May through September is the best time to visit Yaroslavl. The Volga riverbank and parks are at their best in June and July, the church museums are all open, and the days are long. July can be warm and humid. Spring brings mud but also freshness — by late May the riverbanks are green and pleasant.
Winter (November to March) is authentic Golden Ring travel — churches draped in snow, the Volga occasionally iced over — but many of the outdoor attractions lose their appeal and the Church of Elijah the Prophet closes to protect the frescoes. Temperatures regularly drop to -15°C or below.
The Yaroslavl International Film Festival (in September in odd years) is Russia's oldest film festival, established in 1991. The city fills with Russian film industry figures and the screenings are open to the public.