Here’s what’s going on in York this week.
Experience a blizzard inside the theatre at Slava’s Snow Show at the Grand Opera House, music legend Adam Ant is at York Barbican, there’s some cracking comedy with Kerry Godliman, Helen Bauer and Ria Lina, and get ahead with your Christmas shopping at the Living North Christmas Fair.
And more – see our full guide below, as well as more ideas of things to do in York this Christmas.
What’s on in York this week: Monday 17 – Friday 21 November
All week
Christmas at the Convent
A traditional Christmas experience awaits you…This festive season, immerse yourself in the beautiful surroundings of The Bar Convent.
Enjoy a warming Christmas lunch in our cafe, discover the Georgian Parlour dressed in seasonal splendour and find a peaceful sanctuary in the hidden chapel. In the exhibition visitors can uncover the convent’s festive traditions through the centuries with a brand new family-friendly trail.
- The Bar Convent Heritage Centre, 17 Blossom Street, York, YO24 1AQ
- Wed 19 Nov – Mon 22 Dec
- 10am – 5pm
- More info
Slava’s Snow Show
Slava’s Snowshow promises a breath-taking multisensory delight in a joyous dream-like world which will touch both your heart and funny bone! This truly unique theatrical adventure is filled with heart, humour and stunning spectacle. Enter Slava’s snowy world for a once in a life time, joyous, fun packed event culminating in a blizzard that puts you firmly at the centre of the action leaving you literally knee deep in show!
- Grand Opera House, Cumberland Street, York YO1 9SW
- Wed 19 – Sun 23 Nov
- Multiple times
- More info
Monday
King For A Day: The Nat King Cole Story
Featuring world-class live music, alongside narration and projected archive images and footage, this is the unique concert celebrating one the greatest vocalists and entertainers of the Twentieth Century: Nat ‘King’ Cole.
- York Theatre Royal, St. Leonard’s Place, York, YO1 7HD
- Mon 17 Nov
- 7:30pm
- More info
Gareth Malone
After decades spent inspiring choirs in schools, workplaces and communities, Gareth now invites audiences to join him in a live, immersive celebration of the music that’s shaped his life – and been the soundtrack to so many of ours.
Backed by his stellar live band and singers, Gareth, with his signature infectious energy and joy for music, will lead the audience through a setlist of iconic songs from the ‘60s to today. Full of uplifting pop hits, anthems we all know by heart, and a few personal surprises, Sing-Along-A-Gareth 4: 50 Years of Song is more than just a concert, it’s a shared experience. And just when you think there couldn’t be room for any more hit the show will culminate in a super-medley of increasing intensity and joy.
- Grand Opera House, Cumberland Street, York YO1 9SW
- Mon 17 Nov
- 7:30pm
- More info
Tuesday
His Last Report Screening
Join us for a special screening of His Last Report (filmed during a live performance in July 2025). A York Theatre Royal Production in association with Riding Lights Theatre Company. York’s residents take to the stage to share an unforgettable local story with national impact. With a large-scale cast and live choir, His Last Report plunges us into an astonishing past and bursts from its pages with searching questions for today.
- York Theatre Royal, St. Leonard’s Place, York, YO1 7HD
- Tue 18 Nov
- 6:30pm
- More info
Jon Ronson: Psychopath Night
What happens when a psychopath is in power? Could you learn to spot a psychopath? Are you working for a psychopath? Is there a little bit of psychopath in all us?
Join Jon in 2025 for another electrifying journey into the enigmatic world of psychopaths and the perplexing concept of normalcy. In an age where society’s rationality is called into question, Jon will deliver an evening of incisive inquiry, seasoned with his trademark wit and profound insights.
This unmissable show prominently features mystery special guests whose extraordinary, twist-filled true tales are central to the story but not found in the original edition of the book. The less you know about them, the better…
- York Barbican, Paragon St, York, YO10 4AH
- Tue 18 Nov
- 7:30pm
- More info
Femme Fatale Faerytales: Mirror, Mirror
Step up to the glass and see what stares back… Mirror, Mirror invites you into an enchanting evening of dark delights and feminist twists. Still a work in progress, this intimate night offers a rare chance to glimpse new tales as they take shape.
Meet the cat who got the cream, the dog who stayed at home, and wander through a forest where fear has no foothold — let this faery lead the way. Witty, wicked, and wonderfully subversive, Femme Fatale Faerytales turns old stories inside out to reveal the wild truths beneath.
- Bluebird Bakery, 201 Acomb Road, Acomb, York YO24 3HD
- Tue 18 Nov
- 8:30pm
- More info
Wednesday
Adam Ant – Ant Music 2025
Music legend Adam Ant is performing at York Barbican this week!
- York Barbican, Paragon St, York, YO10 4AH
- Wed 19 Nov
- 7pm
- More info
Poetry & Illustration, with Becca Drake & Lara Aitken
In this workshop, join poet Becca Drake and illustrator Lara Aitken to write and illustrate an eco-poem. The workshop will be in two parts. In the first part, Becca will lead exercises in material eco-poetics to help you compose your poem (think scissors, water, and ink!) In the second part, Lara will guide you to respond through drawing to the words on the page, so that you come away with a double page spread of poem and illustration. This workshop caters to all levels, whether you are an experienced writer or artist or are just interested. All materials provided.
- SPARK:York, 17-21 Piccadilly, York YO1 9PB
- Wed 19 Nov
- 7pm
- More info
Kerry Godliman: Bandwidth
While parenting teenagers, bogged down with knicker admin and considering dealing HRT on the black market, Kerry’s lost her mum bag but can’t remember what was in it as she’s outsourced her memory to her phone. The life of a middle aged woman who hasn’t got the bandwidth for any of this.
Kerry Godliman, comedian, actor, writer, podcaster and broadcaster, returns to the stage with her straight-talking charm and quick wit on a brand new stand-up show. As seen on Afterlife, Whitstable Pearl, Taskmaster, Trigger Point, Live At The Apollo and more. As heard on Radio 4 and Jon Richardson’s Absolute Radio Show.
- York Theatre Royal, St. Leonard’s Place, York, YO1 7HD
- Wed 19 Nov
- 7:30pm
- More info
Burning Duck Comedy: Helen Bauer
Helen is back and is struggling. She has spent the last year being forced to hang out with someone she doesn’t like and who honestly does not like her. It’s tense, it’s uncomfortable, they won’t leave.
A brand new show from award-winning comedian Helen Bauer. Star of Live at the Apollo (BBC2), 8 Out Of 10 Cats (C4), Am I Being Unreasonable (BBC One) and Extraordinary (Disney+). She also co-hosts the extremely popular and award-winning podcast Trusty Hogs.
- The Crescent York, 8 The Crescent, York, YO24 1AWD
- Wed 19 Nov
- 7:30pm
- More info
Changing Gear: Railway 200
Changing Gear is Yorkshire Sound Women Network’s programme supporting emerging women and gender-diverse music creators based in Yorkshire and the Humber to make new electronic works, develop their technical skills and push creative boundaries.
To coincide with this autumn’s Railway 200 celebrations – the two-hundredth anniversary of the birth of the modern railway – three musicians working across a range of genres have been exploring the sonic possibilities of the railways and York’s status as a key railway city, past and present, and will perform their works across an immersive loudspeaker array.
- Rymer Auditorium, Heslington, York YO10 5DB
- Wed 19 Nov
- 7:30pm
- More info
Thursday
Thinking Big Thoughts 4: Trans Lives in Focus
Join us for a powerful afternoon of remembrance, education, and community at Trans Lives in Focus, an event marking Trans Day of Remembrance (TDOR). This gathering honours trans lives lost to violence and discrimination, while celebrating resilience, advocacy, and visibility.
- Creative Centre Auditorium, York St John University, Lord Mayor’s Walk York YO31 7EX
- Thu 20 Nov
- 12:30-4pm
- More info
Burning Duck Comedy: Ria Lina
Following her killer debut tour, Riawakening (Top Ten Best Stand-up Shows of 2024 – Telegraph), the wickedly funny Ria Lina realised she wasn’t just awake, she was ready to rebel. Expect a relentless stream of hilarity as Ria explores the state of the world, the eternal battle of the sexes, and the delight of Zhrowing life up in the air after years of following the rules.
- The Crescent York, 8 The Crescent, York, YO24 1AWD
- Thu 20 Nov
- 7:30pm
- More info
Living North Christmas Fair
Join us for a jam-packed day. Our Yorkshire Christmas Fair will once again return to York Racecourse in 2025.
We’re thrilled to invite you to the biggest and best seasonal shopping event in Yorkshire, with more than 250 carefully-selected stands, from artisan designer-makers, local food producers and fashion retailers to homewares, gifts and accessories, and of course special Christmas decorations.
- York Racecourse, York YO23 1EX
- Thu 20 – Sun 23 Nov
- 10am – 4pm
- More info
Friday
Craft Cinema Club: Wicked
Join us for a special crafting screening of Wicked (2024) ahead of the soon to be released second instalment, where you’re free to practice your crafts and share the cinema experience with your fellow guests. Lights will be left on throughout the show so that you can craft in comfort.
- SPARK:York, 17-21 Piccadilly, York, YO1 9PB
- Fri 21 Nov
- 5:30pm
- More info
The Muppet Christmas Carol In Concert – Live to Film
Disney’s The Muppet Christmas Carol will be presented this winter live in concert on a UK-wide tour, featuring a screening of the complete film with its musical score performed live by orchestra.
The Muppets perform Charles Dickens’ classic holiday tale, with Kermit the Frog playing Bob Cratchit, the put-upon clerk of stingy Ebenezer Scrooge (Michael Caine). Gonzo, as Dickens, narrates the story with the help of Rizzo the Rat. The film also features Miss Piggy as Emily Cratchit, Fozzie Bear as Fozziwig, and Robin the Frog as Tiny Tim.
- York Barbican, Paragon St, York, YO10 4AH
- Fri 21 Nov
- 7pm
- More info
Fundraising Ceilidh
After the success of our fundraiser in 2024, we’re delighted to have the fabulous Hot Not Bothered (one of York’s leading ceilidh bands) returning to lead us in 3 sets of ceilidh dancing as we fundraise for the Belfrey Counselling Service.
Open to all, it will be a great night out for families with children, groups of friends, couples, colleagues or visitors who want to experience the stunning De Grey Rooms and our fabulous sprung dance floor! Your ticket will include a welcome drink on arrival and delicious nibbles during the evening. There’ll be a cash and card bar for those who need a breather in between dances.
- The De Grey Rooms, St Leonard’s Place, York, YO1 7HB
- Fri 21 Nov
- 7pm
- More info
Enchanted Light Trail At Farmer Ed’s Piglets Adventure Farm
Step into a magical world after dark as our brand-new light trail leads you through a wonderland of sparkle. Wander through glowing pathways and themed zones, each bursting with light, music and surprises. Marvel at dazzling archways, interactive displays, and magical photo spots perfect for capturing unforgettable moments. Stop by the cosy Alpine Lodge to toast marshmallows by the fire, tuck into delicious street food, and sip on mulled wine or hot chocolate.
- Piglets Adventure Farm, Towthorpe Grange, Towthorpe Moor Lane, York YO32 9ST
- Fri 21 Nov – Tue 23 Dec
- 3:30-9pm
- More info
