THE YORK BRIEF - WEEKEND WRAP UP ⏰ December 12-13, 2025
✨ GOOD MORNING, YORK
The city’s buzzing with everything from fake council ads to heroic railway safeguarding, Christmas fairs, £50k for premature babies — and a dog incident that had armed police shutting down a street.
But in typical York fashion, there’s just as much heart as there is havoc: neonatals getting a huge funding boost, festive runners gearing up for Chase the Pud, and another weekend packed with events.
Let’s get you caught up before the city fully wakes.
Saturday: showers expected early, easing to scattered clouds by midday. High around 8 °C, dipping to 4-5 °C overnight.
Sunday: mostly cloudy, chance of light rain late afternoon. High near 7 °C, low around 3 °C.
🏛️ LOCAL GOVERNMENT
⚠️Fake Council Ads Raise Alarm - Council leader Claire Douglas has condemned sophisticated fake adverts that have appeared online using City of York Council branding. The fabricated posts promote fictitious schemes including “volunteer flag removers” and asylum seeker support programmes, though none explicitly reference the upcoming Heworth by-election. Douglas warned the false information is becoming increasingly sophisticated and urged residents to verify content through official council channels only. YorkMix
💉NHS Health Checks Programme Gets Boost - York Council has recommissioned its NHS Health Checks programme for residents aged 40-74, reaffirming commitment to preventing cardiovascular disease and reducing health inequalities. The free checks identify early signs of heart disease, stroke, diabetes and dementia. With CVD being a leading cause of premature death in York - and those in deprived areas almost twice as likely to die from it - the council will begin procurement for a new provider to deliver services from April 2026. City of York Council
“This programme is a cornerstone of our prevention strategy. By targeting those most at risk and expanding investment, we can make a real difference in reducing health inequalities and improving quality of life for thousands of residents.”
🚨 CRIME & SAFETY
🐕Armed Police Destroy Dangerous Dog - Firearms officers shot and killed an aggressive Alsatian-type dog in the Bellhouse Way area yesterday afternoon after it bit a member of the public, causing deep lacerations, and chased a delivery driver. Police closed the road while searching for the dog, which was found on a driveway in an agitated state. A man in his 50s has been arrested on suspicion of owning a dangerous dog out of control causing injury. North Yorkshire Police
🏥 HEALTH & RESEARCH
👶£50k Boost for Premature Babies - York Hospital’s Neonatal Unit will receive over £50,000 raised through £2 donations from new parents at York Register Office over the past 13 years. The funds will support specialist training and equipment for the unit, which cares for around 375 premature babies annually. The money contributes to the hospital trust’s Tiny Lives Appeal, which aims to raise £100,000 for a £2 million unit refurbishment. Gazette & Herald
🚄 TRANSPORT
🎛️Rail Control Room Prepares for Major Timetable Change - York’s Rail Operating Centre is gearing up for the biggest uplift in East Coast Main Line services in over a decade, launching 14 December. The ROC, where LNER staff work alongside Northern, TransPennine Express and Network Rail teams, has been running simulations for years in preparation. The new timetable will introduce nearly 10,000 additional LNER services per year and over 60,000 extra seats weekly on the route. RailAdvent
🔍LNER Staff Locate 120 Missing People - Over the past year, LNER colleagues have located more than 120 missing people and helped over 500 individuals access support services through reports to British Transport Police. The safeguarding work has earned LNER its third consecutive ‘Safeguarding on Rail Scheme’ accreditation from BTP, achieving a 92% score following intensive staff training to identify vulnerability on the railway network. Northumberland Gazette
🚂Flying Scotsman’s Festive York Stop - The world’s most famous steam locomotive will pass through York on Sunday 14 December as part of a Christmas markets excursion from London to Newcastle. Flying Scotsman takes over from a diesel locomotive at York station for the onward journey, giving passengers a chance to travel behind the iconic engine on the East Coast Main Line before it returns them to York for the homeward leg. UK Railtours
🎭 ENTERTAINMENT & EVENTS
💪Britain’s Strongest Woman Coming to Barbican - York Barbican will host Britain’s Strongest Woman competition on Saturday 25 July 2026, followed by England’s Strongest Man on Sunday 26 July. The Giants Live series events will showcase top athletes including defending champion Lucy Underdown competing for the British title. Tickets are expected to sell fast for what organisers describe as “raw power and unbreakable spirit” on display. York Barbican
🎤Alan Carr Announces York Shows - Comedy favourite Alan Carr will perform at York Barbican on 13 March 2027 with both a matinee and evening show as part of his ‘Have I Said Too Much?’ tour. Tickets go on sale today (Friday) at 11am. The comedian and TV host is bringing his trademark mix of storytelling, big laughs and mischief to venues across the UK. YO1 Radio
☕ COMMUNITY
☕Last Chance to Vote for Best Coffee Shop - Today marks the final day for readers to vote in The Press ‘Best Coffee Shop 2025’ competition. Ten finalists - including Bruberrie, Castle Tea Rooms, Pig and Pastry, and Gatehouse Coffee at Walmgate Bar - have been featured in the newspaper throughout the contest. Last year’s winner was Chocolate and Co in The Groves. Pick up today’s Press to cast your vote before the deadline. York Press
🎅Festive Runners to Chase the Pud - Over 250 runners will descend on York Knavesmire on Sunday for the annual Chase the Pud fundraiser for the British Heart Foundation. Participants in Santa suits can choose from a 10km timed race, 5km traditional run, or 3km fun run chasing a Mince Pie. The Lord Mayor will launch the 3km event. Registration opens 9am with races starting 10:30am. Last year raised £3,000 despite a storm. Gazette & Herald
⚽ SPORT
⚽Maynard Welcomes Free Weekend - York City manager Stuart Maynard says the postponement of Saturday’s match at Sutton United has come at the right time, with illness affecting his squad ahead of the festive fixture pile-up. The Minstermen won’t play league football for another 15 days, giving the team crucial recovery time. Despite winning their last six matches, Maynard insists there’s “so much more improvement” to come from his players. York Press
👥Foundation Launches Masculinity Programme - York City Foundation has launched a pioneering ‘Positive Masculinity’ programme for Year 5 and Year 6 boys in York primary schools. Funded by the National League Trust, the initiative will be offered free to ten schools, promoting healthy debate about modern masculinity and helping students find positive male role models. The programme explores misogyny, identity, stereotypes, and mental health in today’s world. York City FC
🎭WHAT’S ON THIS WEEKEND IN YORK?
SATURDAY 6 DECEMBER
💡 Acomb Christmas Light Switch On - Live festive entertainment on Front Street between 2-4pm. Meet fairy and princesses, watch carols from local choirs and special performances. Sponsored by Energise Leisure Centre Acomb. YorkMix
🩰 The Nutcracker - Magical performance in York Minster’s spectacular Nave featuring beautiful handmade puppets, spectacular organ music, imaginative storytelling and Christmas magic. 7pm. YorkMix
🎨 Cycle Heaven Christmas Makers Fair - Around 20 stall holders including textiles, ceramics, jewellery, soap makers, weavers, printmakers, stained glass. Cyclist café providing festive foods, choir performing. Free event. 31 Hospital Fields Rd, Fulford, 10am-4pm. YorkMix
🎄 Holy Redeemer’s Annual Christmas Tree Festival - Festive café, Christmas gifts craft fair, visit Santa, Elves’ Workshop, grand raffle. The Church of the Holy Redeemer, 108 Boroughbridge Road, 12-4pm. YorkMix
🎅 York Manor Care Home Christmas Fair - Afternoon filled with holiday spirit and fun for friends and family. York Manor Care Home, Blue Beck Drive, Rawcliffe, 2-5pm. YorkMix
🎭 Peter Pan - Pantomime adventures to Neverland with silly jokes, sillier slapstick, song, dance, song sheet and audience participation. Joseph Rowntree Theatre, Haxby Road. Various times. YorkMix
👗 Cinderella - York’s most magical festive tradition starring Lisa George (Coronation Street) as Fairy Godmother, with West End stars. York’s biggest Christmas show. Grand Opera House, Cumberland Street. Various times. YorkMix
🎺 Flatcap Carnival + Borgia - York’s first and only bongo-bashing, trumpet-tooting Skanival band with Latin flavour inspired by The Cat Empire and Fat Freddy’s Drop. The Crescent, 8 The Crescent, 7:30pm. YorkMix
🎸 Utterly Fuzzled Gaza Gig - All proceeds to Medical Aid for Palestinians. Mixture of post-punk angst, experimental sax/electronics and melodic guitar-based songs. Fulfordgate Club, 6pm. YorkMix
SUNDAY 7 DECEMBER
🚜 Alne Tinsel Tractor Run - Amazing Christmas spectacle with approx 90 tractors all lit up setting off from Alne at 4pm. YorkMix roadshow in Market Place Easingwold 4-6pm. Route through Tollerton, Newton-on-Ouse, Linton-on-Ouse and more villages. Raising funds for Lucy’s Legacy Charity and Farm Safety Foundation. YorkMix
🎅 Chase the Pud - Dress up as Santa and race around the Knavesmire trying to catch a Christmas Pudding for British Heart Foundation. Free Santa suit included. 10k chip-timed race or 3k untimed walk/jog/run. York Knavesmire, 10:30am. YorkMix
🎄 Wilberfoss Community Centre Christmas Fair - Browse local arts and crafts, cards and gifts, clothes and jewellery, homeware and ceramics with festive refreshments. Wilberfoss Community Centre, Main Street, 10am-3pm. YorkMix
Another full-on York Friday: a mix of serious warnings, big wins for local health services, festive chaos incoming, and a packed weekend of events ready to pull the city into Christmas mode.
Thanks for reading - see you tomorrow for Saturday’s edition. York never slows down, and neither do we.
