Latest news with #MakeItYork
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘It's been really lovely': York's first festival of wizardry hailed a success
York's first festival of wizardry has been hailed a success. Wizardfest organiser Dan Wood, the 'Wizard of York', said it had been 'really lovely' to see families joining in with activities over the bank holiday weekend. He hopes this year's Wizardfest will be the 'first of many'. Events include a 'wizard walk' from Dan, who owns the Wizard Walk of York; a Brick Magic LEGO workshop; and a bath bomb making session with Lush. There's even a chance to meet the wizard's new pet dragon at St Sampson's Church. Wizard of York Dan Wood with his new dragon (Image: The Story of You) 'I've been doing the Wizard Walks for three years and found it was time to celebrate wizardry – it was the time that we had a wizard festival,' Dan said. 'It's been really lovely, there's been hundreds of families out today coming to see my dragon.' He said Wizardfest, which is co-hosted by Little Vikings and supported by Make it York, is a 'combination of local businesses doing magical work in the city with 25 activities over the bank holiday'. Wizardfest organiser Dan Wood, the 'Wizard of York' (Image: Newsquest) Dan said there had been a 'mix of tourists and local families' taking part in the walk. 'It's a magic comedy, with dad jokes,' he said. 'It's an alternative to the ghost walk which is more suitable for children.' Dan used to work as the 'Magic Hatter' at Piglets Adventure Farm, in Towthorpe Moor Lane, and said some of the families at Wizardfest have recognised him from that role. 'It's been nice to see those families with a different hat on,' he said. Wizardfest ends tomorrow (Monday, May 26) when there will be a free fancy dress parade between St Helen's Square and York Minster at 3pm. Wizardfest organiser Dan Wood who hopes this year's event will be the 'first of many' (Image: The Story of You) Elsewhere, the first three Harry Potter films are being shown at City Screen, off Coney Street, during the festival – the Chamber of Secrets is being shown at 7pm tonight, and the Prisoner of Azkaban at 4.15pm tomorrow. The Church Street ice-cream parlour is offering the Wizard of York Ice-Cream – topped with chocolate frog. Most read: 'Posh pub' in North Yorkshire has 'oodles of character' and is among UK's best 'It was the perfect storm' - real reasons behind sudden closure of York shop We join the queue to try York's newest bakery and bistro – is it any good? A 'magic Minster' chocolate is on offer from Florian Poirot, in Shambles, featuring golden dust and popping candy. More food is on offer at SPARK:York with the new 'Beastly Burger' available from Baby Boy's Burger. 'With a packed map of 25 activities featuring the most magical businesses in York, we can't wait to welcome so many families to our enchanting city. Bring on the magic,' Dan said. For more information about Wizardfest, and tickets and maps, visit:
BBC News
25-04-2025
- Business
- BBC News
City of York Council refuses plans for digital information hubs
Plans for five digital help hubs in York city centre offering free wi-fi, touchscreen maps and defibrillators have been turned down. Applicant JCDecaux's hoped to install information points in Parliament Street, St Sampson's Square, Davygate and of York Council planning officials refused the plans over their proximity to historic buildings and their impact on pedestrians and public spaces. The advertising firm said thought had been given to the placement of the hubs and it had been open to changing locations if needed. Plans for the hubs, designed to replace public phone boxes, were submitted to the council in March. They would have featured a 7.1ft (218cm) screen on one side for advertising with a 2.6ft (81cm) touchscreen and public phone on the promised facilities included charging ports powered by solar including Make It York and the York Disability Rights Forum, said the hubs would clutter streets and impact crowds during large events like York Christmas officers decided the public benefits did not outweigh the potential harm of the hubs, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said. Listen to highlights from North Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North or tell us a story you think we should be covering here.
BBC News
03-04-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Yorkshire Balloon Fiesta 2025 refused Knavesmire site by tourist chiefs
The organiser of the Yorkshire Balloon Fiesta has said he is "gutted" after being denied permission to hold the event in YorkThis year's spectacle was due take place on the city's Knavesmire on the last weekend of John Lowery said Make It York had refused permission for what was one of the biggest events in the city's calendar, citing traffic management and licensing as Lowery said: "We've got a history of doing that work and proving that we've done highways and environmental health." The BBC has approached Make it York for a comment. The festival, which began in 2017, had been held at York Racecourse before it switched to Castle Howard in 2023. The event did not take place in Lowery said they were eager to return to the Knavesmire and, despite gaining permission from the racecourse, were refused by Make It tourist organisation manages the land on behalf of City of York Council."We were told that it would have to go out to an expression of interest after four months. Once the expression of interest came in February, we applied. Yesterday we found out that we were unsuccessful and there would be no event," Mr Lowery said."I'm gutted. As a York person, for me there's no better feeling than being on that stage and seeing thousands of people happy and enjoying themselves."Mr Lowery said they had tried to keep prices down and had previously worked with food banks to offer free tickets."A lot of people can't afford to go to these festivals and concerts so it's a real shame that something affordable can't happen in the city," he said. Mr Lowery said with regards to concerns about traffic and licensing, the team behind the event had "been there, we've done all that"."We spent £25,000 the last time we were there doing traffic. We've never had any trouble with traffic for the last two years."We feel as though we would have met X, Y, and Z if we were asked to do X, Y, and Z."The organiser said it was now too late to find an alternate venue for 2025 but was hopeful for next year."We won't give up," he added. Listen to highlights from North Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
BBC News
31-01-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
York Ice Trail returns with new sculptures
Frozen sculptures will tell the story of York's 2,000-year history as the city's annual ice trail returns for the ninth year this artwork is sponsored by a local business and is hand-carved by specialists addition to the 30 sculptures there will also be ice carving demonstrations in St Sampson's Square throughout the organisation Make it York said the free event attracted 67,000 visitors in 2024 and claimed 87% of those visited the city specifically for the trail. Sarah Loftus, managing director of Make It York, said the "stunning ice creations" would transform the city."We can't wait to see the incredible artistry and imagination that will bring the Origins theme to life."Middletons Hotel is among the businesses sponsoring a sculpture this year and will see its grounds transformed into the Sweeter Side of Life display, with four artworks reflecting the city's links with chocolate and the hotel's heritage as a hospital and almshouses dating back to the 17th Century. Greg Pittard from Icebox said: "Our team of talented artisans worked closely with Make It York and partners to craft custom ice sculptures that reflect their unique vision, making this York Ice Trail an exceptional one that guests will talk about for years to come."The trail runs from 10:30 GMT until 16:00 GMT on Saturday and to highlights from North Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North or tell us a story you think we should be covering here.
BBC News
29-01-2025
- Business
- BBC News
York Christmas Market overcrowding concerns revealed in report
York's 2024 Christmas Market was a success, but visitors would like to see better crowd management at future events, a report has from the market's organiser Make It York, the city's tourism board, showed visitor numbers rose by 7% compared to 2023, with a footfall count in Parliament Street of more than 1.2 almost a third of visitors surveyed said the market had been too crowded, and more than a fifth said it should be more spread report's findings followed calls to change the market's layout amid concerns over safety and from disabled people whose access to city centre Blue Badge parking spaces was restricted due to visitor numbers. The report from Make It York stated last year's Christmas Market, which ran from November to December, had performed extremely well financially and it had helped to put York among the UK's leading winter market was forced to close for one day due to Storm Darragh. According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, the survey of 103 visitors showed satisfaction in York Christmas Market stood at about three out of five on It York said that half of those surveyed were very or fairly satisfied with the event compared to 40% who were somewhat or wholly dissatisfied and 10% who were half said they were very or quite likely to come to the market in winter this year, while more than three quarters had been to previous christmas three quarters of people who visited York city centre while the market was running said they were there either solely or partly to visit a total of 18% of people who responded said the variety of stalls should be improved, while 13% said there should be more report stated: "York Pass, the Shambles Market and the Christmas Market have all performed extremely well this year, which aligns with more visitors to the city."However, the report stated that stopping overcrowding was the most popular area for improvement suggested by those surveyed, followed by spreading out the It York said it looked every year at how to improve the market's layout when planning the event, and alterations had been made to try and address concerns over report's publication came after City of York Council's transport spokesperson Councillor Kate Ravilious said she was open to looking at spreading out this year's to highlights from North Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North or tell us a story you think we should be covering here.
