Autumn’s here and there’s something spooktacular going on in York: the return of Ghosts in the Gardens! The York BID is once again bringing some horribly good wire mesh sculptures to some of York’s most stunning green spaces and this year it’s bigger than ever. Eagle eyed viewers will spot six new ghosts including a female stone mason at the Church of Holy Trinity, Goodramgate, inspired by Mary Ann Fisher, who worked as a stone mason in the early 1800s. This year, Ghosts in the Gardens has been brought to exciting new locations including the bar walls, St Olave’s Church, York Railway Station, and many more. It’s well worth taking your children along to: it’s fun, free and a great excuse for a walk around York. And you don’t need to wait for October half term: Ghosts in the Gardens is taking place from 21st September to early November 2024.
There are 45 sculptures to see this year in various locations across the city: Museum Gardens, The Artists Garden, Treasurer’s House, Merchant Adventurers’ Hall, Middletons Hotel, St Anthony’s Garden, Barley Hall, The Shambles, Clifford’s Tower, the Judges Lodgings, DIG, the Castle Museum, the Edible Wood and Library Lawn.
Ghosts after dark
This year, fans of Ghosts in the Gardens can also enjoy an exciting new event, Ghosts After Dark, delivered by York BID in partnership with York Museums Trust. Ghosts After Dark will see all 45 ghostly sculptures – plus an exclusive new piece – brought together in the beautiful York Museum Gardens, for four nights only.
Running from 7th to 10th November 2024, visitors will experience Ghosts in the Gardens like never before, with the exclusive chance to explore York Museum Gardens after dark and see all the unique ghostly sculptures, dynamically lit against an atmospheric background of smoke and sound. Visitors will learn about the history and legends behind the ghosts at six storytelling areas, where York’s best storytellers will share a mix of much-loved classics and previously unheard stories. Watch this space for storyteller announcements! Tickets are now available from the York Museums Trust website: Ghosts in York (yorkshiremuseum.org.uk). Standard tickets can be purchased at £7.50 and tickets for under 16s are only £1.
Ghosts in the Gardens runs from 21st September to early November 2024 and is free – hooray! It’s just one of many great things going in York and beyond during October half term, and you can find our pick of the best here. Make sure you’re following us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for the latest news on what’s going on around York over the next few weeks. Oh, and if you haven’t subscribed to our weekly newsletter yet, what’s keeping you? It’s the best way to get inspiration and ideas straight to your inbox each week.
