The destination management organisation said the events were popular with visitors and gave the city economy a winter boost during a quieter period.

Make it York says such events help make York an all-year attraction as well as strengthening community participation.

The York Ice Trail during February 6-7 featured 36 ice sculptures across the city centre with an ‘Enchanted City’ theme.

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Created by Icebox, a leading ice sculpturing company, each sculpture was sponsored by a local business, highlighting local support.

New for 2026, the Ice Village introduced a marketplace of handcrafted gifts, artisan products and seasonal treats, to improve the visitor experience and encourage people to stay longer.

The Ice Festival (Image: Kevin Glenton)

The event recorded over 63,770 footfall counts across Micklegate and Parliament Street during the weekend. Despite overall city centre footfall being 26% lower than 2025, Make it York says visitor satisfaction remained exceptionally high.

Some 94% of visitors said they were satisfied with their overall experience, with 97% stating they would attend again. The event achieved an average rating of 4.5 out of 5 from 272 surveyed attendees  

Most visitors (82%) travelled to York on a day trip, while 18% stayed overnight.

Traders, sponsors and volunteers were happy, with strong takings reported.

Visitors described the sculptures as “brilliant”, “beautiful” and “a fabulous family day out”, with many calling for the event to continue. 

The York Residents Festival, held over the weekend of January 31 and February 1 was the most successful to date.

It featured a record 86 exclusive offers- a 23% increase on the 70 of last year, giving residents free access to various York attractions.

Make it York reports a strong take-up of pre-booked tickets for a second consecutive year, resulting in a significant growth in online engagement and an 8.6% increase in click-throughs from Visit York to partner websites. 

York Christmas Market (Image: Make it York)

Those taking part enjoyed higher footfall and strong January trading.

York’s 2025 Christmas Market ran from November 13 to December 21, supporting regional traders and strengthening the winter economy, Make it York said.

Though footfall fell almost a quarter to less than a million in Parliament Street, Make it York cites success with new traders and 85% being from Yorkshire.

Daily Quiet Time sessions and a Quiet Oasis also helped make the event accessible to all, it said.

To boost sustainability, visitors were also encouraged to use public transport, park & ride, or cycles, with storage available.

Sarah Loftus, Managing Director of Make It York, said: “From the continued success of York Ice Trail to the growing impact of York Residents’ Festival and another outstanding York Christmas Market, it’s been fantastic to see such strong support from both residents and visitors. 

“We’re already looking forward to welcoming everyone back!” 

Further information about upcoming events can be found at visityork.org 

What: Uplifting views, fresh-from-the-fields menus and island-inspired architecture

Where: Santo Pure Oia Suites & Villas and Santo Mine Oia Suites rise over Oia on Santorini; Creta Maris Resort basks on Crete’s northern shore

Don’t miss: Sea-view yoga in the grounds of Santo Pure and Santo Mine, and the Ancient Greek massages at Creta Maris’ tranquil spa

Highlight: The exceptional dining at all three hotels – think seasonally-inspired dishes showcasing delicious local produce

So potentially fraught is the outcome that Mark Zuckerberg, the billionaire co-founder and chief executive of Meta, which owns Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp, appeared in person to defend his platforms. It was the first time he had ever given such testimony before a court, despite his company being sued hundreds of times in the past.

It follows three arrests being made in relation to the shooting in Starkey Crescent, Tang Hall, on Saturday night (March 7).

No one was harmed in the shooting which police are treating as an isolated incident with no threat to the wider community.

North Yorkshire Police said a 23-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of possession of a firearm, possession of a firearm without a certificate and criminal damage on Thursday. He remains in police custody, the force said on Friday afternoon.

Earlier in the week, police said a 34‑year‑old man was arrested on suspicion of possession of a firearm and criminal damage, a 32‑year‑old man was arrested on suspicion of possession of a firearm, and a 29‑year‑old woman was arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender. All three have been released on bail.

North Yorkshire Police has said its suspect in the shooting “approached the car on foot and ran from the scene” at about 9.25pm on Saturday.

A blue Nissan car could be seen parked in the driveway of a home in Starkey Crescent with a smashed windscreen and a hole in its front grille on Sunday.

The home, near the street’s junction with Cosmo Avenue, was cordoned off on Sunday morning after the shooting. A green piece of tarpaulin had been put over the car’s damaged windscreen and bonnet by Monday.

There was a heavy police presence in Tang Hall following the shooting while officers carried out inquiries to identify the alleged shooter.

Anyone with information about the shooting is urged to contact North Yorkshire Police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Rosenior was reminded that all great football teams in history have had a clear standout goalkeeper, to which he said: “I think if you go through history and most great clubs, whether it’s a goalkeeper position, a No9 position, those shirts are earned on form, those shirts are earned on performance.

Rory McIlroy made the cut with a shot to spare at the Players Championship, but heads into the weekend trailing leader Ludvig Aberg by 13 shots.

Defending champion McIlroy, who has been struggling with a back injury, birdied his last hole to card a 71 as he reached the halfway stage on one-over par at TPC Sawgrass.

Aberg grabbed three birdies and an eagle in his first four holes, adding another eagle at the ninth as he went out in 29.

Another three birdies coming home, with a single dropped shot, saw the Swede card a 63 to reach 12-under par and establish a two-shot lead.

Xander Schauffele hit every fairway en route to a 65 and second place, one clear of fellow American Cameron Young, with Justin Thomas and Canada’s Corey Conners on eight-under par.

Sepp Straka was a shot further back with English duo Tommy Fleetwood and Matt Fitzpatrick among those on five-under par.

McIlroy was in good company fighting to beat the cut, with world number one Scottie Scheffler also grabbing a birdie at the last to finish on one-over par, one shot better than the cut line.

McIlroy withdrew from the Arnold Palmer Invitational on Saturday before his third round and he said he felt “rusty” on Thursday after he laboured through his opening round.

He told Sky Sports: “I felt a little bit better. I would say if anything it was just I was struggling to trust everything was OK yesterday.

“I struggled a little bit on lies that were beneath my feet and stuff like that, but today I felt pretty good and felt like I hit the ball well. I really just couldn’t get a putt to drop. That was the issue.

“I tried my best, I grinded and made a good birdie at the last, hopefully to make the cut.

“Game feels good, I just went five or six days without really touching a club or doing anything so just getting my feels back a little.

“Hopefully another couple of days to get myself up the leaderboard. I’m 11 back at the minute, I’m not sure I’m going to contend for the title, but hopefully two good days and have a respectable finish.”

Black Phillip’s Impossible Market will take place above the Impossible bar in St Helen’s Square from 12pm to 4pm on Saturday, April 11.

Several traders will be on hand at the free-to-attend market.

‘Black Phillip’, the mysterious character in charge of the market, said the items on sale will include “recycled goodies, taxidermy, gothic home décor, witchcraft items, art made with real spiderwebs, gothic jewellery, hand-made prints”, along with “doorways to other dimensions”.

“Oh, and some ultra-foul scented candles, of course,” they added.

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An event spokesperson said: “Come along to see Black Phillip, the (g)host with the most, as it throws open the doors to another one of it’s market experiences!

“You’ll smell strange things, hear strange things and see some very strange things! It opens at 12pm and closes at 4pm. All ages are welcome and it’s free entry.”

The event follows previous markets by Black Phillips held at the York Medical Society in Stonegate.

The Bolton-born comic and presenter was due to be in Bolton today for a fundraising event, featuring other big name comics to raise money for Endeavour, a charity which supports those affected by domestic abuse.

The sold out comedy show, held at Bolton Whites Hotel, also featured Justin Moorhouse and Colin Manford, alongside legend Mick Miller.

Unfortunately, Paddy got his dates mixed up, and instead sent a message and also shared the charity’s work with his 2.2 million followers.

Bolton’s very own Paddy McGuinness is set to join TV star Fearne Cotton on stage this summer for (Image: Ian West/ PA Wire)

In the video, Paddy said: “Hello everybody at the Endeavour Project in Bolton, so sorry I can’t be with you today.

“Gutted, my fault, got my diary mixed up, but it’s going to be an absolute belter.

“You’ve got Justin Moorhouse down there doing their comedy and Colin Manford, you’re going to have a belter.

“See you in the next couple one.”

He signed off by blowing a kiss.

Endeavour is a registered charity that works to support all those affected by domestic abuse and provides a range of services, community support, group work and counselling.

It was the first charity in the country to offer an in-house pet fostering service, allowing people to flee domestic households without having to abandon their animals.

The six artists or collaborations are Alex Hartley and Tom James, based in Devon and London, Helix Arts x George King Architects, based in the North East, Mary Dalton, based in Hampshire, non zero one, based in London, Sam Williams Studio, based in Sussex, and Trigger, based in Bristol.

The popular series, which offers huge prizes to competitors, is back for 2026 and you can claim a free pair of tickets worth up to £64 to Chelmsford City racecourse PLUS kids go free

The Sky Bet Sunday Series kicks off again in April and we are giving readers the opportunity to claim free tickets to any one of the five meetings up and down the country.

We have partnered with Racing TV to secure 9,000 tickets to give away to readers and what’s more, you can claim two free tickets to your chosen event – plus kids go free, so it’s a great opportunity for a fantastic family day-out.

The Sky Bet Sunday Series is in its sixth year and showcases racing in the attractive Sunday twilight slot. There is huge prize-money to be won, in addition to significant cash bonuses, which means hugely competitive racing, all played out in front of the ITV cameras.

Skybet Sunday Series is in association with horsepower – British racing’s hub dedicated to the Thoroughbred racehorse – Safety and Welfare in Horseracing visit horsepwr.co.uk

Also new for the year, the Series will partner with Young Lives vs Cancer – Sky Bets charity partner of the year. For more information CLICK HERE.

The five participating Sky Bet Sunday Series race meetings for this offer are:

• Musselburgh – Sunday 12th April 2026 – Gates open 13:30
• Ayr – Sunday 26th April 2026 – Gates open 13:45
• Hamilton Park – Sunday 17th May 2026 – Gates open 14:00
• Thirsk – Sunday 31st May 2026 – Gates open TBC (Communicated nearer the time, check website for details)
• Chelmsford City – Sunday 2nd August 2026 – Gates open 11:30

Click here to claim your free tickets (subject to availability, first come, first serve basis)

Terms and Conditions : 1. This promotion covers all events and will be open until either (i) 7 days before the particular race which you have entered the promotion for or, (ii) until all tickets for that particular event are redeemed, whichever occurs first. Musselburgh will close at midnight on April 1 due to Easter Bank holiday. The entire promotion for all events will close at 23:59pm on Sunday, July 26, 2026.

2 . This is a syndicated offer across the Daily Mirror/ Sunday Mirror, Daily Star/Daily Star Sunday, Daily Record/Sunday Mail, Daily Express/Sunday Express, Sunday People and and their relevant Reach online platform, aswell as 6 regional newspapers and their online platform: Cambridge News / cambridge-news.co.uk, Paisley Daily Express, Newcastle Chronicle, Journal, Sunday Sun / chroniclelive.co.uk, Teesside Gazette / gazettelive.co.uk. Aswell as the following Premium Subsription apps: Daily Record, Newcastle Chronicle

3. Tickets are limited for each event to 2000 (1000 pairs) except Musselburgh which has 1000 (500 pairs) and are subject to availability and will be offered on a first come first served basis.

4. To enter the promotion you will need to be over 18 years of age (i) choose your preferred racing event; (ii) fill in your full name and email address, (iii) click enter and then you will be sent an instant email with ticket information in the event you are successful receiving tickets to attend the event. If you are not successful (if all tickets have been taken), you will be informed that you have not been successful. Please check junk email if successful and move your email to your inbox immediately to avoid deletion of your email which is automatically from your junk/spam email after 30 days.

Full terms and conditions can be found on the entry form and must be adhered to in order to enter the promotion.