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Here is a list of Christmas concerts and events in York over the festive season, some of which are free! If you would like us to add your event to this list, just leave a comment at the bottom of the article and we’ll put it in. You don’t even have to leave your e-mail address.

SANTA’S GROTTO 22/11/2008 – 24/12/2008

• York Designer Outlet, St Nicholas Avenue, Fulford, York, YO19 4TA
• The Christmas Grotto located in the North entrance will be open weekdays 1:30-5:30pm, Saturdays 11am – 6pm and Sundays 12pm – 5pm right up until Christmas Eve.
• Prices £3.25 to Visit Santa with a gift or photo, £6.00 to Visit Santa with a gift and photo
• Contact: York Designer Outlet Tel: 01904 628700
• Click here for more info.

CASTLE HOWARD AT CHRISTMAS 29/11/2008 – 21/12/2008

• 10.00am – 4.00pm: Castle Howard, York, YO60 7DA
• Yorkshire Tourist Board White Rose Winner, Visitor Experience of the Year 2007
• A unique opportunity to see Castle Howard by candlelight and dressed for Christmas. Includes yuletide entertainment, visits from Father Christmas, festive gifts and foods, plus seasonal menus.
• Prices £6.50 – £27.50
• Contact: Visitor Service Tel: 01653 648333 house@castlehoward.co.uk
• Click here for more info.

INTERNATIONAL CHRISTMAS FAYRE 03/12/2008 – 17/12/2008

• Parliament Street, York, YO1 8SE
• York welcomes a new visiting market this Christmas which will bring a modern festive atmosphere with gifts, smells and tastes from around the world. On weekdays, visit the ‘food court’, where liveried chefs will serve traditional and new continental delicacies. Into the evenings, festive illuminations from around the world will add to the ambience as shoppers can enjoy festive music, visiting pantomime characters and warming gluhwein in the shadow of the Eiffel Tower and other iconic images.
• There will be something a little special at this year’s market, ensuring a Christmas event to remember. Open daily from 9am till late. Come along and see for yourself!
• Contact: Darren Lovatt Tel: 01904 551355

DICK TURPIN THE PANTO 11/12/2008 – 31/01/2009

• 19:30: York Theatre Royal, St. Leonard’s Place, York, YO1 7HD
• Join Dame Betty Turpin, her nephew Dick, and his horse Black Mess in what promises to be the most hilarious historically incorrect pantomime you’re ever likely to see.
• Tickets: £10 – £24
• Tel: 01904 623568
• boxoffice@yorktheatreroyal.co.uk
• Click here for more information.

Jack and the Beanstalk in York

JACK AND THE BEANSTALK 12/12/2008 – 04/01/2009

• 19:00 to 22:00 14:30 to 17:00
• Full of trickery and fun, with a magical beanstalk that will grow before your very eyes, don’t miss this year’s traditional family pantomime. This brand new show features beautiful costumes plus lots of singing and dancing to enchant the whole family. The perfect festive treat, book now for the best seats. Just remember to watch out for the giant!
• Tickets: £9 – £17 Family Tickets from £37
• Contact: Grand Opera House York Tel: 0844 847 2322
• yorkboxoffice@livenation.co.uk
• Click here for more info.

ST PETER’S SCHOOL CAROL SERVICE 12/12/2008

• 14:30, Nave, York Minster, Deangate, York, YO1 7HH
• Contact: York Minster Tel: 01904 557200
• Click here for the York Minster Calendar.

GOOD KING WENCESLAS AND THE EARLY MUSIC MOVEMENT 13/12/2008

• 3pm: National Centre for Early Music, St Margarets Church, Walmgate, York, YO1 9TL
• An illustrated entertainment presented by David Owen Norris – and as man keyboards as we can lay our hands on – in the company of JM Neale, Thomas Helmore and Sir Arthur Sullivan.
• Tickets: £6.00
• Contact: National Centre for Early Music Tel: 01904 658338

N.YORKS. EAST FEDERATION WOMEN’S INSTITUTE’S CAROL SERVICE 13/12/2008

• 14:00, York Minster, Deangate, York, YO1 7HH
• North Yorkshire East Federation Women’s Institues Carol Service (Nave).
• Contact: York Minster Tel: 01904 557200
• Click here for York Minster calendar.

MINSTER MINSTRELS 14/12/2008

• 3pm: National Centre for Early Music, St Margarets Church, Walmgate, York, YO1 9TL
• Green Grow’th the Holly. Join York’s young early music ensemble, as they celebrate Christmas past through Instrumental and Vocal Music from the Middle Ages to the 18th century.
• Tickets: £3.50
• Contact: National Centre for Early Music Tel: 01904 658338

TRADITIONAL CAROL SERVICE WITH RIDING LIGHTS 14/12/2008

• 7pm: York Minster, Deangate, York, YO1 7HH
• St Michael-le-Belfrey & York Minster. Traditional Carol Service in York Minster with drama from Riding Lights Theatre Company.
• Contact: York Minster Tel: 01904 557200
• Click here for York Minster calendar.

YORK AGAINST CANCER CAROL SERVICE 15/12/2008

• 7pm: (Nave), York Minster, Deangate, York, YO1 7HH
• Contact: York Minster Tel: 01904 557200
• Click here for York Minster calendar.

DECK THE HALL: A MEDIEVAL CHRISTMAS

• Barley Hall, 2 Coffee Yard, York, YO1 8AR
• Wed 10 – Sat 13 Dec 2008 10:00 to 16:00
• Wed 17 – Sat 20 Dec 2008 10:00 to 16:00
• Visit the Hall decorated for yuletide and at 11.00am and 2.30pm hear about the festive traditions of the period.
• Adult £3 – £13.50
• Reservations Tel: 01904 615505

CANDLELIT VICTORIAN POETRY & CAROLS 18/12/2008

• 19:00 to 22:00, Bar Convent, 17 Blossom Street, York, YO24 1AQ

Come and celebrate Christmas in traditional Victorian family style. This is a fun and festive evening led by your Victorian Hostess in the bedecked Victorian Entrance Hall in of the Bar Convent. In true Victorian style we will be singing Christmas carols round the piano (led by All Saints Sixth Form Choir) and hearing seasonal poems and readings.

• Tickets: £12.50 including mulled wine and Christmas Fayre
• Contact: Lynn Gale Tel: 01904 643238 reception@bar-convent.org.uk
• Click here for the Convent events webpage.

CHAPTER HOUSE CHOIR CAROLS

• York Minster, Deangate, York, YO1 7HH
• Thu 18 Dec 2008 20:00
  Fri 19 Dec 2008 20:00
  Sat 20 Dec 2008 20:00
• Chapter House Choir Carols by Candelight (Chapter House). Tickets on sale at the West End of the Minster from 29th November 2008.
• Contact: York Minster Tel: 01904 557200
• Click here for York Minster calendar.

KOSHKA 19/12/2008

• 19:30, National Centre for Early Music, St Margarets Church, Walmgate, York, YO1 9TL

Gypsy super-trio Koshka brings a seasonal flavour from Russia. Vibrant, enthralling Gypsy music, played with outrageous bravura and a touch of wit and innovation, is interspersed with Russian tale and anecdote to give an insight into the traditions of winter and Christmas in a very different culture.

• Tickets: £12.00 (concessions £10.00; students £5.00)
• Contact: Caroline Sartin Tel: 01904 658338

Christmas at the National Railway Museum

FESTIVE FUN AT THE NATIONAL RAILWAY MUSEUM 20/12/2008 – 04/01/2009

• 10:00 to 18:00, National Railway Museum, Leeman Road, York, YO26 4XJ

Join us at the National Railway Museum for festive fun this Christmas holiday. We have got plenty going on to entertain children of all ages including help to fix Santa’s broken down sleigh, fascinating object handling sessions, interactive story telling, trackwise safety sessions and you can even create your very own glittering Christmas Bug!

• Notes Closed 24th-26th December
• Contact: National Railway Museum Tel: 08448 153 404
• Click here for more info.

YORK MINSTER NINE LESSONS AND CAROLS SERVICE

• York Minster, Deangate, York, YO1 7HH
• Mon 22 Dec 2008 19:00
• Wed 24 Dec 2008 16:00
• Contact: York Minster Tel: 01904 557216
• Click here for York Minster calendar.

YORK MINSTER: CRIB SERVICE 24/12/2008

• 12:00, York Minster, Deangate, York, YO1 7HH
• Contact: York Minster Tel: 01904 557216
• Click here for York Minster calendar.

YORK MINSTER: MIDNIGHT MASS & BLESSING OF THE CRIB 24/12/2008

• 23:30, York Minster, Deangate, York, YO1 7HH
• Please arrive early to ensure a seat, doors will open approximately 10:45pm.
• Contact: York Minster Tel: 01904 557216
• Click here for York Minster calendar.