The Star Carr Festival
10:00am – 4:00pm | Woodend Creative Centre, Scarborough, YO11 2PW | FREE An exciting event for families that will bring Star Carr, Yorkshire’s most amazing Stone Age site, and the occupants of the “oldest house in Britain” to life. The event will include Mesolithic tales from storyteller Ben Haggerty, handling real Stone Age artefacts, activities such as making fish traps and wearing head-dresses and lectures by Dr Nicky Milner on Star Carr and the Mesolithic (www.starcarr.com). A University of York event, in conjunction with Scarborough Museums Trust and the Vale of Pickering Research Trust, sponsored by Hanson UK.
Meet the Victorian Cook at Mansion House
11.00am – 4.00pm | York Mansion House £5 adult, £4 concession, £3 child A rare opportunity to gain access to the Mansion House kitchens and witness the Victorian Cook in full swing. Cooking dishes from the Georgian and Victorian heyday of Mansion House, she’ll be demonstrating the arts of cookery, as well as giving tips and tidbits about food in times past. The cook will be portrayed by Annie Gray, a food historian who appears regularly on television as well as acting as a consultant to heritage sites across the UK. She is also an experienced costumed interpreter and lecturer. No pre-booking required, please just come along on the day.
Monday 24th September Valhalla: In Search of the Viking Dead
7:00pm | 10 Coppergate | £4 Join Dr Victoria Whitworth of the University of the Highlands and Islands for this illustrated talk on the carved images of the Viking era. Find out how Vikings depicted their dead in stone monuments, and enjoy an after-hours chance to view the collection of stones on display in the new Valhalla: In Search of the Viking Dead exhibition. Pre-booking essential: 01904 615505.
Tuesday 25th September Dr Andrew ‘Bone’ Jones Food Demonstration
2.00pm, | Demonstrations Area - St Sampson’s Square | FREE Join Dr Andrew ‘Bone’ Jones for a ‘nutty professor’s’ view of food through the ages - with his shopping trolley packed with produce, ‘Bone’ is going to look back at the food we could and and could not get in ages gone by. Explore archaeological methods of examining historical diets by investigating poo – this is sure to be a fascinating, if somewhat different, addition to this year’s Food Festival programme!
Thursday 27th September A Taste of History: Jorvik Roaming Supper
Starts 6.00pm | JORVIK Viking Centre | £38 Enjoy a very special evening of sumptuous & hearty locally-sourced food along with exclusive after-hours access to 3 of our fantastic attractions! Your stroll through history begins with welcome drinks and Viking-themed canapés at JORVIK Viking Centre, where you’ll receive VIP treatment as costumed interactive characters give you private tours of our galleries and you enjoy our time capsule ride. Onwards to medieval town house Barley Hall for a goblet of mead, private view of our From Hamlet to Hollywood exhibition, followed by a seated medieval banquet in the Great Hall; your evening will end in style as you’re escorted to DIG to conclude with desert canapés, tea, coffee and York chocolates & fudge, plus the opportunity to look around the fabulous Looking Back at Hungate exhibition. This event promises to be a great addition to this year’s York Food Festival and places are limited, please book early to avoid disappointment. Pre-booking essential 01904 615505. Menu will be given on booking, please advise if you have any dietary requirements. Your ticket includes drinks with your meal at Barley Hall.
Saturday 29th September Eating through the Ages: Middle Ages Drinks & Nibbles
5.30 -6.30pm | Demonstrations Area - St Sampson’s Square £5, £4.50 friends of the Food Festival Meet York Archaeological Trust’s Dr Jones for his third tasty and entertaining look at the kinds of food and drink that have been enjoyed throughout time, today looking at flavours from the Middle Ages. This enlightening talk will include Middle-Age-style nibbles washed down with typical beverages. Move on from this to one of the Festival’s meal deals - or stay around to enjoy the next theme - the Victorians! This is an event in conjunction with York Food Festival. Please book tickets directly at www.yorkfoodfestival.com
Eating through the Ages: Victorian Drinks & Nibbles
7.00 – 8.00pm | Demonstrations Area - St Sampson’s Square £5, £4.50 friends of the Food Festival A final tasty and entertaining look at the kinds of food and drink enjoyed historically, with Dr Andrew ‘Bone’ Jones of York Archaeological Trust. This fourth session looks at foods & flavours the Victorians would have enjoyed. Victorian-style nibbles will be included in this illuminating talk, and can be washed down with typical Victorian beverages. Move on from this to one of the Festival’s meal deals! This is an event in conjunction with York Food Festival. Please book tickets directly at www.yorkfoodfestival.com
Sunday 30th September Stamford Bridge Battlefield Walk
10.30am | meet at Shallows car park, Viking Road YO41 1A, Stamford Bridge YO41 1A | £4 adult, £3 conc. Join YAT Battlefield Officer Russell Marwood to visit the site of the last great Viking battle fought on English soil, where a king was slain and where an extraordinary act of courage saw a lone warrior hold an entire army at bay. Outdoor clothing and sturdy footwear essential. The walk may involve crossing busy roads. Walk duration: 2 hours approx. Pre-booking essential: 01904 615505.
October Events Friday 26th October From Barley Hall to Hell
8.00pm | Barley Hall, £10 | suitable for over 18s only Get in the mood for Halloween with an after-hours visit to the ‘From Hamlet to Hollwood’ exhibition at Barley Hall, which now contains the costume worn by Johnny Depp as Inspector Frederick Abberline in the atmospheric Victorian horror From Hell. See the film and enjoy themed entertainments and a complimentary pie and peas snack, served by your costumed hosts. Pre-booking essential: 01904 615505.
Friday 26th – Sunday 28th Candlelit Tours and Spooky Stories at York Mansion House
6.30pm | York Mansion House | £8 adult, £5 conc. Unlock some of the murky secrets of York’s grandest residence with this spooky candlelit tour. Warm clothing and sturdy footwear are recommended! Pre-booking essential: 01904 615505. A York Mansion House event.