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There’s definitely a festive feel to things this week, with St Nicholas Fayre kicking off at the end of the week and Christmas fun going on at Castle Howard, Stockeld Park, the Designer Outlet and the North York Moors Railway to name just a few. Here’s our pick of what’s on for families in and around York over the next seven days.

Monday 25^th November

Story Time – Castle Museum – 11am to 11.30am – Free and no need to book (normal entry charges apply for the museum; York Card holders free)

Pre-school stories relating to the museum buildings. This week’s book is Peepo.

Yorkshire’s Winter Wonderland  – York Designer Outlet – 9.30 am to 9.15pm – Free entry but charges for activities (£9.95 adult/£8.95 for ice skating; £4.50 per child for a visit to Santa’s grotto)

Yorkshire’s Winter Wonderland returns to the Designer Outlet this Christmas with ice skating at The Ice Factor, a traditional funfair and Santa’s grotto (book online to avoid the queues). It’s one way to get the kids more interested in a Christmas shopping trip to the Outlet.

Tuesday 26^th November

Toddler Tasting Time – York Castle Museum – 12.30pm to 1.30pm – Free for session (normal entry charges apply for museum entry; York Card holders free)

Drop in to taste some historic ingredients, listen to a story and join in with rhymes related to the ingredients. This week’s ingredient is cream. Call 01904 650333 to book.

Yorkshire’s Winter Wonderland  – York Designer Outlet – 9.30 am to 9.15pm – Free entry but charges for activities (£9.95 adult/£8.95 for ice skating; £4.50 per child for a visit to Santa’s grotto)

Yorkshire’s Winter Wonderland returns to the Designer Outlet this Christmas with ice skating at The Ice Factor, a traditional funfair and Santa’s grotto (book online to avoid the queues). It’s one way to get the kids more interested in a Christmas shopping trip to the Outlet.

Wednesday 27^th November

Big Scream (parents/carers and babies under one) – City Screen Picturehouse – 11am – normal admission prices apply

This week’s film is The Hunger Games: Catching Fire.

Yorkshire’s Winter Wonderland  – York Designer Outlet – 9.30 am to 9.15pm – Free entry but charges for activities (£9.95 adult/£8.95 for ice skating; £4.50 per child for a visit to Santa’s grotto)

Yorkshire’s Winter Wonderland returns to the Designer Outlet this Christmas with ice skating at The Ice Factor, a traditional funfair and Santa’s grotto (book online to avoid the queues). It’s one way to get the kids more interested in a Christmas shopping trip to the Outlet.

Thursday 28^th November

Museum Monkeys (sessions for 2 to 5 year olds) – York Castle Museum – 11am to 12 noon – Free but booking essential (normal admission charges for museum entry; York Card holders free)

Victorian transport: visit Kirkgate to see the hansom cab, play with the train set and dress up as a horse to pull the cart. Call 01904 650333 to book. More information here.

Yorkshire’s Winter Wonderland  – York Designer Outlet – 9.30 am to 9.15pm – Free entry but charges for activities (£9.95 adult/£8.95 for ice skating; £4.50 per child for a visit to Santa’s grotto)

Yorkshire’s Winter Wonderland returns to the Designer Outlet this Christmas with ice skating at The Ice Factor, a traditional funfair and Santa’s grotto (book online to avoid the queues). It’s one way to get the kids more interested in a Christmas shopping trip to the Outlet.

St. Nicholas Fayre –  various locations cross the city from Thursday 28^th November to Sunday 1^st December

This annual Christmas event sees markets spring up across the city in various locations, including Parliament Street, St Sampson’s Square and Coppergate. The Guildhall will host artists and crafters at their ‘Made in Yorkshire’ event, while Barley Hall will host a special medieval market with live crafting, mulled wine and costumed traders. At St William’s College you’ll find an arts and crafts market packed with one-off finds. Perfect Christmas shopping territory.

Friday 29^th November

Toddler Time – City Screen Picturehouse – 11.30am – £3 for children, accompanying adults free if you join the Toddler Time club (free).

This week’s film is Humf.

Yorkshire’s Winter Wonderland  – York Designer Outlet – 9.30 am to 9.15pm – Free entry but charges for activities (£9.95 adult/£8.95 for ice skating; £4.50 per child for a visit to Santa’s grotto)

Yorkshire’s Winter Wonderland returns to the Designer Outlet this Christmas with ice skating at The Ice Factor, a traditional funfair and Santa’s grotto (book online to avoid the queues). It’s one way to get the kids more interested in a Christmas shopping trip to the Outlet.

Museum Baby – Castle Museum – 11am to 11.45am – Free for session (normal admission charges for museum entry; York Card holders free)

Farming: look for vegetables in the mud, explore the fruits and vegetables and listen to the story of Handa’s Surprise. Call 01904 650333 to book. More information here.

St. Nicholas Fayre –  Across the city from Thursday 28^th November to Sunday 1^st December

This annual Christmas event sees markets spring up across the city in various locations, including Parliament Street, St Sampson’s Square and Coppergate. The Guildhall will host artists and crafters at their ‘Made in Yorkshire’ event, while Barley Hall will host a special medieval market with live crafting, mulled wine and costumed traders. At St William’s College you’ll find an arts and crafts market packed with one-off finds. Perfect Christmas shopping territory.

Saturday 30^th November

Kids Club – City Screen Picturehouse – 10.45am (activities), 11.15am (film) – £3 non-members/£1 members. Membership is £4.

This week’s film is Tangled.

Yorkshire’s Winter Wonderland  – York Designer Outlet – 9.30 am to 9.15pm – Free entry but charges for activities (£9.95 adult/£8.95 for ice skating; £4.50 per child for a visit to Santa’s grotto)

Yorkshire’s Winter Wonderland returns to the Designer Outlet this Christmas with ice skating at The Ice Factor, a traditional funfair and Santa’s grotto (book online to avoid the queues). It’s one way to get the kids more interested in a Christmas shopping trip to the Outlet.

Museum Monkeys (sessions for 2 to 5 year olds) – Castle Museum – 11am to 12 noon – Free but booking essential (normal admission charge for museum, but free to York Card holders)

Touch: guess what’s in the mystery bags, make a feely collage and make a den with various texture materials. Call 01904 650333 to book. More information here.

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Meet children’s author Antony Wooten – Waterstones York – 28-29 High Ousegate – Free

Meet Antony, the author of Gron-ups Can’t be Friends with Dragons and A Tiger Too Many (suitable for 8-12 year olds).

Kids’ Kitchen Club – Castle Museum – 2.30pm to 3.30pm – Free but booking essential (normal admission charges for the museum; free to York Card holders)

Bring your children to the working kitchen studio at York Castle Museum to help make recipes from the past. This week’s recipe is Eliza Acton’s lemon syllabub.

The Christmas Adventure – Stockeld Park – 10.30am to 8.30pm – Prices vary according to the activities you choose (visit the website for further details).

Experience real Christmas magic at Stockeld Park, home of the Enchanted Forest. As well a chance to visit Santa in his grotto (and meet the reindeer of course), there’s ice-skating and Nordic skiing on offer, as well as a maze and outdoor play areas galore. Read about our day out at Stockeld here.

St. Nicholas Fayre –  Across the city from Thursday 28^th November to Sunday 1^st December

This annual Christmas event sees markets spring up across the city in various locations, including Parliament Street, St Sampson’s Square and Coppergate. The Guildhall will host artists and crafters at their ‘Made in Yorkshire’ event, while Barley Hall will host a special medieval market with live crafting, mulled wine and costumed traders. At St William’s College you’ll find an arts and crafts market packed with one-off finds. Perfect Christmas shopping territory.

Winter sculpture exhibition – Beningbrough Hall – 9^th November to 23^rd February 2014 (weekends only) – 11am to 3.30pm – Normal admission prices apply

This indoor and outdoor exhibition of life-size sculptures by award-winning sculptor Andrew Kay captures the powerful anatomy of wild beasts.

Christmas at Castle Howard – Castle Howard – Saturday 23^rd November to Sunday 22^nd December 2013 – 10am (house opens at 11am) and last admission at 4pm – Entry to farm shop, garden centre, courtyard etc. is free; entry to house and grounds from £14 for adults/£7.50 for children (under fives free); entry to grounds £9.50 for adults/£6 for children over five (under fives free)

Experience the glamour and grandeur of Castle Howard, decked out in all its festive glory. Discover candlelit interiors, a stunning display of Howard family ‘twigs’, winter garlands and floral arrangements. Outdoors there are all the usual delights, including the fantastic adventure play area and loads of opportunities for stunning woodland walks. The gift shops, farm shop and garden centre will all be open, too, ready to help you tick the last gifts from your Christmas list.

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Santa Specials – North York Moors Railway, Pickering Station – 30^th November and 1^st, 7^th to 8^th, 14^th to 15^th and 21^st to 22^nd December – £14.50 per adult/child

Book now to join Santa and friends for festive fun on the Santa Express, a shuttle service departing Pickering, Grosmont and Whitby stations. Ticket price includes return travel, a present per child, mince pies for all, and a hot or cold drink for everyone (and an alcoholic tipple for the grown-ups. There will also be festive entertainment at Pickering station between 12.30pm and 1.40pm and 2.15pm and 3.15pm. Dogs are not permitted and buggy space is limited, so leave it in the car if possible.

Sunday 1^st December

The Christmas Adventure – Stockeld Park – 10.30am to 8.30pm – Prices vary according to the activities you choose (visit the website for further details).

Experience real Christmas magic at Stockeld Park, home of the Enchanted Forest. As well a chance to visit Santa in his grotto (and meet the reindeer of course), there’s ice-skating and Nordic skiing on offer, as well as a maze and outdoor play areas galore. Read about our day out at Stockeld here.

Yorkshire’s Winter Wonderland  – York Designer Outlet – 9.30 am to 9.15pm – Free entry but charges for activities (£9.95 adult/£8.95 for ice skating; £4.50 per child for a visit to Santa’s grotto)

Yorkshire’s Winter Wonderland returns to the Designer Outlet this Christmas with ice skating at The Ice Factor, a traditional funfair and Santa’s grotto (book online to avoid the queues). It’s one way to get the kids more interested in a Christmas shopping trip to the Outlet.

St. Nicholas Fayre –  Across the city from Thursday 28^th November to Sunday 1^st December

This annual Christmas event sees markets spring up across the city in various locations, including Parliament Street, St Sampson’s Square and Coppergate. The Guildhall will host artists and crafters at their ‘Made in Yorkshire’ event, while Barley Hall will host a special medieval market with live crafting, mulled wine and costumed traders. At St William’s College you’ll find an arts and crafts market packed with one-off finds. Perfect Christmas shopping territory.

Santa Specials – North York Moors Railway, Pickering Station – 30^th November and 1^st, 7^th to 8^th, 14^th to 15^th and 21^st to 22^nd December – £14.50 per adult/child

Book now to join Santa and friends for festive fun on the Santa Express, a shuttle service departing Pickering, Grosmont and Whitby stations. Ticket price includes return travel, a present per child, mince pies for all, and a hot or cold drink for everyone (and an alcoholic tipple for the grown-ups. There will also be festive entertainment at Pickering station between 12.30pm and 1.40pm and 2.15pm and 3.15pm. Dogs are not permitted and buggy space is limited, so leave it in the car if possible.

Winter sculpture exhibition – Beningbrough Hall – 9^th November to 23^rd February 2014 (weekends only) – 11am to 3.30pm – Normal admission prices apply

This indoor and outdoor exhibition of life-size sculptures by award-winning sculptor Andrew Kay captures the powerful anatomy of wild beasts.

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Christmas at Castle Howard – Castle Howard – Saturday 23^rd November to Sunday 22^nd December 2013 – 10am (house opens at 11am) and last admission at 4pm – Entry to farm shop, garden centre, courtyard etc. is free; entry to house and grounds from £14 for adults/£7.50 for children (under fives free); entry to grounds £9.50 for adults/£6 for children over five (under fives free)

Experience the glamour and grandeur of Castle Howard, decked out in all its festive glory. Discover candlelit interiors, a stunning display of Howard family ‘twigs’, winter garlands and floral arrangements. Outdoors there are all the usual delights, including the fantastic adventure play area and loads of opportunities for stunning woodland walks. The gift shops, farm shop and garden centre will all be open, too, ready to help you tick the last gifts from your Christmas list.