THE YORK BRIEF - WEEKEND WRAP UP ⏰ April 4 - 5, 2026

Happy Easter, York. The city's been buzzing this Good Friday - chocolate, queues at the petrol stations and the biggest footballing news of the season. Plenty to catch up on. Let's go.

⚽ SPORT

🏆 York City Go Top of the National League - York City are top of the National League. Stuart Maynard's side beat Boston United 1-0 at the Jakemans Community Stadium this afternoon - Ben Brookes' goal three minutes into the second half was the difference - while leaders Rochdale suffered a shock 4-2 home defeat to struggling Morecambe. It's the biggest swing of the title race yet: York climb above Rochdale on goal difference, with six games remaining. The April 25 showdown at Rochdale's Crown Oil Arena - where tickets were already selling fast after fans queued overnight - now has the feel of a genuine title decider. York Press

📰 NEWS

🗳️ York Councillors Back Call to Scrap First Past the Post - York City Council has backed a motion calling on the government to replace the first past the post voting system with proportional representation ahead of the next general election, due by 2029. Lib Dem Cllr Anne Hook moved the motion, arguing that the current system produces governments with minority support and leaves millions of votes uncounted. She noted that the UK and Belarus are the only two European countries still using single-round FPTP. Conservative Cllr Chris Steward voted against, arguing that all voting systems are flawed. The motion passed. Yorkshire Post

🎄 Christmas Market Tuesday Rest Day - Disability Campaigner Weighs In - The council's proposal to introduce a weekly Tuesday rest day for the York Christmas Market is drawing reaction from disability campaigners. Flick Williams, who has campaigned for Blue Badge access to the city centre for years, said the Tuesday measure, while welcome, did not go far enough, and called for a fuller rethink of how disabled residents are locked out of the city centre during the six-week event. The rest day proposal goes before the council executive on 14 April. Yahoo News UK | York Mix

⚡ Northern Powergrid on Standby for Storm Dave: Northern Powergrid has confirmed it is prepared for potential disruptions to electricity supplies across York and North Yorkshire tonight as Storm Dave sweeps through. The company is contacting Priority Services customers directly and urges anyone who loses power to report it at northernpowergrid.com or call the free national 105 line. Tips: turn off electrical appliances at the socket, keep one light on so you know when power returns, and use a torch rather than candles. York Press

🌿 ENVIRONMENT

♻️ Over 10,000 Responses to York's Wheelie Bin Plans: York's consultation on replacing its three-box recycling system with two large wheelie bins has already attracted more than 10,000 responses, making it one of the highest-engagement surveys the council has ever run. Lib Dem environment spokesperson Cllr Paula Widdowson said the consultation didn't allow residents to flag specific concerns, while Labour's Cllr Jenny Kent said residents could also give their views at in-person drop-in events in April. The council's proposal would see households get two 240-litre bins — one for paper and cardboard, one for glass, tins and plastic — each collected on alternating four-weekly cycles, saving an estimated £520,000 from waste services. The consultation closes 1 May at york.gov.uk/RecyclingReview. YorkMix

🏥 HEALTH

🧠 Alzheimer's Drug Trial Underway at York's Foss Park Hospital: A global clinical trial of a drug aimed at slowing the progression of early Alzheimer's disease is now underway at Foss Park Hospital on Haxby Road - one of only eight UK sites taking part in a study involving around 800 adults worldwide. Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust (TEWV) has recruited its first participant, who received their initial treatment in January. The trial runs for 72 weeks with regular MRI scans. TEWV is hoping to recruit three more participants with early memory impairment or mild Alzheimer 's-related dementia. Sarah Daniel, TEWV's head of research, said the team was "proud that York is selected as one of the sites - opening up opportunities for people with mild dementia closer to where they live." Gazette & Herald.

💼 BUSINESS

🌱 York-Area Firm SealStop Achieves Good Business Charter Accreditation: SealStop - the Pocklington-based, York-manufactured water-saving product founded by farmers Jason and Belle Richardson - has achieved Good Business Charter accreditation, joining York's growing network of ethically accredited businesses. The GBC measures organisations across ten components, including fair pay, worker wellbeing and environmental responsibility. York was the first city in the UK to sign up to the charter in 2021. York Press

🎨 ARTS & CULTURE

🔪 Traitors Stars Head to York for Sold-Out Gaming Weekend: Five stars of BBC's The Traitors are heading to York this summer as part of Demons Wake, a social deduction gaming convention returning to York St John University from 28–30 August 2026. Following a sold-out debut in 2025, this year's event will feature Jessie (Series 4), Diane and Zack (Series 2), and Wilfred and Ivan (Series 1) alongside 18 special guests, more gaming rooms, extended hours and more traders. Organisers say the 2026 edition will be "bigger and better" with improved software and a stronger focus on accessibility. YorkMix

🎵 CBeebies House Party Live Coming to York Barbican in August: CBeebies House Party Live - the BBC children's channel's new UK touring stage show - is heading to York Barbican on 26 August 2026. The show promises music, laughter and family-friendly entertainment from familiar CBeebies faces. It's part of a national tour also hitting Hull, Derby and Salford. Tickets go on sale soon at yorkbarbican.co.uk. York Press

🎭 WHAT'S ON THIS EASTER WEEKEND

TODAY - Saturday 4 April

🍫 York Chocolate Festival - Final Full Day Parliament Street & venues across the city, 10 am – 5 pm. Free entry. Running since Wednesday, today is the last full day before the final Sunday session. Artisan chocolate market, the Chocolate Taste Trail (self-guided, booklet from Parliament Street), live demonstrations, and hands-on workshops at York Cocoa Works. Arrive this morning before Storm Dave rolls in this evening. Visit York

🐎 Lord Grimthorpe's Gold Cup - Middleton Hunt Point-to-Point, Sheriff Hutton. One of British point-to-point racing's four classic races takes place today at Mick Easterby's course at Sheriff Hutton, ~9 miles north of York. The historic Gold Cup - run over four miles, sponsored by Lord Grimthorpe and the Beckett family - is the headline race. Great family day out for racing fans, though get there early before the wind picks up this evening. York Press

🥚 York Easter Egg Sculpture Trail - City Centre - A free family trail running across the city centre until 12 April. Hunt for 15 decorated eggs hidden among York's independent businesses, pick up a map from Visit York on Parliament Street, York Central Library, or download it online. Great way to explore the city with children. yorkfoodfestival.com

🪄 Wizard Walk of York - Daily, Best Tour of York 2024 winner. A theatrical guided walk through the city's history and legends. Ideal for families and visitors. Visit York

🥚 The Great Yorkshire Egg Hunt - Running 3–6 April. Family-friendly egg hunt across York. Visit York

🥚 Eggsplore - Free Ceramic Sculpture Trail - 28 March - 12 April. Two free trails around York city centre and Haxby, hunting for handcrafted ceramic sculptures placed in independent businesses. Dog friendly, no tickets needed. Details.

🏰 The Summoning - York Dungeon - Running 28 March–4 May. New show for 2026 at the York Dungeon. Family-friendly thrills. Tickets

🍫 Tour & Mini Easter Egg Truffle Rolling - York's Chocolate Story — Running 28 March–12 April. Guided tour plus hands-on truffle rolling workshop at York's Chocolate Story. Details.

TOMORROW - Sunday 5 April (Easter Sunday

🍫 York Chocolate Festival — FINAL DAY — Parliament Street, 10am–5pm, free. Last chance for the chocolate market, Taste Trail and workshops before they pack up for another year. Storm Dave clears Sunday morning so should be fine. visityork.org/easter

⛪ Easter Sunday at York Minster - York Minster is given entirely to prayer and worship on Easter Sunday - no sightseeing. All are warmly welcome. Services: Holy Communion (BCP) 8am, Choral Matins 10am, and the Festal Eucharist at 11am with the Archbishop of York preaching. A genuinely moving way to spend Easter morning in one of Europe's great cathedrals, and it's free. York Minster