Major festivals and events

From Railway in Wartime to music, food and art festivals, join in one of the many events held throughout the year across the North York Moors and Yorkshire Coast.

Traditional Yorkshire country shows are an integral part of summer, one of the finest being the Ryedale Show, Kirkbymoorside, always held on the last Tuesday in July. We’re talking sheep-dog trials, shire horses, champion cattle, ferret roulette and improbably large vegetables – with similar events at another dozen or so local shows to follow throughout August and September.

More art than agriculture? Then head to Staithes Festival of Arts & Heritage in September, where picturesque fishing cottages become pop-up galleries and cafés for the weekend while we play host to a series of popular creative workshops at the Inspired by… gallery throughout the year.

Major events 2022

It's a big year for the North York Moors as the National Park celebrates its 70th birthday in 2022! We'll have special events, family activities, exhibitions and more as we showcase the very best of the National Park. Look for the * symbol below and head to our dedicated anniversary page to find out more.

Not all outdoor challenge events are included below; you'll find walking, cycling and mountain biking, and fell and road running events listed in our Enjoy Outdoors pages. Do also take a look at the monthly farmers' markets in and around the North York Moors, and Food & Beer Festivals for more foodie ideas.

See Discover Yorkshire Coast for more major events in Scarborough, Filey, Whitby and along the coast.

January

• 21 The Battle of Byland 1322 - Yorkshire's Forgotten Conflict - Fascinating guest lecture previewing the 700th anniversary of this significant but largely untold significant battle which took place at Sutton Bank
• 22 Bird ID Skills, The Moors National Park Centre (in preparation for Big Garden Birdwatch). Drop in anytime between 10.30am and 12.30pm.
• 23 Bird ID Skills, Sutton Bank National Park Centre (in preparation for Big Garden Birdwatch). Drop in anytime between 10.30am and 12.30pm.
• 29 – 30 Big Garden Birdwatch - Join in the RSPB's annual birdwatching weekend, including bird themed activities with the RSPB at Sutton Bank. Drop in anytime between 11am and 4pm.

February

• 5 – 6 March Snowdrops in the Woodland, Burton Agnes Hall
• 11 – 13 Whitby Steampunk Weekend, Whitby Pavilion
• 18 – 6 March Dark Skies Festival - stargazing events and night-sky activities across the North York Moors, Howardian Hills and Yorkshire Dales *
• 18 Dark Skies Exhibition Opening Night, Inspired by... gallery - includes stargazing session in the grounds
• 19 – 3 April Starscapes, Inspired by… gallery *
• 19 – 3 April Dark Reflections, Inspired by… gallery *
• 19 – 27 Half Term Explorer Quest, Whitby Abbey
• 24 Bird box building, The Moors National Park Centre, Danby
• 26 Winter Concert, All Saints' Church, Helmsley (part of North York Moors Chamber Music Festival)

March

• 12 Care and repair of timber structures (traditional building workshop), Helmsley
• 26 – 27 Mother's Day Special Weekend, Scampston Walled Garden

April

• 2 – 18 Discover National Parks Fortnight, annual celebration of National Parks *
• 9 – 22 May Past, Present, Future (North York Moors Art Award 2022), Inspired by... gallery, Danby *
• 9 – 22 May The landscape we feel (open exhibition), Inspired by... gallery, Danby *
• 9 – 10 Sci-Fi Scarborough, Scarborough Spa
• 18 Easter Storytelling, Crafts & Games, Scampston Hall
• 22 – 24 Whitby Goth Weekend, Whitby

We also have family treasure hunts, trails and plenty of fun events and activities for children throughout the school holidays at our two National Park Centres at Danby and Sutton Bank. Drop in any time to find out more and pick up a trail.

May

• 20 – 3 June Big Ideas by the Sea, Scarborough
• 21 – 22 Yorkshire Game & Country Fair, Scampston Hall
• 28 – 29 WalkFest, our spring weekend walking festival *
• 28 – 10 July Abstracted Landscapes and Fired Earth, Inspired by... gallery, Danby
• 29  Annual Spring Plant Fair, Scampston Hall
• Dates tbc Great North Folk Festival, Botton: Folk festival, concerts, workshops and special events

June

• 3 – 5 Malton Food Lovers Festival, 150 food stalls and street food, cookery theatre, Festival Bar, live music and more
• 3 – 5 Whitby 60’s Festival, Whitby
• 4 – 5, 11 – 12 North Yorkshire Open Studios, artists open up their studios across North Yorkshire
• 10 – 12 Robin Hood’s Bay Folk Weekend, a free weekend of relaxed music sessions and singarounds
• 11 Dalby's Inferno and the 10 circles of suffering, Dalby Forest *
• 11 – 12 Books by the Beach, Scarborough Book Festival
• 12 Open Farm Sunday, visit one of a number of farms across the North York Moors
• 12 – 19 Scalby Fair, Nr Scarborough: one of the few remaining village street fairs in north England (Fair Day is 18 June)
• 25 – 26 British Falconry Fair, National Centre for Birds of Prey, Helmsley

July

• 2 – 3 Duncombe Park Steam & Vintage Rally, Helmsley
• 16 Fletchers Farm Fest - A night under the stars with rising stars, Great Ayton
• 16 – 12 September A Woodland Sanctuary (Joe Cornish and Simon Baxter), Inspired by... gallery, Danby *
• 22 – 24 Whitby Steampunk Weekend, Whitby Pavilion
• 22 – 24 SeaFest Maritime Festival, Scarborough
• 23 – 24, 30 – 31 Ryedale Open Studios
• 23 – 29 Ryedale Jazz Festival, Pickering
• 30 Meadowfest, Malton
• Dates tbc Ryedale Festival: Concerts and arts events in spectacular and historic venues

August

• 5 – 7 Whitby Traction Engine Rally, Hawsker, Whitby
• 7 A Taste of the North York Moors, Sutton Bank National Park Centre *
• 11 – 14 Saltburn Folk Festival, Saltburn
• 13 – 15 Whitby Regatta, watch yacht and rowing races, Navy displays, fireworks and more set around this ancient port
• 13 – 27 North York Moors Chamber Music Festival: Renowned classical musicians from around the world gather in some of the North York Moors' most remote and beautiful historical buildings
• 20 – 26 Whitby Folk Week, traditional music and dance with workshops and street entertainment
• 27 – 29 Malton Harvest Food Festival, 150 food stalls and street food, cookery theatre, Festival Bar, live music and more
• 29 Have-a-go Archery, The Moors National Park Centre

September

• 1 – 30 Mindful Month - feel invigorated in nature with events and activities that will rejuvenate your spirits *
• 9 – 11 Staithes Festival of Arts & Heritage
• 9 – 18 Heritage Open Days
• 11 Autumn Plant Fair, Scampston Walled Garden, near Malton
• 16 – 18 Yorkshire Fossil Festival, Scarborough
• 17 – 6 November Threads and Pathways (Lockton Artists Group), Inspired by... gallery, Danby *
• 18 Marathon Du Malton, Malton
• 23 – 24 Trackrod Rally Yorkshire, Cropton, Dalby and Langdale forests NB: walk and cycle trails in Dalby are closed for the day
• 23 – 25 Whitby 60’s Spectacular, Whitby
• 24 – 25 Fish & Ships Festival, Whitby
• 25 World Jam Festival, Helmsley

October

• 9 MoorsRun, North York Moors National Park in partnership with Hardmoors Race Series present the Turnpike Trot 10k and the Rabbit Run 5k *
• 15 Battle of Byland 700th anniversary - Yorkshire's forgotten conflict, Sutton Bank National Park Centre *
• 21 – 30 Dark Skies Fringe Festival - expect more starry delights across the North York Moors during half-term week
• 28 – 30 Whitby Goth Weekend, Whitby
• 28 – 30 Tomorrow's Ghosts Gothic & Alternative Festival, Whitby

November

• 12 – 15 January 2023 Brigantia's seasonal Treasure Trove of gifts, Inspired by... gallery, Danby
• Dates tbc Christmas Shopping Weekend, Sutton Bank National Park Centre
• Dates tbc Santa Specials, North Yorkshire Moors Railway (from Pickering and Grosmont)
• Dates tbc Christmas at Nunnington Hall
• Dates tbc Castle Howard at Christmas: experience this magnificent house decked out and lit by candle and firelight

December

• 3 Whitby Krampus Run, Whitby
• 3 – 4 Malton Christmas Market, Malton
• Dates tbc Robin Hood's Bay Victorian Weekend
• Dates tbc Helmsley Christmas Tree Festival, All Saints Church, Helmsley
• 26 Boxing Day Dip - Whitby Lions, Whitby