Stonemasons and carvers from across the UK and Europe showcase their skills during a weekend- long celebration of the ancient craft

An international Stone Carving Festival, celebrating the ancient craft and showcasing the skills of stonemasons and carvers from across the UK and Europe, will take place in Dean’s Park this summer.

The festival will see the park transformed into a tented village with the Mason’s Marquee forming the centre-piece and hub for expert craftspeople to carve designs based on the theme ‘All creatures great and small’.

Festival-goers will be able to see world-class stonemasons and carvers at work, try their hand at stone carving and enjoy food and drink supplied by some of York’s finest producers. Music will be provided by York’s community of buskers and a range of craft based activities will also be available for children and families.

The event will close on Sunday 19 August with a stone auction at 3.30pm, giving visitors the chance to bid for some of the newly carved stone. Funds raised from the auction will be reinvested in caring for the cathedral.

The festival runs from 8am to 6pm on Saturday 18 August and from 8am to 5pm on Sunday 19 August.

The York Minster Stone Carving Festival runs for four days and includes a Stoneyard Open Day on Friday 17 August.