THOUSANDS of people are set to descend on a York garden as it is overtaken by ghosts.
Ghosts After Dark, a popular annual event which aims to tell the story of York through 70 illuminated ghost sculptures, has returned to Museum Gardens.
It will run for a total of five nights, starting yesterday (November 4) and running nightly until Sunday (November 8).
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The event brings together all of the sculptures from the York BID’s Ghosts in the Gardens trail in one atmospheric setting, with 7,000 tickets already sold.
Carl Alsop from York BID said: "There’s something really special about experiencing York Museum Gardens after dark and this year, visitors will have more to discover than ever.
"We’ve taken everything people loved about the first Ghosts After Dark and made it bigger.
"We were really pleased with how 2024 went - there's a bit of a shoulder period between Halloween and Christmas, so we wanted to put something on that gets local people into the city."
This year’s edition - which is a collaboration between York BID and York Museums Trust - has expanded beyond Museum Gardens into additional historic locations, including King’s Manor courtyard and Library Lawn.
The route also takes in the Anglian Tower, Edible Wood, Artists’ Garden, St Olave’s Churchyard, and the area beside York Art Gallery.
It also features a cast of six storytellers who will help visitors relive tales of old.
For the first time, Ghosts after Dark also features the night market - which includes seven different stalls from local businesses, including Horrifically Good Books.
There are also three other shops dotted around the event from makers such as the York Ghost Merchants, who created a limited edition ghost for the event.
Carl added: "We want people to make an evening of it – explore the ghosts, visit the night market and enjoy the city’s shops, restaurants, cafés and bars while they’re here.
"This event specifically supports the evening economy, but if there's a chance to support the daytime economy as well too then that's something we want to do.
"It’s a school night, but it’s early enough for families now that it's dark in the evenings. It’s just a nice way of bringing people into the city."
Jocelyn Palmer, senior events manager at York Museums Trust, said: "We are delighted to be working with York BID to bring back Ghosts After Dark to York Museums Gardens.
"The ghosts are a well-loved part of the city’s autumnal calendar, and we’re delighted to be hosting them all together again for this series of evening events."
The experience is designed to last around 90 minutes, with entry slots available until 8pm.
Tickets are priced at £10 for adults and £2 for children, and can be booked through the York BID website.
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