Find out about the latest events happening across the North York Moors
Whatever time of year you visit the North York Moors, there's always something going on. With a wide variety of local events taking place throughout the year, you won’t have to look hard to find something you won't want to miss. Bookmark this page and come back throughout the year, as we'll be adding more events over what promises to be a fantastic 2026.
We also organise our own jam-packed calendar of events throughout the year, including kid's activities, guided walks, family festivals, exhibitions and more, all can be found on our events page.
Plus see more Art and Music events from the North York Moors arts and culture partnership.
Outdoor adventures
Not all outdoor challenge events are included above, head to cycling and mountain biking, and fell and road running events to find challenge events and more. Do take a look at the monthly farmers' markets in and around the North York Moors, and Food & Beer Festivals for more foodie ideas.
See Visit North Yorkshire for more events across North Yorkshire.
Country shows
Traditional Yorkshire country shows are an integral part of summer, one of the finest being the Ryedale Show, near 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.
50 years of our National Park Centres
2026 is the 50th anniversary of the opening of our two National Park Centres at Sutton Bank and Danby Lodge.
We'll be marking this landmark at special events during the year (look for the asterisk below), including Sutton Bank at 50 in April, and an anniversary Garden Party at Danby Lodge in May. The year will culminate with a special exhibition in our Inspired by... gallery from 7 November where we will reflect on five decades of memories and art made at Danby and Sutton Bank.
July
- Until 5 July British Wildlife Photography Awards exhibition, Nunnington Hall
- Until 26 July Right to Roam, Inspired by... gallery, Danby Lodge
- Until 27 September Library of the Four Winds, a new installation by Es Devlin, Castle Howard
- Until 31 October Vanbrugh 300 at Castle Howard - a year of celebrations shining a spotlight on Sir John Vanbrugh, the architect of Castle Howard
- Until 29 November Making a Meal of it, Ryedale Folk Museum
- 1 - 6 September Wild Superhero Mission, Woldies
- 4 - 5 Duncombe Park Steam & Vintage Rally
- 4 - 5 Festival of Thrift, Kirkleatham
- 4 - 5 Flavours of Yorkshire, Galtres Park, Pickering
- 4 - 6 Hob trail at Ryedale Folk Museum
- 5 Medieval Re-enactment and Archery, Danby Lodge
- 5 Dalbyology, Dalby Forest
- 8 - 11 Educating Rita by Willy Russell, 1812 Theatre Company, Helmsley Arts Centre
- 10 - 12 Great North Folk Festival, Botton
- 10 - 26 Ryedale Festival: concerts and arts events in spectacular and historic venues
- 11 Artist and Maker Fair, Castle Howard Arboretum
- 11 St Benedict's Day, Ampleforth Abbey
- 11 - 19 North Yorkshire Open Studios, Ampleforth Abbey
- 16 The Three Inch Fools – King Arthur and the Holy Fail, outdoor performance at Helmsley Walled Garden
- 17 - 19 Staxtonbury Music Festival, Manor Farm, Staxton, family friendly festival
- 17 - 9 August Big Butterfly Count at Woldies New Butterfly Garden
- 18 Ryedale Gateway Festival, Malton and Norton
- 18 Dragonfly Walk at the Castle Howard Arboretum
- 18 - 6 September Great British Summer at Whitby Abbey
- 18 - 6 September Summer of Play at Nunnington Hall
- 18 - 31 August Sue Slack - Finding the Dramatic exhibition, Ryedale Folk Museum
- 22 Cappella Lacensis, Ampleforth Abbey
- 22 and 28 Wonder Wednesdays, Ryedale Folk Museum
- 25 - 28 Dracula at Whitby Abbey
- 27 - 1 August Tornado, legendary locomotive No. 60163 on North Yorkshire Moors Railway
- 31 - 2 August Kirkbymoorside Music Festival
August
- Until 2 Kirkbymoorside Music Festival
- Until 9 Big Butterfly Count, Woldies
- Until 31 Sue Slack - Finding the Dramatic exhibition, Ryedale Folk Museum
- Until 6 September Great British Summer at Whitby Abbey
- Until 6 September Summer of Play at Nunnington Hall
- Until 6 September Wild Superhero Mission at Woldies
- Until 27 September Library of the Four Winds, a new installation by Es Devlin, Castle Howard
- Until 31 October Vanbrugh 300 at Castle Howard - a year of celebrations shining a spotlight on Sir John Vanbrugh, the architect of Castle Howard
- Until 29 November Making a Meal of it, Ryedale Folk Museum
- 1 Producers Craft Fair, Danby Lodge
- 1 Whitby Fossil Day, Whitby Museum
- 1 Yorkshire Day, Ampleforth Abbey
- 1 - 31 Beacon for the Arts 'Summer series' - a celebration of arts and culture
- 1 - 13 September Spirits in the Wild: Folklore Tales from North Yorkshire, Inspired by... gallery, Danby Lodge
- 3 - 8 Tornado, legendary locomotive No. 60163 on North Yorkshire Moors Railway
- 7 - 14 Brigantia Exhibition, Ampleforth Abbey
- 7 - 9 Saltburn Folk Festival, Saltburn
- 8 - 10 Whitby Regatta, Whitby
- 8 - 22 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
- 14 - 16 Staithes RNLI Lifeboat Weekend
- 15 - 16 Middlesbrough Mela
- 16 North Yorkshire Grand Prix Cycle Race, Ampleforth Abbey
- 22 - 23 Between the Tides, Kirkleatham, near Redcar
- 22 - 28 Whitby Folk Week, traditional music and dance with workshops and street entertainment
- 29 Little Bird Made Market, Sutton Bank National Park Centre
- 29 Pick your own apples, Ampleforth Abbey
- 29 - 30 Living History Weekend, Eden Camp
- 29 - 31 Wellness Weekend, Castle Howard Arboretum
September
- 1 - 30 Mindful Month - feel invigorated in nature with a number of events and activities across the National Park
- 1 - 6 Great British Summer at Whitby Abbey
- 1 - 6 Summer of Play at Nunnington Hall
- 1 - 6 Wild Superhero Mission at Woldies
- 1 - 13 Spirits in the Wild: Folklore Tales from North Yorkshire, Inspired by... gallery, Danby Lodge
- 1 - 27 Library of the Four Winds, a new installation by Es Devlin, Castle Howard
- Until 31 October Vanbrugh 300 at Castle Howard - a year of celebrations shining a spotlight on Sir John Vanbrugh, the architect of Castle Howard
- Until 29 November Making a Meal of it, Ryedale Folk Museum
- 5 Mindful on the Moor Art & Wellbeing Festival, Danby Lodge
- 13 Annual Autumn Plant Fair, Scampston Hall
- 11 - 20 Heritage Open Days
- 11 - 13 Staithes Festival of Arts & Heritage
- 12 Scarborough Pride
- 12, 19, 26 Pick your own apples, Ampleforth Abbey
- 18 - 20 Lockton Artists Art Weekend 2026, Lockton Tea Rooms
- 18 - 20 Acquire at Ampleforth, Ampleforth Abbey
- 19 Heritage Open Days, Ampleforth Abbey
- 19 - 20, 26 - 27 Ryedale Open Studios
- 19 - 20 Scarborough Extreme - unleash your inner adventurer and discover a wide range of activities across the surrounding area
- 19 - 1 November Landshapes, Inspired by... gallery, Danby Lodge
- 11 - 11 October YHA's Festival of Walking
- 24 -27 Annual Steam Gala, North Yorkshire Moors Railway
- 25 – 26 Trackrod Rally Yorkshire, Cropton and Dalby forests NB: walk and cycle trails in Dalby are closed for the day
- 26 - 29 March 2027 The 2026 Turner Prize, MIMA, Middlesbrough
- 27 Minds and Miles Cycle ride, Sutton Bank
October
- 1 - 31 Vanbrugh 300 at Castle Howard - a year of celebrations shining a spotlight on Sir John Vanbrugh, the architect of Castle Howard
- Until 1 November Landshapes, Inspired by... gallery, Danby Lodge
- Until 29 November Making a Meal of it, Ryedale Folk Museum
- Until 29 March 2027 The 2026 Turner Prize, MIMA, Middlesbrough
- 6 Fungi Foray at the Arboretum, Castle Howard Arboretum
- 10 - 11 Back to the 1940s, Eden Camp, Malton
- 17, 24, 31 Pick your own apples, Ampleforth Abbey
- 18 MoorsRun, North York Moors National Park in partnership with Hardmoors Race Series present the Turnpike Trot 10k and the Rabbit Run 5k
- 18, 25 Mad Alice's Ghost Train, North Yorkshire Moors Railway, Pickering
- 24 Apple Week – Half-term Activities, Ampleforth Abbey
- 23 - 1 November Dark Skies Fringe Festival, events across the North York Moors
- 24 UV Fungi Walk with Wild Roots Foraging, Danby Lodge
- 30 'The Creepy Circus' Family Event with The Walking Theatre Company, Danby Lodge
- 30 - 1 November Whitby Goth Weekend, Whitby
November
- 1 Dark Skies Fringe Festival, events across the North York Moors
- 1 Mad Alice's Ghost Train, North Yorkshire Moors Railway, Pickering
- 1 - 29 Making a Meal of it, Ryedale Folk Museum
- Until 29 March 2027 The 2026 Turner Prize, MIMA, Middlesbrough
- 7 - 8 North Yorkshire Open Studios – Winter Open Studios, various locations
- 7 - 10 January 2027 50 years of our National Park Centres, Inspired by... gallery *
- 7 - 10 January 2027 Christmas at the Inspired by... gallery
- 12 - 3 January 2027 A Dickens of a Christmas at Castle Howard!, Castle Howard
- 27 Christmas Lights Switch-on, Helmsley
- 28 - 29 Little Bird Made Christmas Artisan Market, Sutton Bank National Park Centre
- 28 - 29 Lantern-Making Workshops, Ampleforth Abbey
- 28 - 29 Christmas Craft Market, Ampleforth Abbey
- 28 Kirkbymoorside Christmas Market, Kirkbymoorside
- 28 - 29 Wreath Making, Ampleforth Abbey
- 28 - 29 Santa Express, North Yorkshire Moors Railway
December
- Until 3 January 2027 A Dickens of a Christmas at Castle Howard!, Castle Howard
- Until 10 January 2027 50 years of our National Park Centres, Inspired by... gallery
- Until 10 January 2027 Christmas at the Inspired by... gallery
- Until 29 March 2027 The 2026 Turner Prize, MIMA, Middlesbrough
- 5 (tbc) Christmas Lights Switch-on event, Thornton le Dale
- 5 Handel's Messiah, Ampleforth Abbey
- 5 - 6 Christmas Craft Fair, Danby Lodge
- 5 - 6 Whitby Krampus Run, Whitby
- 5, 6, 12, 13, 19, 20, 22-24 Santa Express, North Yorkshire Moors Railway
- 6 Lantern Procession and Carol Service, Ampleforth Abbey
- 12 Celtic Carols by Candlelight, Ampleforth Abbey
- 12 - 13 Christmas Shopping Weekends at Sutton Bank and Danby Lodge National Park Centres
- 26 Boxing Day Dip - Whitby Lions, Whitby