Evening in the Gardens: York Museum Gardens makes ‘difficult decision’ to cancel as weather conditions expected to leave lawn ‘thoroughly drenched’

The Evening in the Gardens event was set to take place this week at York Museum Gardens but due to the upcoming thunderstorm warnings they have made the ‘difficult decision’ to cancel it.

Following a successful run of Evening in the Garden at York Museum Gardens last year, the event was set to return on Friday, August 28, 2026 for another year of live music, fresh street food and summer atmosphere.

However, various parts of the region are expected to have heavy rain following the thunderstorms taking over the country later this week.

A yellow weather warning has been issued across Yorkshire for thunderstorms including York, which is expecting thunderstorms tomorrow (August 27) throughout the day.

The event was supposed to take place from 6.30pm to 9.30pm to kick off the August bank holiday weekend.

A spokesperson for York Museums Trust said: “We are sorry to inform you that we have made the difficult decision to cancel the Evening in the Gardens event on Friday 28th August 2026.

“Unfortunately, the weather forecast for the evening is very poor and is expected to leave the lawn thoroughly drenched.

“Combined with the prediction of further showers and lower temperatures on Friday evening, and with limited shelter to offer, we feel that this would significantly impact on the experience in York Museum Gardens.”

There are other events that still going ahead: Making Waves: The Art of Japanese Woodblock Print, an exhibition at the Gardens and the York Art Gallery on Saturday and Sunday, August 29 and 30, 2026.

There will also be free outdoor activities and exclusive experiences taking place including printmaking, face painting, tea tasting, sun ring making, jiu-jitsu demonstrations, Japanese harp and drumming performances and choir performances.