York BID is inviting families to enjoy a spectacular free city-centre experience this spring as a giant inflatable octopus arrives for the latest Family Friendly Saturday event.
Appearing on Saturday 28th March 2026 at 2pm, 4pm and 6pm, the giant octopus puppet is set to captivate crowds in York City Centre. Towering above onlookers, the friendly character features eight fully articulated tentacles and is brought to life by a skilled puppeteer, creating a striking spectacle and memorable photo opportunity for all ages.
The event will take place at King’s Staith and surrounding area. If King’s Staith is inaccessible due to high river levels, performances will move to the Eye of York – the open space in front of York Castle Museum and Clifford’s Tower.
The Giant Inflatable Octopus is York BID’s seventh Family Friendly Saturday, following six successful 2025 events that attracted thousands of families into the city centre for free early-evening experiences.
Carl Alsop, Operations Manager at York BID, said: “Our Family Friendly Saturdays have been a fantastic way to bring playful, memorable experiences into York’s public spaces. The Giant Inflatable Octopus will be a truly eye-catching spectacle, giving families another great reason to spend time in the city centre together.”
York BID is committed to creating vibrant, welcoming experiences in the city centre for residents and visitors. Family Friendly Saturdays form a key part of this programme, transforming familiar public spaces with large-scale installations and performances.
Don’t miss this chance to encounter the giant octopus in York this March!
About York BID
The York BID (Business Improvement District) provides support to businesses in the city. Key focus areas are: enhancing the city centre environment and ensuring it is a welcoming place to visit, enhancing the city’sprogramme of events for all who live, visit, study and work in York, and supporting projects that invest in the development and promotion of the BID area and businesses.
York is proudly a Purple Flag city:
Purple Flag is an international accreditation process from the Association of Town and City Management (ATCM). It is similar to the Blue Flag award for beaches and leads to Purple Flag status for town or city centres that meet or surpass the standards of excellence in managing the evening and night-time economy. This includes a comprehensive set of standards, management processes, and good practice examples designed to help transform town and city centres in the early evening and at night.
Purple Flag status is administered by York BID and strengthened through BID projects such as Colour & Light, Taxi Marshals, Street Rangers, and Street Cleansing, that help make York a safe and welcoming destination for all.
Learn more about the York’s Purple Flag accreditation on the dedicated web page: https://www.theyorkbid.com/purple-flag-city
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