York residents can shape rivers trail events this October

Beehive Features Desk 2026-09-14 10:51 3 min read

A riverside scene with a tall metal watchtower and red flags on the banks.

York’s rivers will be the focus of walks, creative workshops and exhibitions across the city throughout October, as the York Rivers Trail opens its autumn programme.

The programme runs from 1 to 31 October 2026 at locations including Homestead Park, Rowntree Park, York Hospital, Foss Park Hospital and City Screen Picturehouse. Some events require advance booking through the York Rivers Trail website; no prices or individual event times have been published in the programme overview.

Created by City of York Council, the trail invites residents and visitors to explore how water, nature, heritage and daily life meet across the city. It follows a summer launch that generated more than 750 digital conversations and reached more than 6,000 people through family-focused channels.

Walks and workshops follow York’s waterways

The autumn events form part of York Walking Festival, York Environment Festival and the York 50+ Festival. They are designed for people who want to explore the city’s rivers on foot, discuss local environmental action or use creative activities to consider their future.

One guided session, York rivers trail: Stories, nature and resilience along the river, gives participants the chance to explore the route and share ideas for its future development. Another guided walk, York rivers trail: Following the Foss, looks at the River Foss and its place in York’s past, present and future.

Young people aged 13 and over can take part in two creative sessions. The rivers and us: future voices uses storytelling and performance to explore rivers, climate resilience, nature and community, while The rivers and us: future frames is an animation workshop focused on environmental themes and the future of York’s rivers.

Practical ideas for healthier rivers

The programme also includes Water and us: simple actions for healthier rivers, an interactive discussion on actions people can take at home and in their neighbourhoods. Topics include planting, rain gardens, water butts, depaving and sustainable drainage, linked to river health, water quality, biodiversity and climate resilience.

The session reflects the wider York Environment Festival theme of future generations and positive action. The trail’s focus is not limited to the riverside: it connects upstream landscapes, neighbourhood choices and the route water takes through York.

Exhibitions bring community stories indoors

The rivers and us exhibition will be on display at City Screen Picturehouse throughout October. Further exhibitions will be held at Homestead Park, Rowntree Park, York Hospital and Foss Park Hospital.

Photography, stories and creative responses developed with communities across York will explore the relationship between people, rivers, nature and place. The wider trail can be explored at any time through locations including Homestead Park, Leeman Park, Museum Gardens, North Street Gardens, Tower Gardens and Rowntree Park.

Booking details for the October programme

Individual workshop dates and start times are not listed in the programme overview. Anyone planning to attend a specific activity should check the York Rivers Trail information and book places where required at www.york.gov.uk/YorkRiversTrail.

Source: City of York Council

Context & actions About this article

Source check Source check

Event dates, locations, activities and booking information were checked against the council’s published York Rivers Trail update.

Checks

Confirmed the programme runs throughout October 2026.
Confirmed City Screen Picturehouse and the listed park and hospital exhibition venues.
Confirmed that selected events require booking.
Kept individual event times and prices unspecified because they were not published.

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