Dates: Saturday 28 March 2026–Sunday 31 May 2026, 10:00 am-5:00 pm
Venue: York Museum Gardens

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Date: Tuesday 21 April 2026, 1:30 pm-6:30 pm
Venue: Yorkshire Museum

Shakespeare and Rome
Tuesday 21 April 2026
1:30pm – 1.55pm | 3pm – 3.25pm
Included in general admission to the Yorkshire Museum | Book Tickets
Suitable for all ages

Celebrating York’s Roman history, inspired by Roman objects in the Yorkshire Museum, and performed on the historic mosaic floor, this short play ‘Friends, Romans, Yorkshiremen, Shakespeare, York and Rome’ explores questions of history and memory, and the importance of the seemingly insignificant – through the words of Shakespeare.

Shakespeare wrote four Roman plays and a long poem, all set in and around Rome, and the Roman empire. He also leant liberally on Roman writers such as Ovid and Plautus for context and comedy. During his education, he learnt about the recorded history of Roman rulers and leaders, and their battles, exploring questions of personal dilemma and individual responsibility.

‘Shakespeare and Rome’ is a collaborative project between York Museums Trust and York International Shakespeare Festival.

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Date: Saturday 25 April 2026, 1:30 pm-3:30 pm
Venue: Yorkshire Museum

Shakespeare and Rome
Saturday 25 April 2026
1:30pm – 1.55pm | 3pm – 3.25pm
Included in general admission to the Yorkshire Museum | Book Tickets
Suitable for all ages

Celebrating York’s Roman history, inspired by Roman objects in the Yorkshire Museum, and performed on the historic mosaic floor, this short play ‘Friends, Romans, Yorkshiremen, Shakespeare, York and Rome’ explores questions of history and memory, and the importance of the seemingly insignificant – through the words of Shakespeare.

Shakespeare wrote four Roman plays and a long poem, all set in and around Rome, and the Roman empire. He also leant liberally on Roman writers such as Ovid and Plautus for context and comedy. During his education, he learnt about the recorded history of Roman rulers and leaders, and their battles, exploring questions of personal dilemma and individual responsibility.

‘Shakespeare and Rome’ is a collaborative project between York Museums Trust and York International Shakespeare Festival.

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Date: Sunday 17 May 2026, 10:00 am-5:00 pm
Venue: York Museum Gardens

York Health and Arts Mela: Multi-Cultural South Asian Health Festival
Sunday 17 May 2026  |  10.00am-5.00pm 
York Museum Gardens
Free Entry

The Award Winning York Health & Arts Mela is a free event open to anyone who wants to learn more about NHS services, Voluntary sector services, the Arts and Performing sector, meet new people, enjoy diverse music, arts, crafts and food from a range of different cultures and backgrounds in the heart of York.

The programme includes traditional displays of music/dance performances, with a range of stalls selling traditional food and other stands offering information and advice on services. York Health & Arts Mela is a family event appealing to all ages and ethnicities, with everyone welcome to come and enjoy the event in a relaxed atmosphere.

This event is run by Eimaan Culture and Community Services in partnership with York Museum Trust, Humber and North Yorkshire Care Partnership (ICB), Public Health England (CYC), Nimbuscare.

For more information please see the York Health and Arts Mela website here. 

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Date: Wednesday 20 May 2026, 10:30 am-11:30 am
Venue: York Museum Gardens

Community Birdwatching  

Wednesday 20 May 2026 | 10:30-11:30  | Free 

Join our Gardens Duty Manager Isabelle for a community bird watch, and spot some of the various bird species in the gardens

Suitable for all ages, no pre booking required.

Please meet at the bird feeding station next to the rock garden.

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Date: Friday 22 May 2026, 1:30 pm-3:30 pm
Venue: Yorkshire Museum

Shakespeare and Rome
Friday 22 May 2026
1:30pm – 1.55pm | 3pm – 3.25pm
Included in general admission to the Yorkshire Museum | Book Tickets
Suitable for all ages

Celebrating York’s Roman history, inspired by Roman objects in the Yorkshire Museum, and performed on the historic mosaic floor, this short play ‘Friends, Romans, Yorkshiremen, Shakespeare, York and Rome’ explores questions of history and memory, and the importance of the seemingly insignificant – through the words of Shakespeare.

Shakespeare wrote four Roman plays and a long poem, all set in and around Rome, and the Roman empire. He also leant liberally on Roman writers such as Ovid and Plautus for context and comedy. During his education, he learnt about the recorded history of Roman rulers and leaders, and their battles, exploring questions of personal dilemma and individual responsibility.

‘Shakespeare and Rome’ is a collaborative project between York Museums Trust and York International Shakespeare Festival.

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Date: Saturday 23 May 2026, 10:30 am-2:30 pm
Venue: Yorkshire Museum

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Date: Saturday 23 May 2026, 11:00 am-1:15 pm
Venue: York Museum Gardens

Kids Barbaric Battle 
Saturday 23 May |York Museum Gardens | 11.00am, 1.15pm and 3.00pm
£10 per child* | Book Tickets  

Every Roman soldier remembers their first battle, and now it’s your little warrior’s turn! In the Kids Battle, up to 100 young fighters will step into the Museum Gardens to prove themselves worthy of the gods (and we’re pretty sure they all are!). This is a practice battle, so safety comes first: foam weapons, shields, and equipment are all provided. Little legionaries under 5 will need an adult by their side on the battlefield.

*Includes one Adult supervising a child.

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Date: Sunday 24 May 2026, 11:00 am-1:15 pm
Venue: York Museum Gardens

Kids Barbaric Battle 
Sunday 24 May |York Museum Gardens | 11.00am and 1.15pm
£10 per child* | Book Tickets 

Every Roman soldier remembers their first battle, and now it’s your little warrior’s turn! In the Kids Battle, up to 100 young fighters will step into the Museum Gardens to prove themselves worthy of the gods (and we’re pretty sure they all are!). This is a practice battle, so safety comes first: foam weapons, shields, and equipment are all provided. Little legionaries under 5 will need an adult by their side on the battlefield.

*Includes one Adult supervising a child.

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Date: Sunday 24 May 2026, 2:00 pm-4:00 pm
Venue: Yorkshire Museum

Terry Deary: ‘Revolting – a riotous history of rebellions and revolutions’

Sunday 24 May  | 2:00pm

Suitable for ages 16+  | £7.50pp  | Book Tickets Here 

Writer Terry Deary will be talking about his best-selling adult non-fiction titles, ‘Revolting’ and ‘A history of Britain in Ten enemies’. He’ll be focusing especially on entertaining tales from the Roman Republic and the struggles of the victims of Roman oppression. For ages 16+.

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