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. Or head into the heart of Dalby Forest for Forest Live, atmospheric summer gigs featuring big names from across the music world, while we play host to a musical programme at the Inspired by… gallery, from chamber concerts to folk-roots rockers.

Major events 2019

Outdoor challenge events are not 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.

April

• 2 – 4, 6 – 7 Union of South Africa, North Yorkshire Moors Railway
• 4 – 6 May Rivers of Light, Inspired by… gallery
• 6 – 21 Discover National Parks, annual celebration of National Parks at Sutton Bank and The Moors National Park Centres
• 6 – 7 Sci-Fi Scarborough, Scarborough Spa
• 11 – 14 Books by the Beach, Scarborough Book Festival
• 12 – 14 Whitby Goth Weekend, Whitby
• 13 – 28 The Great Castle Howard Easter Egg Hunt, Castle Howard
• 19 – 22 Easter Egg Hunt, Sutton Bank National Park Centre
• 19 – 22 Easter Egg Hunt, The Moors National Park Centre, Danby
• 19 – 21 Cadbury Easter Egg Hunt, Old Coastguard Station, Robin Hood's Bay
• 19 – 22 Cadbury Easter Egg Hunt, Ravenscar Visitor Centre
• 20 – 21 WW2 Living History Easter Bank Holiday Weekend, Eden Camp
• 26 Easter Fun Day, Scampston Hall
• 26 – 28 Tomorrow's Ghosts Gothic & Alternative Festival, Whitby
• 27 Escape Lines Memorial Society Reunion & Service, Eden Camp, Malton

May

• 2 – 5 Tour de Yorkshire, (Bridlington to Scarborough via North York Moors 4 May)
• 4 – 5 A Festival of Dogs, Castle Howard
• 4 – 6 Behind the Scenes, North Yorkshire Moors Railway
• 6 Rhythm and Brews, Sutton Bank National Park Centre
• 11 – 9 June 109 Miles, Inspired by… gallery
• 18 – 19 Fish & Ships Festival, Whitby
• 18 – 19 Yorkshire Game & Country Fair, Scampston Hall
• 24 – 27 Great North Folk Festival, Botton: Folk festival, concerts, workshops and special events
• 25 – 26 Malton Food Lovers Festival, 150 food stalls and street food, cookery theatre, Festival Bar, live music and more
• 25 – 27 Castle Howard Traction Engine Rally, Castle Howard
• 25 – 27 WalkFest!, celebrating 50 years of the Cleveland Way National Trail

June

• 1 – 2, 8 – 9 North Yorkshire Open Studios, artists open up their studios across North Yorkshire
• 7 – 9 Robin Hood’s Bay Folk Weekend, a free weekend of relaxed music sessions and singarounds
• 9 Open Farm Sunday, visit one of a number of farms across the North York Moors
• 15 – 29 July The Lost Words, Inspired by… gallery, Danby
• 16 BunnyRun, Sutton Bank National Park Centre: North York Moors National Park in partnership with Hardmoors Race Series hops over to Sutton Bank for a new family friendly 5K run
• 16 – 23 Scalby Fair, Nr Scarborough: one of the few remaining village street fairs in north England (Fair Day is 22 June)
• 22 – 23 Rosedale Walking Festival, Rosedale Abbey
• 23 – 29 Rosedale Wildlife Week: seven days of wildlife themed walks, family activities, talks and workshops
• 28 – 30 Elephant at the Castle Festival, Castle Mulgrave
• 28 – 29 Forest Live, Dalby Forest, Music gigs featuring top artists in the forest (Paul Weller, Jess Glynne)
• 29 – 30 British Falconry Fair, National Centre for Birds of Prey, Helmsley

July

• 4 – 7 Staxtonbury Music Festival, Manor Farm, Staxton, family friendly festival
• 6 – 7 Duncombe Park Steam Rally, Helmsley
• 12 – 14 Whitby Sea Festival, Whitby
• 12 – 14 Jazz & Blues Festival, Burton Agnes Hall & Gardens
• 13 – 14 60s Fest, North Yorkshire Moors Railway
• 12 – 28 Ryedale Festival: Concerts and arts events in spectacular and historic venues
• 20 Meadowfest, Malton - new boutique music festival
• 21 Escape to the Moors, The Moors National Park Centre, Danby
• 26 – 28 SeaFest Maritime Festival, Scarborough

August

• 2 – 4 Whitby Traction Engine Rally, Hawsker, Whitby
• 3 – 2 September Landscapes of the Mind and Heart, Inspired by… gallery, Danby
• 3 Castle Howard Proms, Castle Howard
• 9 – 11 Saltburn Folk Festival, Saltburn
• 10 – 11 Filey International Food Festival, Filey
• 10 – 13 Whitby Regatta, watch yacht and rowing races, Navy displays, fireworks and more set around this ancient port
• 11 – 24 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
• 15 – 18 BBC Countryfile Live, Castle Howard
• 16 – 18 Staithes RNLI Lifeboat Weekend
• 17 – 23 Whitby Folk Week, traditional music and dance with workshops and street entertainment
• 18 Adventure on the Bank, Sutton Bank National Park Centre
• 24 – 25 WW2 Living History August Bank Holiday Weekend, Eden Camp
• 24 – 26 Viking Festival, Whitby Abbey

September

• 5 – 16 October Saving Turtle Doves: linked exhibitions at Dalby Forest and Inspired by… gallery, Danby
• 6 – 8 Whitby Pirate Festival
• 7 – 8 Staithes Festival of Arts & Heritage
• 7 – 8 Harvest Food Festival, Malton
• 8 All Services Parade & Remembrance Service, Eden Camp, Malton
• 13 – 15 Yorkshire Fossil Festival, Rotunda Museum, Scarborough
• 14 – 15 Rhythm and Brews, The Moors National Park Centre, Danby
• 19 – 22 Illuminating Rievaulx, Rievaulx Abbey, near Helmsley
• 27 – 29 Annual Steam Gala, North Yorkshire Moors Railway
• 26 – 29 Autumn Harvest & Flower Festival, Castle Howard
• 27 – 28 Trackrod Rally Yorkshire, Cropton, Dalby and Langdale forests NB: walk and cycle trails in Dalby are closed for the day

October

• 6 MoorsRun, North York Moors National Park in partnership with Hardmoors Race Series present the Turnpike Trot 10k and the Rabbit Run 5k
• 11–13 Railway in Wartime, North Yorkshire Moors Railway: turn the clock back to 1940s for street parades, vehicle displays and re-enactments along the line. Special events at Pickering Castle and Beck Isle Museum too.
• 18 – 20 Musicport Festival, Whitby Pavilion: the UK's biggest indoor world music festival  (20th anniversary)
• 19 – 12 November Fragile Enchantments, Inspired by… gallery, Danby
• 24 – 30 Illuminated Abbey, Whitby Abbey
• 25 – 27 Whitby Goth Weekend, Whitby
• 26 – 27 Michaelmas Fair, Burton Agnes Hall and Gardens
• 26 – 31 Halloween Trains,  North Yorkshire Moors Railway
• 31 Halloween – Fear in the Forest, Dalby Forest: a spooky walk through the woods

November

• 1 – 3 Tomorrow's Ghosts Gothic & Alternative Festival, Whitby
• 8 Chamber Music Concert Jamie Walton, Musical Director for the North York Moors Chamber Music Festival, presents an exhibition concert, Inspired by... gallery, Danby
• 14 – 30 Christmas Opening, Burton Agnes Hall
• 16 – 30 Castle Howard at Christmas: experience this magnificent house decked out and lit by candle and firelight
• 16 – 17 Christmas Craft Fair, The Moors National Park Centre, Danby
• 16 – 31 December Uniquely Made - by Brigantia, Inspired by… gallery, Danby
• 23 – 24 Christmas Shopping Weekend, Sutton Bank National Park Centre
• 30 Santa Specials, North Yorkshire Moors Railway
• Dates tbc NSPCC Christmas Fair, Duncombe Park, Helmsley

December

• 1, 7–8, 14–15, 21–22 Santa Specials, North Yorkshire Moors Railway
• 1 – 23 Christmas Opening, Burton Agnes Hall
• 1 – 31 Castle Howard at Christmas: experience this magnificent house decked out and lit by candle and firelight
• 6 – 8 Robin Hood's Bay 26th Victorian Weekend, Robin Hood's Bay
• Date tbc Christmas Lights, Thornton le Dale
• Dates tbc  Christmas at Dalby Forest
• Dates tbc Christmas at Nunnington Hall
• Dates tbc Helmsley Christmas Tree Festival, All Saints Church, Helmsley