What’s On in York This Weekend?

Autumn is rolling into York with the promise of crackling leaves under foot, crisp air and, if you’re lucky, the aroma of mulled cider on Parliament Street. With so many events taking over the city this weekend, you’d be forgiven for needing a little roadmap. Never fear, whether you’re a foodie, a horror film buff, a budding architect or a ghost hunter, York has you covered.

A Feast for the Senses: York Food & Drink Festival

Running from Friday 19 to Sunday 28 September 2025, the York Food & Drink Festival stretches across ten days of culinary delights. Around 70 street-food and produce stalls will line Parliament Street, serving everything from Yorkshire cheeses to exotic street food. An entertainment marquee on Parliament Street keeps the beats flowing while live music spills out onto St Sampson’s Square.

Not enough for you? Head to St Crux Hall, where chef demonstrations and tastings will tempt you with tips and samples. This year’s chef line-up includes Minal from Prashad, Neil Bentinck from Skosh and Great British Menu contestant Ahmed Abdalla. Grab a ticket for one of the Taste Trails: two guided walks, each with about 20 tasting stops around the city centre. The festival is a not-for-profit venture, so every purchase helps keep it thriving.

Tip: The festival is free to enter, but popular tastings and workshops sell out quickly. Go early, bring a reusable bag and maybe skip breakfast because there’s a lot to nibble on.

Scream Your Heart Out: Dead Northern Horror Film Festival

If your idea of a great weekend involves hiding behind popcorn, the Dead Northern Horror Film Festival might be for you. Taking over the City Screen Picturehouse from Friday 26 to Sunday 28 September 2025, this three-day scare fest promises indie short films, feature premieres and cult classics.

The organisers call it a “thrilling weekend of fear and film,” and they’re not wrong. Expect a mix of UK premieres (a new take on Hellhouse LLC is on the schedule) alongside classics like Evil Dead and special events that dive into horror lore. There are also live panels, including one that explores Dracula’s connection to York, and there is a Horror Market where you can pick up spooky memorabilia.

Pop along for a day or brave the full weekend. In true York fashion the venue is said to be haunted… but that’s probably just the scream echoing from the last screening.

Unlocking Hidden Gems: York Unlocked 2025

Think you know York? Think again. On Saturday 27 and Sunday 28 September, York Unlocked throws open the doors to 56 venues and tours across the city. Many of these buildings are usually closed to the public, so this is your chance to wander through medieval halls, modern architectural marvels and secret gardens without spending a penny.

A few highlights: the National Railway Museum is celebrating its fiftieth birthday and will let you explore its archives, art stores and conservation studios. You can join council chamber tours at the Guildhall, peek inside Bettys Café Tea Rooms and climb Terry’s Clock Tower. Guided walks through historic pubs and churches round off the weekend. While most places don’t require booking, a handful of tours do, so check the programme and snap up free tickets quickly.

York Unlocked is run entirely by volunteers and aims to foster a love of architecture and urban design. It’s the perfect opportunity to see the city through fresh eyes and, let’s be honest, to nose around buildings you’ve always wondered about.

A Spooky Stroll: Ghosts in the Gardens

York prides itself on being one of Europe’s most haunted cities, and this autumn the ghosts are stepping out in style. Ghosts in the Gardens runs from 19 September to 2 November 2025, filling parks and streets with 60 translucent wire-mesh sculptures. The figures, designed by York’s own Unconventional Design team, peek from balconies, lurk in gardens and perch on towers across the city.

Maps are available at the Visitor Information Centre, but half the fun is stumbling upon a Viking warrior in the Museum Gardens or spotting a Tudor lady at Barley Hall. For an even spookier experience, sign up for Ghosts: The Untold History, an evening tour running from 5 to 9 November that explores St Anthony’s Gardens by lantern light.

This family-friendly event is free during the day, and the sculptures are always visible in their outdoor locations. Consider it a ghastly scavenger hunt with a history lesson thrown in.

Quick Reference:

Final Thoughts

York is famous for its history, but this weekend it’s also a playground for the senses. You can graze through the Food & Drink Festival by day and munch popcorn during a horror screening by night. On Saturday, go behind doors normally locked to the public and on Sunday chase down ghosts among autumn leaves. The city never sits still, and events like these show why locals and visitors fall in love with York over and over again.

So lace up your walking shoes, pack an appetite (and maybe a garlic necklace if you’re heading to the cinema) and make the most of the last weekend in September. Future you will thank present you for the memories.