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.

June

1 – 24 July Objects Born Not Made, Inspired by... gallery, Danby
1 – 24 July Abstracted Landscapes, Inspired by... gallery, Danby
1 – 24 July Colourful Fingers Trail, Danby Lodge National Park Centre and Sutton Bank National Park Centre
1 – 3 Big Ideas by the Sea, Scarborough
2 The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Beacons, various sites across the North York Moors, including Danby Beacon
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
4 – 5 History Walk Through, re-enactors at Ryedale Folk Museum
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)
17 – 20 National Association of Mining History Organisations annual conference "Industrial minerals", Grosmont (hosted by Cleveland Mining Heritage Society)
25 – 26 British Falconry Fair, National Centre for Birds of Prey, Helmsley

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 Lodge and Sutton Bank. Drop in any time to find out more and pick up a trail.

July

Throughout July Festival of Green - curated by Carers Plus Yorkshire and celebrating green social prescribing at various venues, including Sutton Bank National Park Centre, NYMR and Ryedale Folk Museum. All events are free but booking is required.
2 – 3 Duncombe Park Steam & Vintage Rally, Helmsley
10 Dalbyology, Dalby Forest Visitors Centre
15 – 31 Ryedale Festival: Concerts and arts events in spectacular and historic venues
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 *
17 and 27 Nature on the Bank, various events at Sutton Bank as part of Festival of Green (free, but booking required)
22 – 24 Whitby Steampunk Weekend, Whitby Pavilion
22 – 24 SeaFest Maritime Festival, Scarborough
23 – 21 August (weekends only) Dracula! at Whitby Abbey
23 – 24, 30 – 31 Ryedale Open Studios
23 – 29 Ryedale Jazz Festival, Pickering
25 – 21 August Woodland Finders Trail, Danby Lodge National Park Centre and Sutton Bank National Park Centre
26 Wellbeing Festival, Scampston Walled Garden as part of Festival of Green
29 Explore Beadlam Roman Villa, starting at Helmsley Archaeology Store followed by a site tour of Beadlam Roman Villa
30 Meadowfest, Malton

August

4 – 27 All Lies, Esk Valley Theatre, Glaisdale - the world premiere of Alan Ayckburn's latest play
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 Castle Howard Proms, Castle Howard
20 – 26 Whitby Folk Week, traditional music and dance with workshops and street entertainment
22 – 23 October Stuck Trail, Danby Lodge National Park Centre and Sutton Bank National Park Centre
27 – 29 Vikings! at Whitby Abbey
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, Danby Lodge National Park Centre

September

1 – 30 Mindful Month - feel invigorated in nature with events and activities that will rejuvenate your spirits *
7 Tour of Britain - Day four Redcar to Helmsley via the North York Moors *
9 – 18 Heritage Open Days
9 Explore Beadlam Roman Villa, starting at Helmsley Archaeology Store followed by a site tour of Beadlam Roman Villa
10 – 18 Redcar & Cleveland's Summer Walking Festival
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
22 – 25 Annual Steam Gala, North Yorkshire Moors Railway
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 Festival of Thrift, Kirkleatham - the UK's national festival of sustainability, celebrating its 10th anniversary with a 'common wealth' theme
24 – 25 Fish & Ships Festival, Whitby
25 World Jam Festival, Helmsley

October

7 Explore Beadlam Roman Villa, starting at Helmsley Archaeology Store followed by a site tour of Beadlam Roman Villa
8 – 11 November Bloody Battles and a Painful Past Trail, Danby Lodge National Park Centre and Sutton Bank National Park Centre
9 MoorsRun, North York Moors National Park in partnership with Hardmoors Race Series present the Turnpike Trot 10k and the Rabbit Run 5k. Book online *
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
22 – 30 Light Spectacular, North Yorkshire Moors Railway - an illuminated journey from Pickering to Levisham Station,
22 – 30 Halloween Half Term, Whitby Abbey
28 – 30 Whitby Goth Weekend, Whitby
28 – 30 Tomorrow's Ghosts Gothic & Alternative Festival, Whitby

November

12 – 1 January Christmas Trails, Danby Lodge National Park Centre and Sutton Bank National Park Centre
12 – 15 January 2023 Countdown to Christmas, Brigantia's seasonal treasure trove of gifts, Inspired by... gallery, Danby
18 – 20 Whitby Christmas Market and Festival
26 – 27 Christmas Shopping Weekend, Sutton Bank National Park Centre
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 Robin Hood's Bay Victorian Weekend
3 – 4 Malton Christmas Market, Malton
3 – 4, 10 – 11, 17 – 24 Santa Specials, North Yorkshire Moors Railway (from Pickering and Grosmont)
Dates tbc Helmsley Christmas Tree Festival, All Saints Church, Helmsley
26 Boxing Day Dip - Whitby Lions, Whitby