What To Expect From this Year’s York Ice Trail

January 2023

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Walk through history and step into the future on A Journey Through Time at York Ice Trail as it returns for 2023

The popular free event returns on Saturday 4th and Sunday 5th February, decorating the city with the coolest sculptures. Here’s what you won’t want to miss out on.

The grounds of Middletons Hotel will be transformed into a world of mythology, including four show-stopping ice sculptures and plenty of photo opportunities. York Gin, City Cruises and The Potions Cauldron will be on-site, with crafts, competitions and surprise creatures.

The National Railway Museum will be celebrating the centenary of the Flying Scotsman with an interactive sculpture, the Grand Opera House will celebrate 121 years of making magic and LNER will mark their 100-year milestone.

There’ll be live ice carving across the weekend at St Sampson’s Square with Icebox, and there’s also a chance to win some cash with YorkMix’s Casha-Saurus T-Rex, who can be found on Parliament Street.

‘It’s a great excuse to get outdoors at this time of year, and you’ll pass some of the city’s most famous sights along the way,’ says Sarah Loftus, managing director at Make It York, organisers of York Ice Trail. ‘York Ice Trail is a free event. We know pockets are tight at the moment, so it’s really important for us to keep putting on free family-friendly events for residents and visitors to enjoy.

‘This year’s theme is A Journey Through Time and our partners have really pulled out all the stops! The grounds of Middletons Hotel will be transformed into a mystical world of mythology, including four show-stopping ice sculptures and plenty of photo opportunities throughout the day.

‘The Busloads to Love sculpture, by main sponsor York Park & Ride, gives you the chance to be the driver and get a selfie. Transport into another space and dimension with Hiscox’s adventure-bound sit-on space shuttle or go back to the future with Ate O’Clock’s DeLorean inspired ‘ATEY ATE Miles Per Hour’ sculpture.’

Living North Loves

Places to go

A Journey Through Time, Parliament Street – Provided by Make It York
Growing The Future, Parliament Street – Provided by Dalby Forest
Cash-asaurus T-Rex, Parliament Street – Provided by YorkMix Radio
York to London Skyline, Parliament Street – Provided by Grand Central
ATEY ATE Miles Per Hour, High Ousegate – Provided by Ate O’Clock
121 years of making magic, Spurriergate - Provided by Grand Opera House York
Every Moment Matters, North Street – Provided by Park Inn
Where ever I lay my hat, Station Rise – Provided by The Grand, York
100 years of LNER, Station Road – Provided by LNER
York Quest App: The Roman, Micklegate – Provided by York BID
The Enchanted Unicorn, Middletons – Provided by Hole In Wand
Ginny the Dragon, Middletons – Provided by York Gin
20,000 Leagues Under the Ouse, Middletons - Provided by City Cruises
The Monstrous Chimera, Middletons – Provided by Middletons
York Quest App: The Butcher, Kings Staith – Provided by York BID
Coppergate Viking, Coppergate Centre – Provided by Coppergate Centre
E.T. COMES HOME, Piccadilly – Provided by Spark: York
York Quest App: Dick Turpin, Walmgate - Provided by York BID
Adventure Is Out There, The Stonebow – Provided by Hiscox

York’s Chocolate Story Clock, Kings Square – Provided by York’s Chocolate Story
Erupted Volcano, Grape Lane – Provided by Lucia Bar
The York Rose Diamond by Kay Bradley, Low Petergate – Provided by Bradley’s Jewellers, York
Minus 200 Degrees Coffee, Low Petergate – Provided by 200 Degrees Coffee
York Quest App: Anne Lister, Goodramgate - Provided by York BID
Gothic Grotesque, Minster Piazza – Provided by York Minster
Celebrating 100 years of Flying Scotsman, High Petergate – Provided by National Railway Museum
York Quest App: Guy Fawkes, Gillygate - Provided by York BID
The Pearly Cow, Clifton – Provided by No.1 Guesthouse
Layers of Time, Exhibition Sq - St Leonard's Place – Provided by North York Moors National Park
York Quest App: Wally Herbert, Museum Street – Provided by York BID
Ryedale Roman Hoard, Museum Gardens – Provided by Yorkshire Museums Trust
Greek Minotaur, Lendal – Provided by The Judge’s Lodging
Busloads to love! St Helen’s Square – Provided by York Park & Ride
The Bettys Express Train, Davygate – Provided by Bettys
Fire Breathing Dinosaur, St Sampson's Square – Provided by Cut and Craft
Live Carving, St Sampson's Square – Provided by York Ice Trail