Creative Families

Creative Families is at York Castle Museum on Saturday 29 August, a family workshop that takes its cue from the Victorian York Gala. For sixty years, the Gala was an annual tradition in the city, and this session brings a bit of that old-school energy into the museum. The activity is led by the artist Lendita, who guides everyone through making their own colourful hot air balloon crafts.

You won't be working in a plain room, either. The workshop takes place inside a paper-cut installation by Yorkshire artist Pippa Dyrlaga, so you're crafting within a space that's been decorated with her work. It's a family-friendly session, suitable for all ages, so it works as well with toddlers as it does with older kids.

The workshop is part of Summer at York Castle Museum 2026, a programme that runs from 22 June to 6 September. The whole season is built around the idea of iconic York summers over two centuries, from the Victorian era through to the sixties, with different activities designed to pull you into that sense of nostalgia.

On the day, it's a drop-in session from 10:30 to 15:30, so you can turn up whenever suits you rather than committing to a fixed slot. The activity is included in the museum's general admission, and the museum works on a 'pay once, visit free all year' basis, which means once you've paid your entry, you can come back as often as you like for the rest of the year. It's on Saturday 29 August, 10:30 to 15:30, at York Castle Museum.