York is known for being a haunted city – so what better way to celebrate that than with a festival all about ghosts?
Back for a fifth year, York Ghost Week is organised by the York Ghost Merchants. With two locations on Shambles and St Anthony’s Garden, the tiny handmade ghosts continue to bewitch the city.
York Ghost Week will take place from Saturday 26 October to Sunday 3 November.
This year’s events include the return of the much-loved Little York Ghost Hunt, spine-chilling storytelling, hair-raising mysteries, uncanny crafts, and more.
We’ve put together a guide to six highlights for the spooktacular week.
For more information and to see the full programme, visit the York Ghost Merchants’ website.
Six highlights for York Ghost Week
The Little York Ghost Hunt
The York Ghost Merchants invite budding ghost hunters to join the seek and keep hunt for Little York Ghosts! There are 125 in total hidden each evening and included in their number are 20 rare Bright-eyed Phantoms. As Ghosts are scarce, they kindly ask that each person limits their collection to just one Ghost to give others a better chance of success.
- Walking route around the Minster
- Mon 28 – Thu 31 Oct
- 6-8pm
- Free event – no booking required
- More info
Ghost Merchants Trading Hall & Ringing the Ghost contest
An opportunity to meet up with fellow Ghost collectors, socialise and swap Ghosts. Bring along your Ghosts to show and swap. There will be the chance to try your hand at the old game of “Ringing The Ghost”; A game played with wooden rings similar to Hoopla but with a possible top score of 42. There is a one-of-a-kind hand-painted Ghost for the person whose name is atop the leaderboard at 4pm.
- Bedern Hall, York, YO1 7AL
- Sun 27 Oct
- 11am – 3pm
- Free event – no booking required
- More info
York Mansion House Presents: The Haunting of Hudson
You are invited to an evening with the Lord Mayor of York, George Leeman… well it is 1871 you know! The Mansion House is under threat from a familiar face. The spirit of previous Lord Mayor and infamous character around our fine City, George Hudson, has returned and is causing havoc! Your mission dear detective, should you choose to accept, is to explore the historical home and untangle a web of corruption, contempt and railway rivalry. Uncovering cause and solution will hopefully return the house back to harmony.
- Bedern Hall, York, YO1 7AL
- Sat 26 Oct, Fri 1 & Sat 2 Nov
- 7:30-9:30pm
- £26
- More info
DIG after Dark – DIG: An Archaeological Adventure
Gather around the campfire and listen to some spooky ghost stories this half term at DIG after Dark! Enjoy interactive and immersive storytelling sessions about the ghosts of York. Discover more about folklore and the history of the venue, 11th century old St Saviour’s Church. Families can cosy around the campfire with snacks and a hot drink, all included in the price.
- St Saviour Church, St Saviourgate, York Y01 8NN
- Sat 26 Oct – Sun 3 Nov
- 5:30-8pm
- From £7.50
- More info
Rainbows Ceramics Presents: ‘Make Your Own Ghost with Clay’
Have you ever wanted to design your own ghost? Well now you can! Using our Ghosts as inspiration, Rainbows Ceramics will help you make your own ghost from earthenware clay. All materials are included in the ticket cost so once you have sculpted your ghost you will be able to paint your creation from a selection of ceramic underglazes; using various painting techniques including drips, splatters and crying eyes. This is chance to make and design your very own, unique ghost to take home.
- Rainbow Ceramics, 15-17 Bootham, York YO30 7BW
- Mon 28 Oct
- Multiple times
- £15
- More info
Dickensian ghost stories, The Signal-Man and The Trial for Murder, performed by James Swanton
Join our lone storyteller as he delves into Dickens’s darkest explorations of the spirit world. The Signal-Man is one of the most powerful ghost stories of all time and certainly the most frightening ever written by Charles Dickens. It is paired here with The Trial for Murder, in which Dickens treats the supernatural with just as much terrifying gravity.
- York Medical Society, 23 Stonegate, York YO1 8AW
- Thu 24 – Wed 30 Oct
- 7pm
- From £7.50
- More info