- The Great York Bunny Search – 2 – 23 April
- York Chocolate Festival – 19 – 22 April
- Easter Egg Hunts across the city and beyond
York will be celebrating its chocolate heritage with two key events just in time for Easter; the Great York Bunny Search and York Chocolate Festival.
The city lays claim to being ‘Britain’s Home of Chocolate’. It was once home to two of the country’s most famed chocolatiers, namely Rowntree’s (now Nestlé which still produces millions of Kit Kats in York every day) and Terry’s (remember the Chocolate Orange?). Over the past few years, there’s also been a revival of chocolate making by independent artisans in the city and there’s even a downloadable walking trail to discover more about the city’s chocolate making credentials.
The Great York Bunny Search (2-23 April), organized by Make It York, will return this April, sponsored by York’s Chocolate Story, where visitors and residents can explore York’s historic streets, seeking out brightly coloured ceramic bunnies hidden in shop windows. All the bunnies have been decorated by local artists and businesses and each will have its own quirky design. There’s even a chance to take home your favourite by bidding for it online at vistyork.org/easter. Proceeds will go to the York Teaching Hospital Charity.
Paul Whiting, Head of Visit York, a part of Make It York, said: “You would be hopping mad to miss out, so dust off those detective skills and find them all! We hope everyone will enjoy all the egg-cellent special events and experiences on offer across the city this Easter at our visitor attractions, shops and restaurants.” You can collect a free copy of the Great York Bunny Search at the Visit York Information Centre, 1 Museum Street and the map is also downloadable online at visityork.org/easter.
At the York Chocolate Festival on Parliament Street (19-22 April), you’ll be able to sample tasty treats and pick up some chocolate making tips in the demonstration tent. More sweets will be on offer at Shambles Food Court, where little ones can join in an Easter egg trail. And at the petting farm real life fury friends will be making a special appearance too.
York’s Chocolate Story will be putting on a host of events including the Easter Bunny’s Chocolate Egg Hunt, Chocolate Easter Egg Masterclasses and a fully immersive Easter Tour. Intrepid explorers can also hunt out hidden eggs at Treasurer’s House, Castle Howard and Beningbrough Hall. Meanwhile little ones can join in the Townhouse Mouse Quest at Fairfax House, have hours of fun on York’s Minster’s special Easter trail or follow the bunny trail at Holgate Windmill.
