Return of the Romans – Eboracum Roman Festival brings centurions to the streets of York

The sound of a cornu – a traditional Roman horn – will resound around the streets of Eboracum this weekend, from Saturday (24th May, to mark eight days of family-friendly events, parades, tours and trails throughout modern-day York. 

Eboracum Roman Festival is a staple in York’s festival calendar, bringing the colour of the city’s Roman founders back to life. 

At the heart of the bank holiday weekend celebrations will be a free living history encampment in the Museum Gardens. 

A host of costumed characters – illustrating both the military life and civilians – will set up camp on the central lawn, directly in front of the Yorkshire Museum, featuring Ermine Street Guard, Comitatus, Longthorpe Legion and Griffin Historical. 

The living history encampment runs from 10am to 5pm on Saturday and Sunday. 

With plumed helmets and polished armour, Eboracum’s soldiers will show how fearsome these warriors would be when they parade from the Yorkshire Museum to York Minster on Saturday and Sunday, starting at 12 noon each day.

The perfect photo opportunity, the march route leaves the Museum Gardens, heading up Lendal to St Helen’s Square, and then heading up Stonegate and through Minster Gates to muster outside the South Front.

On Saturday, the return route heads through Bootham Bar.

“The military garrison sat at the centre of Eboracum, with civilians setting up home – and trade – in the areas around, and this is the foundation of the modern city we see today,” said Siona Mackelworth, head of audience and programme for York Museums Trust.

“During the Festival, visitors can see both the military might and the trades, from carpentry and pottery to blacksmithing and even a Popina – a first century fast-food café.

“Inside the museum, we’re also hosting fun Roman-themed activities, from storytelling to mosaic-making, as well as a talk on Roman Coins by David Michaels in the Discovery Den.”

For those wishing to venture elsewhere in the city, from 29th – 31st May, costumed interpreters from Days Gone By will tell the stories of York Minster’s connections to the Roman city, with crafts, handling objects and a Roman soldier on hand, too.

Sessions run Thursday to Saturday from 10am to 3pm, and are included within admission to York Minster, free for York residents.

At DIG in St Saviourgate, visitors can make a Roman face pot, with sessions running daily from 24th – 31st May from 11am to 3pm, priced at £3 per person.

Visitors to the attraction can also see the only skeleton in the world believed to show a lion bite on a gladiator. Normal admission prices apply.

A free Roman treasure hunt is also running each day throughout the city centre on 24th, 25th, 28th, 29th and 30th May – an ideal way of keeping children occupied and engaged.

To discover the hidden Roman history of York there are walking tours in the centre of the city on 27th, 28th. 29th, 30th and 31st May.

For those more academically-minded, the Festival also includes a host of talks featuring eminent Roman historian Mary Beard, York’s own Peter Addyman, CEO of York Archaeology David Jennings.

Also featured is Tom Moore of Durham University and Sophia Adams of the British Museum who will talk about the recent Melsonby Hoard iron age finds which are currently on display in the Yorkshire Museum.

The latest archaeological research on Roman York will also be highlighted on 23rd May with a special symposium at Tempest Anderson Hall.