Past events

A late-medieval living history weekend at Skipton Castle with archery, combat displays, a sword school and medieval dancing, recreating the household of Lord and Lady Clifford. Other reenactment groups run similar themed weekends through the summer.

📍 Skipton Castle

The UK's leading crime writing festival, held at the Old Swan Hotel in Harrogate with 140+ authors over four days - panels, interviews and book signings curated by a different author each year.

📍 Old Swan Hotel, Harrogate

Billed as the North's biggest one-day classic car show, with vintage and classic vehicles filling the grounds of Newby Hall alongside the gardens and adventure gardens.

📍 Newby Hall, Ripon

The second of the Dramatic Society's annual productions, typically staged in the summer months at the Playhouse. Productions have included everything from Agatha Christie to contemporary drama and light comedy.

📍 Pateley Bridge Playhouse, King Street

A traditional village gala day in Ingleton with a parade, sports day and stalls, plus the Ingleborough Mountain Race as part of the programme - a good pairing with a visit to Ingleton Waterfalls or Ingleborough Cave.

📍 Ingleton village

The 167th Great Yorkshire Show brings the best of Yorkshire to Harrogate over four days - food halls, machinery and technology displays, shopping and entertainment. Visitor numbers are capped at 35,000 a day and tickets must be booked in advance.

📍 Great Yorkshire Showground, Railway Road, Harrogate

A swim, bike and run triathlon event based in Ripon, with distances to suit newcomers through to seasoned racers. A good companion to the running events already on the Nidderdale calendar for anyone after a multi-sport challenge.

📍 Ripon

Eight days and nights of performances across the city, marking the festival's fifth year. Indoor and open-air theatre, storytelling, puppetry, cabaret, Shakespeare and circus, with a Big Weekend for Families bringing street entertainment and community performers to the city centre.

📍 Venues across Ripon

A steam-hauled charter train over the Settle-Carlisle line, crossing Ribblehead Viaduct in dramatic Dales scenery - now in its 18th season, with several dates through the summer (2026: 1 July, 5 August, 2 September).

📍 Settle-Carlisle Line via Ribblehead Viaduct

A monthly artisan and makers' market filling Ripon Market Place with independent food, craft and gift stallholders. Runs on the fourth Sunday of the month from May to December 2026, with confirmed dates of 28 June, 26 July, 23 August, 27 September, 25 October and 20 December.

📍 Ripon Market Place

Five Tuesday evening organ recitals in the cathedral nave each June, with the organ front and centre. This year's final two dates are 23 and 30 June, 7.30-9pm. Tickets £15, accompanied school-age children free.

📍 Ripon Cathedral

A spectacular point-to-point trail run finishing in Pateley Bridge, covering the Six Dales Trail from Otley. Distances from half marathon to ultra. The finish line on the High Street has become a real community occasion.

📍 Finish: Pateley Bridge town centre

A popular, well-marshalled 10K trail race through the beautiful Nidderdale countryside, starting from Pateley Bridge Showground. Suitable for all abilities and a great way to see the dale from the inside.

📍 Pateley Bridge Showground

Held every March, this much-loved annual festival brings together amateur theatre groups from across the region to perform at the Pateley Bridge Playhouse. Organised by the Nidderdale and District Drama Association.

📍 Pateley Bridge Playhouse, King Street

The Pateley Bridge Dramatic Society stages three or four productions each year at the intimate Playhouse on King Street. Spring shows run over two weekends in February and March - expect drama, comedy and occasional musicals.

📍 Pateley Bridge Playhouse, King Street

Nidderdale joins the annual Yorkshire Dark Skies Festival each February - a programme of stargazing evenings, guided walks at dusk, photography workshops and talks at the Lime Tree Observatory and Planetarium. Nidderdale has four official Dark Sky Discovery Sites including Scar House and Fewston reservoirs.

📍 Various - Scar House Reservoir, Fewston, Lime Tree Observatory