Families in York will have the chance to see a life-sized animatronic elephant roaming the city centre on Saturday 6 June 2026. The almost two-metre-tall, 1.3-metre-wide puppet, known as Jumbo the Elephant, will be performing at the clock on Coney Street with scheduled appearances at 2pm, 4pm, and 6pm.
The free event is being organised by York BID, a not-for-profit, business-led partnership funded by levy payments from city centre businesses, that works to improve the city centre and support local businesses. The appearance of the puppet is part of an ongoing programme designed to bring more visitors to the city and bring life to local shopping streets.
The animatronic character, provided by Valerian Entertainment, features realistic movements including blinking eyes, flapping ears, and a moving mouth, accompanied by authentic elephant noises. Organisers are encouraging families to attend for a unique photo opportunity.
The event follows a successful vote in October 2025, where 91.4% of levy-paying businesses backed the renewal of the BID for a third term. This partnership, which has been active since 2016 and is funded by city centre businesses, aims to keep the shopping areas vibrant and welcoming for residents and visitors alike.
Coney Street, where the performance will take place, is the city’s primary shopping thoroughfare and has served as a central hub for the community since Roman times.
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