebrating the scariest time of year with a Trick or Treat walking tour.
The tour starts at St Andrewgate, just across from York’s SHOCKolate Story. Tours run at 1pm, 3pm and 5pm until Wednesday, October 31.
Children – £5.99
Adults (must be accompanied by a child) – £4.99
Family (2 adults & 2 Children) – £19.99
https://www.yorkschocolatestory.com/events/trick-or-treat-walking-tour/
8. Spooky tales and a scary parade at Beningbrough Hall
Dress up in your most scary outfit and join Beningbrough's annual costume parade. Head over to the outdoor den to meet Eden from Stories Alive who will share some ghostly tales on Wednesday, October 31.
The storytelling will be both morning and afternoon, with the parade at 3.15pm.
https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/events/b5f0400a-3a1f-403d-b50d-12eaa5a34fa6/pages/details
9. Halloween at Spark: York
Spark: York, in Piccadilly, is holding a spooky Halloween event on Sunday.
MilesTone Films hosts the Zomblogalypse Halloween Party as zombies take over Spark! to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the York filmmakers' cult web series and newly completed feature film, Zomblogalypse.
The full day of Halloween fun begins with a family-friendly, bring-your-own-pumpkin-and-knife carving and Halloween decorating event from 1pm to 5pm. All children must be accompanied by an adult, who will be responsible for their own pumpkin carving.
The free evening party from 7pm is not child-friendly, instead providing visitors with the chance to dress up in their finest Halloween gear and dance the night away.
10. Castle Howard
A gang of ghostly pirates and ghoulish zombies will be taking over at Caste Howard this Saturday, when there will be Halloween activities for all the family.
There will be freakishly fun workshops led by a team of professional pirates and zombies (places should be booked and are £9 a child, or £7.50 for Friends of Castle Howard Child member) at 11am and 2pm from Saturday 27th October to Sunday 4th October.
Dress in your best Halloween outfit, but come ready for a crisp Autumn Yorkshire day.
11. Great York Ghost Search, York city centre
Visit York and The York Dungeon have joined forces to create a family-friendly twilight trail of glowing ghosts around the city.
It is available all day, but the ghosts will be at their best and glowing in the dark from 5pm to 7pm. Twenty-six illuminated ghost lamps will be hidden in windows across the city. A Ghost Search Map will be available from Visit York’s Visitor Information Centre, at 1 Museum Street, or from www.visityork.org/haunted
All correctly completed trails will be entered into a prize draw to win a family Merlin Annual Pass.
Additionally, 400 mini ceramic ghosts will be hidden in nooks and crannies along the search route free to keep by children who find them.
New for 2018 are 50 special-edition ‘orange’ mini-ghosts. Anyone lucky enough to find one of these will receive a family ticket to The York Dungeon valid for one year.
For 2018, the trail has been ‘taken over’ by The York Dungeon in Clifford Street which brings some of the spookier and most chilling stories from York’s colourful history to life, with 10 live shows highlighting murky parts of 2,000 years of the city’s history. Late-night opening is planned for the October half-term week, including adult-only tours.
Simon Alnaimi, of The York Dungeon, said: “We’re immensely proud of being found in Europe’s most Haunted City, and we love every opportunity to spread the scares at Halloween! And by being a part of the Ghost Search, we can make sure that families can explore the sites of York, before experiencing its scarier side at The York Dungeon."
The search is being co-ordinated by Angus McArthur, owner of Snowhome, Gillygate, and Make It York, in partnership with York College.
The ghost lamps have been designed by local designers and artists in York. Students at the ceramics department of York College have made the 700 bespoke mini ghosts for the Great York Ghost Search.
“We are really looking forward to working on the second Great York Ghost Search. You won’t be able to take part in a ghost search like this one anywhere else in the world - it’s a one-of-a-kind event which provides some old-fashioned family fun around the hauntingly atmospheric old streets of York, with some special additions and prizes,” says Angus.
Artists taking part:
Becky Ridstall
Catherine Boyne Whitelegg
Jack Casling
Pica Studios
Owen Turner USD
Rainbow Ceramics
Jane Scaffer
Zosia Olenska
Anna Cook
Bang Hair
Mass Architecture
Paul Heaney
Alison Hardcastle
Spray Creative
Sarah Raphael Balme
Genius + Me
David Semple
Plump
Art of Protest
Ippuku Tea House
Katherine Semple
Paragon Creative
York Dungeon
York College
York schools
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