What's on
in the dale

A traditional one-day country show in the grounds of Ripley Castle, with horticulture, handicrafts, baking, children's classes, trade stands and countryside displays. A friendly community day out in a picturesque estate setting.

Knaresborough's Festival of Visual Arts and Entertainment - ten days of music, art and spoken word filling the town's pubs, parks and public spaces.

The touring company The Lord Chamberlain's Men bring open-air Shakespeare to Newby Hall's West Lawn. Bring a picnic and a chair for an atmospheric evening of Elizabethan-style theatre in the gardens.

A competitive fireworks championship in the grounds of Newby Hall near Ripon, with three teams each staging a choreographed display set to music and the audience voting for a winner.

A three-day festival at the Masham brewery with beer, food, live sport screenings and brewery tours, run alongside the Long Course Weekend Yorkshire.

An antiques, vintage and architectural salvage fair in the grounds of Ripley Castle, run by Arthur Swallow Fairs over a long weekend - one of two editions held each year, spring and autumn.

One of the country's premier horticultural events, now staged in the grounds of Newby Hall near Ripon. Giant vegetable competitions, floral marquees, specialist nurseries and celebrity gardening talks over three days.

One of the region's longest-running folk festivals, filling Otley's parish church, common and intimate pub venues with music across a weekend. The programme spans concerts, sessions, ceilidhs and singarounds.

Known locally as 'Pateley Show', this traditional Dales show traces its roots back to 1319 and has grown into one of Yorkshire's foremost county shows, regularly drawing crowds of 15,000-17,000. Expect food and craft stalls, local produce, trade stands and family entertainment at Bewerley Park, marking the traditional end of the show season.

The flagship gala of the NYMR calendar, with visiting steam locomotives from across the country joining the home fleet for a packed timetable of services through the moors.

One of the largest yarn and woolly-craft festivals in the north of England, welcoming knitters, crocheters and textile crafters from around the world. Expect hundreds of stalls, workshops and creative displays.

A charity weekend filling one of England's finest market squares with a craft market, fleece and wool stalls, the Bishop Blaize procession, Morris dancers, hand-bell ringers, an art exhibition and brewery tours. A quirky, community-spirited celebration of the area's wool heritage.

The north of England's longest-running literature festival, with more than two weeks of author talks, interviews, panels and workshops across venues in the spa town of Ilkley.

The world's foremost Beatles tribute band play Harrogate's Grade II* listed Edwardian Royal Hall - one of a strong run of autumn concerts and tribute nights at the 950-seat venue.

The third main production of the Dramatic Society's year, staged in the autumn at the Playhouse. Tickets are £12 adults, £7 children. The Playhouse seats around 100 and sells out quickly - book ahead.

A specialist autumn show of alpine and rock-garden plants staged within RHS Garden Harlow Carr, running from late morning through the afternoon. A treat for keen gardeners visiting the flagship northern RHS garden.

A four-day celebration of puppetry, storytelling and creativity for all ages, with ticketed shows plus many free performances around the town and its outdoor amphitheatre.

A second burst of dark-sky events in autumn when the nights draw in and Nidderdale's skies come alive. Guided stargazing, astrophotography sessions and evening moorland walks across the dale. Lime Tree Observatory runs public evenings throughout.

One of Yorkshire's finest off-road challenges. Runners tackle the 55-mile Nidderdale Way circuit, passing Brimham Rocks, Scar House Reservoir and How Stean Gorge. Shorter distances (32 mi, 20 mi, half marathon) also available. Registration and finish at Pateley Bridge Cricket Club.

The National Trust illuminates the abbey ruins after dark for guided twilight tours, live choral performances in the cellarium and a street food market - bring a torch for the walk in. The National Trust has not yet confirmed exact 2026 dates; in 2025 the event ran across the October half-term weekends (25, 26 and 31 Oct, 1 Nov), so expect a similar pattern bracketing half term (26-30 Oct 2026). Pre-booking is required even for members.

A hands-on family half-term activity at the dramatic Brimham Rocks, where budding witches and wizards make a traditional besom broom from birch felled during ranger conservation work. Recommended for ages 7+, booking advised.

Harrogate's autumn comedy season brings stand-up and tribute nights to the Royal Hall and Harrogate Theatre through late October. A lively run of evening entertainment as the nights draw in.

A free community bonfire night near the Showground, organised by Upper Nidderdale Scout Group with the Nidderdale Agricultural Society's permission. Torchlit procession and bonfire from 6.30pm, fireworks at 7pm, plus a 'best guy' competition and food and drink stalls. Donations welcome.

An annual remembrance service and parade led by Church in the Dales at the Cenotaph, with a march from Bewerley Recreation Park to the Memorial Hall on Park Road. Cadets from Harrogate Army Foundation College usually take part alongside the local community.

A long-running Christmas market through York city centre around the Minster and the Shambles, with over a hundred alpine-style chalets selling food, drink and gifts. In 2026 it runs from 12 November to 21 December.

A festive food and gift fair within the magnificent surroundings of Ripon Cathedral, with artisan stalls of seasonal produce, crafts and gift ideas to launch the Christmas season.

A ticketed winter light trail through RHS Garden Harlow Carr in Harrogate, celebrating its 10th anniversary in 2026 with illuminated scenes across Streamside, the Queen Mother's Lake, the Winter Walk and Kitchen Garden. Mince pies and hot drinks from Bettys; selected evenings from 26 November to 30 December.

An indoor festive shopping fair with around 180 stalls of gifts, decorations, food, fashion and stocking fillers, plus a food hall, champagne bar and licensed restaurants. A one-stop Christmas shopping day out.

A festive family walking trail through beautiful Strid Wood, following clues connected to the 'Twelve Days of Christmas' carol. Entry is included in the estate car-parking price, with the Cavendish Pavilion open for warming food and drink.

The cobbled square of this pretty Wharfedale village hosts a festive market across two Saturdays, continuing a tradition that grew from the former Dickensian Festival. Expect stalls, seasonal food and a decorated village atmosphere.

Festive wooden chalets fill Ripon's historic Market Place across multiple weekends and the run-up to Christmas, offering handmade gifts, art, jewellery and Christmas street food.

Three days of festive magic in Pateley Bridge each December. The weekend kicks off on Friday evening with the lantern parade up the High Street, followed by two days of artisan markets at Pateley Makers Yard, live music, a Christmas Tree Festival, family craft workshops at Thread, and the Nidderdale Museum open with free entry.

Family festive steam-train rides where passengers meet Santa and his elves, receive a gift and enjoy decorated carriages, with options from Classic to First and Premium compartments. Trips sell out quickly, so advance booking is essential.

A festive woodland experience in Strid Wood where Father Christmas' helpers lead bushcraft-style activities - fire lighting, roasting cocoa beans and clay candle making - before a private visit to Santa in his log cabin. Booking required.

A festive market through Knaresborough's historic streets, with stalls, food, drink and entertainment - a good pairing with the Nidderdale Christmas Festival if you fancy a two-town festive weekend.

Shopkeepers and stallholders don period costume and local schoolchildren sing carols in Victorian dress as Otley's market town centre steps back in time for its annual festive fayre.

The estate village of Ripley hosts its traditional community Christmas fair along the High Street and Green, with craft and gift stalls, festive refreshments and seasonal entertainment in a chocolate-box setting beside Ripley Castle.

Festive markets line Skipton's broad historic High Street on two December Sundays, with seasonal food, gifts and local produce beneath the castle and parish church.

A festive trail through the abbey and water garden, with last year's edition (2025/26) featuring a Toymaker's Trail from 20 December to 4 January and Music and Lights in the Abbey every weekend afternoon from late November to late December. The National Trust has not yet published exact 2026/27 dates - check nearer the time.

A Knaresborough institution since 1966: around 90 teams of six runners push and carry decorated beds over a 2.4-mile course through the town and Nidd Gorge, finishing with a swim across the River Nidd. Organised by Knaresborough Lions and raising money for local causes - 2026 marked its 60th running.

Regular weekend artisan markets at Pateley Makers Yard and King Street Art Workshops bring together independent makers, bakers and crafters from across Yorkshire. Check local listings for upcoming dates.

Ripon's historic charter market has run since the 11th century and still fills the Market Place every Thursday from 7.30am to 3pm (a smaller Saturday market sells fruit, flowers and other local produce). At 11am the Ripon Hornblower ceremonially opens trading - a tradition stretching back nearly 700 years.

The spring counterpart to the Autumn Flower Show, held each April at the Great Yorkshire Events Centre - giant marquees of plants, show gardens and gardening advice to kick off the growing season. The 2026 show ran 23-26 April; 2027 dates have not yet been announced.

The deer rut runs through October and November at Studley Royal, with red, sika and fallow deer roaring and sparring across the park. National Trust wildlife volunteers run guided walks to spot the deer safely - visitors are asked to keep 50m back and dogs on a short lead during this period.

One of the UK's leading literary festivals, run each October by Harrogate International Festivals - author talks, panel discussions and book signings across venues in the town. 2025 ran 9-19 October; 2026 dates not yet confirmed.

Around 50 wooden chalets fill Cambridge Street and the Montpellier Quarter each December with festive food, drink, gifts and entertainment. 2025 ran 5-14 December; 2026 dates not yet confirmed.

A free food and drink festival with street food, local producers, live cookery demonstrations and family entertainment - split across two dates each year, on The Stray in June and at Ripley Castle in August, run in partnership with the charity Mind.

30+ cask ales from Yorkshire breweries on site at Black Sheep Brewery in Masham over a long weekend, alongside food stalls and live music. 2026 ran 28-30 April; exact 2027 dates not yet confirmed.

A weekend of heritage diesel locomotives in action along the line between Pickering and Whitby, with visiting engines from other railways. 2026 ran 11-14 June; exact 2027 dates not yet confirmed.

A themed Christmas train experience through the North York Moors, with a visit from Santa on board. Runs through December each year; exact 2026 dates not yet published.

A licensed, theatrical recreation of the Polar Express story aboard the Wensleydale Railway each December, with hot chocolate, cookies and a visit from Santa - now in its seventh year.

A season-long exhibition of contemporary sculpture set throughout the Himalayan Garden & Sculpture Park near Ripon, with dozens of new works added each year for the open season.

An illuminated trail through the gardens with a different theme each year, plus seasonal decoration inside the house. Runs from November into the new year; exact 2026/27 dates and theme not yet published.

A family-friendly Roman reenactment festival across York's Yorkshire Museum, Museum Gardens and partner venues, with a free Living History Encampment as the centrepiece. 2026 ran 16-31 May with the encampment on 23-24 May; 2027 dates not yet published.

A festival of medieval music staged in and around Bolton Abbey, with concerts exploring early music in one of the most atmospheric settings in the Dales. Exact dates vary year to year.

A themed Halloween trail through the Forbidden Corner near Leyburn, with seasonal decorations and a live-actor scare trail through the maze of follies and tunnels. Runs through October; exact 2026 dates not yet published.

A Halloween-themed event at Lightwater Valley with a scare maze, trick-or-treat trail and a dragon show, running through the October half term. Exact 2026 dates not yet published.

A family Halloween trail through the grounds of Kiplin Hall near Richmond over October half term. Exact 2026 dates not yet published.

A recurring season of classical and chamber concerts at Aysgarth Church, right by Aysgarth Falls, running from May to September each year.

Set within the Yorkshire Dales International Dark Sky Reserve, Stump Cross Caverns runs family 'Cosmic Adventures' and evening stargazing sessions exploring both the show caves below and the exceptionally dark skies above. Check listings for dates.