What’s on in the Easter holiday

March 6, 2024 Megan

While you may be busy catching up on assignments with your summer deadlines looming, it’s important to take some time out to enjoy the Easter holidays. Today we’re letting you know about activities in the York city centre, on campus and further afield to help you wind down, explore the city and enjoy some well-deserved rest.

If you want to keep your academic brain active during Easter, we also have some great discussion groups running that you’d be very welcome to join.

Things to try in the City Centre

York Chocolate Festival – Wednesday 27 March to Sunday 31 March. Not to be missed for those with a sweet tooth! Lots of events will be happening across the city, including:

Market stalls for all things sweet
Chocolate-tasting walking trails
A chocolate building site.

Some events are free and some have a cost. Check the programme for details.

York Cat Trail – available all year. If the weather holds up, head for a tour around York and keep an eye out for some statues of feline friends! With over 20 to find across the city, the Cat Trail will definitely keep you busy. This is a free activity but be sure to pick up a map from the Cat Gallery.

Interactive Treasure Hunt – available all year. Another one to keep for a sunny and active day. You’ll follow clues and solve puzzles to find hidden gems and explore some of York’s most famous sites. The hunt should take around 2 to 3 hours, taking you around 1.9 miles. Tickets cost £23.99 but are for groups of between 2 and 6 people, so get a group together for a lower cost per person!

York Art Gallery – available all year. If the weather does turn to rain, head over to York Art Gallery to take in some beautiful paintings and artifacts. Over Easter, the Gallery will be hosting the Aesthetica Art Prize, featuring 20 artists covering a range of medias. Tickets cost from £6.30 for a student ticket.

Snooks, York’s Character Trail – Saturday 2 March to Thursday 25 April. This is a lovely opportunity to explore the city. Organised by Make it York in collaboration with St Leonard Hospital, the trail features 21 Snooks scattered across the city. The Snooks are unique sculptures, sponsored by local businesses and brought to life by local artists (one of the artists is even a YSJ student – you can find their Snook next to our gates on Lord Mayor’s Walk!).

Van Gogh Exhibition – Thursday 7 March to Friday 31 May. The Van Gogh Immersive Experience is a 360 degree digital art experience set in St Mary’s Church. The exhibition combines sound and light to help you explore Vincent Van Gogh’s art and learn about his life. Student tickets cost £12.

Foss Fairy Trail – available all year. The Foss Fairy Trail is a magical riverside walk run by the local community. The half a mile trail runs on the banks of the river Foss. The trail includes fairy houses situated all along the river with new houses popping up all the time.

Activities from our Chaplaincy team

Wednesday 20 March 2024, 1:15pm to 1:45pm – Mindfulness in the Chapel with Jane. Mindfulness is a non-religious exercise that helps you to focus on the present in an accepting and non-judgemental way. It can be very calming and soothing, and a good opportunity to rest your busy brain.

Thursday 21 March 2024, 12:00pm to 1:00pm – Kniterratti in the Chapel Kitchen. You can be a crochet pro or a knitting novice to join in! Either bring your own project or come and borrow wool and needles to get a free knitting lesson, with added cake.

Friday 22 March 2024, 12:30pm – Eucharist in the Chapel. A simple service of Holy Communion in which to rest and receive. All are welcome.

Week commencing Monday 25 March 2024 – Our Chaplain, Jane, will be attending events for Holy Week at York Minster. Any students who would like to join her are most welcome. If you would like to join her, please contact Jane at j.speck@yorksj.ac.uk.

Thursday 28 March, 12:00pm to 1:00pm – Kniterratti in the Chapel Kitchen. You can be a crochet pro or a knitting novice to join in! Either bring your own project or come and borrow wool and needles to get a free knitting lesson, with added cake.

Boardgame café in the library. Open to all YSJ students, whether you’re a hardcore Catan player or have only dabbled in Scrabble! Board games are a great way to relax and meet new people. The University’s Board Game café will be running every Thursday and Saturday at 5.00pm in the Library.

Trips outside of York from our Global Campus team

Global Campus trip to Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal Water Garden – Saturday 23 March. Join Global Campus to explore the beautiful and atmospheric ruins of Fountains Abbey and the nearby Studley Royal Water Garden. You can explore a gorgeous World Heritage Site, enjoy the beautiful sculptures of the Water Garden and you might even catch sight of deer at the deer park! Tickets cost £20 and include return travel, entry to Fountains Abbey and the Water Gardens with a tour and 2 Global Campus Ambassador guides for the day. Visit Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal Water Garden website or The National Trust Website to find out more about these destinations.

Global Campus trip to Whitby Goth Weekend – Saturday 27 April 2024. This is a great opportunity to not only visit the beautiful Whitby but also to enjoy the atmosphere of the Whitby Goth Weekend®! This is an alternative music festival which attracts thousands of attendees from across the UK and beyond, donning the most fabulous goth, steampunk and sometimes macabre costumes. Tickets cost £10 including return travel to Whitby and 2 Global Campus guides for the day. For more information about Whitby and the Goth Weekend visit the Whitby tourist board website and the Whitby Goth Weekend website.

Online discussion groups

Our Insessional and Language Development team will be running online discussion groups over the Easter holiday. This is a great opportunity to practise your critical thinking, discussion and argument skills and try giving your opinion to a friendly and non-judgemental group. No preparation is required, and you won’t be assessed!

Wednesday 20 March, 1:00pm to 2:00pm – “The Rights of Robots”: Join online (via Microsoft Teams). Should we use robots in supermarkets and schools? Would you like your kitchen appliances to ‘think’? Is it ok to get angry with a robot? Discuss these questions and more in this session.

Wednesday 27 March, 1:00pm to 2:00pm – “Space Exploration and Colonisation”: Join online (via Microsoft Teams). Is it right to spend money exploring outer space? Will we ever reach Mars? And what should be put in a capsule that could be sent into space? Discuss these questions and more in this session.

Wednesday 3 April, 1:00pm to 2:00pm – “Work, Motivation and Management Styles”: Join online (via Microsoft Teams). What really motivates people at work? Can teamwork ever work? And which side will you agree with in our debate? Discuss these questions and more in this session.