You can also view the video on YouTube at http://youtu.be/yTakAV6OJ-0

9 July 2012 marks the 800th anniversary of York becoming a self-governing city. In 1212 King John signed a charter allowing York’s citizens, rather than the sheriff, to collect and pay the annual tax to the Crown, to hold their own courts and to appoint a mayor.

York is marking the anniversary with York 800, a year-long programme of events for residents, visitors, and businesses alike.

Highlights include:

• the legendary York Cycle of Mystery Plays in August, performed outdoors in the Museum Gardens for the first time since the 1980s
• a special weekend of events in July to mark the exact anniversary of the granting of the Charter on 9 July 1212, including the climax of the Choral Ebor Vox project
• the creation of a new Youth Charter for the city
• York Stories, when residents will be able to record their own personal stories about the city for posterity
• a Medieval Summer of events
• a specially commissioned Big City Read, featuring a medieval murder mystery set in The Minster, by Susanna Gregory
• the York Science and Innovation Grand Tour 2012, showcasing York's innovative past, present and future
• the Festival of Ideas and Innovation, on the theme of Metamorphosis and Transformation
• a community New Year's Eve at the close of the year.

The first weekend in July - Charter Weekend - will include the opening of the 2012 Festival of the Rivers. A flotilla of hundreds of boats will progress along the River Ouse, and dozens of York choirs and other singers will come together as the climax of the Ebor Vox project to perform a specially commissioned work around the city by Benjamin Till, composer of the Symphony for Yorkshire.

In addition, other major events will be taking place in the city, including the return of Railfest to the National Railway Museum, celebrating York's links to the railways over the centuries; the Olympic torch coming to York; a Chocolate Festival in the spring, when the city will celebrate its historic links to another of its major industries; and Illuminating York 2012, with a special theme.

Residents will also be able to celebrate the Queen's Diamond Jubilee, and enjoy a whole series of events at the Minster, as well as visiting a brand new medieval gallery at the Yorkshire Museum.

Details of the programme can be found on www.york800.com, and will be updated regularly.

York 800 is being co-ordinated by York@Large, York's cultural partnership.

York@Large would really like to hear from residents, businesses or any groups who would still like to suggest and arrange an event for the programme, whether sport, a quiz , a street party- or anything that can be related to York 800! Please email York800@york.gov.uk with your ideas.