York BID’s Ghosts in the Gardens returns!

York BID’s award-winning Ghosts in the Gardens returns Saturday 21st September.

This year’s Ghosts in the Gardens promises to be better than ever before with 45 ghosts, inspired by York’s past, for visitors to discover in some of the city’s most beautiful public gardens and green spaces. The free event will run from Saturday 21^st September to Tuesday 5^th November.

York BID has partnered with local design agency Unconventional Design for the fourth year to create the semi-translucent 3D sculptures out of narrow-gauge wire mesh.

The free event encourages the public to explore York’s rich tapestry of historical figures – from well-known stories like the famous eighteenth century highwayman to lesser-known tales such as the bear that escaped from the Museum Gardens menagerie in the early 1800s!

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.

You can pick up the map from the Visitor Information Centre on Parliament Street from 21^st of September and find out more information via the dedicated web page: https://www.theyorkbid.com/ghosts-in-the-gardens/.

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 7^th to 10^th November, visitors will get to 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!

Carl Alsop, Operations Manager at York BID, said:

“We’re extremely excited to introduce Ghosts After Dark this autumn, as a ticketed sister event to our popular Ghosts in the Gardens project that will return in September. Ghosts After Dark is a unique chance to see all sculptures in one atmospheric environment, with entertaining storytelling areas and all-important photo opportunities. With ever-increasing prices for family-friendly attractions, this is set to be a great value experience for everyone, and we’re committed to supporting local businesses during the colder winter months.”

Siona Mackelworth, Head of Communications & Marketing at York Museums Trust, said:

"We have welcomed York BID's 'Ghosts in the Gardens' for several years and the trail has proved to be a huge hit with visitors to our spaces and online. So, we are delighted to be hosting this fabulous new way to engage with the Ghosts After Dark. This is a great partnership initiative with York BID, organisations and storytellers across the city to welcome visitors to experience another aspect of this amazing city."

Tickets are now available from the York Museums Trust website: Ghosts in York (yorkshiremuseum.org.uk)

Standard tickets can be purchased at £7.50 whilst tickets for under 16’s are only £1.