Yorkshire Sculpture Park invites visitors to a festive wild Yuletide

9 November 2024 – 5 January 2025
Yorkshire Sculpture Park (YSP) is set to deliver joy for all ages this Christmas

Wild Yuletide celebrates creativity, art and the great outdoors, and will provide seasonal cheer and treats throughout the Christmas season. Activities include creative making workshops, festive dining and a stunning, uplifting immersive exhibition in the historic Chapel.

The Christmas programme officially begins on Saturday 9 November, with the opening of the annual YSP winter exhibition, where all works are for sale. This year the registered charity and museum presents printmaker Sarah Kirby’s colourful new body of work, inspired by landmarks in the grounds.

From this date until 5 January 2025, there is something for everyone to try – from porcelain bell-making and paper wreath making to tasty festive lunches and candlelit dining experiences. Little ones and families can enjoy drawing and making decorations together while tucking into lunch in the café. Starting at the main YSP Centre, visitors will be welcomed by a display of decorations, including trees with adornments, lights and lanterns, generating a warm winter feel. Special hot drinks and seasonal dishes will tempt visitors to the on-site cafés, and new products in the award-winning shops are guaranteed to appeal to Christmas shoppers.

At the heart of the Yuletide programme is the luminous Our Colour Reflection exhibition by multi-media artist Liz West. Opening on Friday 15 November in the Chapel and part of Wakefield’s annual Light Up Festival, this uplifting immersive artwork combines vibrant colours and radiant light, creating a captivating sensory experience for visitors to enjoy.

The much-loved 18th-century Chapel will be transformed and filled with endorphin-boosting light with the artwork comprising hundreds of mirrored discs in vivid colour, carpeting the main space. Set at different heights, they capture and emit natural and artificial light, drenching the interior with colour. Dynamic and constantly changing throughout the day, the reflections will respond to the weather and light quality outside of the Chapel – a treat for all colour lovers.

For those who want to create a lasting memory of their visit to YSP to take home, there is a range of creative workshops to try out different crafting skills, for all abilities. All the workshops are being held in the Hayloft Studios within the grounds of YSP and are open to anyone aged 16 or over, with no previous experience necessary. Refreshments and materials are included in all of the following workshops:

Paper Mistletoe Wreath Making Workshop
Saturday 30 November, 10.00–12:30, £50

Let your inner artist shine this Yuletide and create your own festive paper mistletoe wreath. Expertly guided by paper artist, Beam Irwin, participants will learn how to make this evergreen wreath made from specialty Italian crepe paper and faux pearls that can decorate inside your home year after year.

Paper Christmas Flower Making Workshop
Saturday 30 November, 13.30–16.30, £50

Explore the world of paper flower making in this festive Paper Poinsettia Workshop. Also led by Beam Irwin, this beginner-friendly craft get together includes all the tools and materials needed to create these festive flowers that will add vibrant colour to any Christmas.

Porcelain Bell Making Workshop
Saturday 7 December, various time slots, £35

Create a porcelain bell decoration to hang up at Christmas or all year round. In this one-hour workshop, you will create your very own porcelain bell with guidance from Sheffield-based ceramic artist Becca Brown.

Perfect to create seasonal mementoes, participants get to decorate a porcelain bell pre-made by Becca with their own designs using underglazes. The bells will then be taken away and fired in Becca’s studio and posted out in time to take pride of place over the festive season. All materials and postage included in the cost of the workshop.

For those looking for something tasty to enjoy, YSP’s on site restaurant at The Weston and the Kitchen Café are offering festive menus, and the award-winning gift shops are brimming with new, unique product ranges in time for Christmas shopping. This includes a new range of delicious, locally produced food and drink, such as Nettle and Elderflower Gin, Salted Pistachio White Chocolate and Raspberry and Rhubarb Jam. The range features exclusive new packaging with artwork by popular Yorkshire illustrator Janine Burrows.

Come rain or shine, there is always an amazing visit to be had at YSP – whether for an hour or two, or a full day. The registered charity and museum has 500 acres of woodland walks, lakes, pathways and historical treasures to enjoy. The children’s Little Wild Wood outdoor natural play area will have a touch of Christmas sparkle added for the season, to make their visit even more magical and memorable.

Standard entry to YSP is £9.50 with discounted tickets available.
18s and under admission is free, and parking is always free.

As a special Wild Yuletide treat, Christmas shoppers and click-and-collectors can get into YSP for free after 3pm throughout December.

For opening times and the full Wild Yuletide programme visit ysp.org.uk/wild-yuletide