Festive Donkey Trail

The Festive Donkey Trail runs across Scarborough's museums and galleries from 2 December to 31 December 2026, so it's on for nearly the whole month. It's a Christmas trail that takes you through the Rotunda Museum, Scarborough Art Gallery and Woodend Gallery, with the goal of finding a hidden donkey and collecting letters along the way.

Because it's spread across three different sites, it's not something you'll knock out in twenty minutes. You'll need to visit each one to gather the letters, which means you'll be walking between the Rotunda, the Art Gallery and Woodend. If you've got kids with you, it's a decent excuse to get them out of the house and moving during the December break, and it gives you a reason to see all three spaces in one go rather than just popping into one.

It runs during opening hours, so you can fit it in whenever suits you best throughout the month. You don't have to do it all in one day, either; you can spread the visits across a few different trips if that's easier. The trail itself is free, though admission charges may apply for the venues, so keep that in mind if you're planning a full day of it. It's a simple enough setup: find the donkey, collect the letters, and you're done. If you're looking for a low-pressure way to spend a few hours in town this December, it's a good one to keep on your radar.