A FESTIVAL that puts York residents at the front of the queue when it comes to tasting the magic of their city is getting a new look.

Details of the York Residents Festival 2009 – the revamped image for the city’s annual Residents First Weekend – have been unveiled as the team behind it prepares to offer local people a cut-price chance to see what York has to offer.

Tourism body Visit York is organising the event – which starts on the weekend of January 31 – for the first time and more than 50 of York’s museums, tours and attractions are offering free and discounted entry to YORKCard holders, while exclusive shopping discounts and special deals will be available at top restaurants.

Among those opening their doors free of charge are the National Railway Museum, the Jorvik Viking Centre, Merchant Taylors’ Hall, the Mansion House, York Art Gallery, York Castle Museum, the Yorkshire Museum and York Dungeon.

The city’s churches will also be offering guided tours and exhibitions, such as performances by the National Railway Museum’s resident actor Chris Cade at Holy Trinity Church in Micklegate and a close-up look at the famous stained glass windows at the Church of All Saints in North Street.

York Glaziers Trust is giving residents the chance to see stained glass conservation in action at the new Bedern workshop, while HSBC in Parliament Street will host a Treasures From The Archives exhibition displaying material from York City Archives.

Visit York chief executive Gillian Cruddas said: “We’ve taken the residents festival to a whole new level.

“We hope everybody enjoys it and we’d especially like to thank all the businesses in the city who have supported it. We hope that, by encouraging residents to explore what’s on their doorstep, they will help us spread the word about just what a great city York is.”

The festival includes live music, a street circus and talent contests in the city centre over the launch weekend, with some events running until Friday, February 6.

City of York Council leader Andrew Waller said: “We’re delighted there is even more for people to see this year. It’s a great way to say thank-you to the residents of York for the welcome they offer to its four million visitors every year.”

Residents need a valid YORKCard to gain admission to participating venues and more information is available by logging on to www.visityork.org or by picking up a leaflet from the De Grey Rooms visitor information centre. A festival information point will be in Parliament Street from January 30 to February 1.