A guide to what’s on at Feva Knaresborough 2026

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It's been 30 years since Feva – Festival of Entertainment and Visual Arts – first took place in Knaresborough.

The event kicks off on August 14 and will feature 10 jam-packed days of activities and performances across different Knaresborough venues.

I spoke to Feva’s spoken word director, and youth engagement liaison, Rowena Lloyd, who says she hopes that the festival programme offers a wide range of activities to suit all ages and tastes.

There are free activities, in addition to ticketed performances, and events spanning all different areas of the arts including music, theatre, photography, pottery, painting, poetry, dance, crotchet, and more.

She highlighted the options for young people, which include guided workshops, children’s performances, and discounted tickets to outdoor theatre shows. 

The Stray Ferret has compiled a guide to some of the festival’s most exciting events, to help you plan your trip. 

Friday, August 14

The Mayor of Knaresborough will officially open the festival at midday on Friday, August 14, at the opening ceremony at Knaresborough’s Market Cross.  

The Marigold Cafe will host a ‘Boats & Burgers’ evening, offering a rowing boat rentall, burger and chips, and beverage of your choice, for the cost of £35 per person/ £25 per child. The boats will depart between 6pm and 6.30pm, and there will be live music from 7pm.

Up-and-coming Leeds-based country group The Wranglers will perform at the Frazer Theatre at 7.30pm.

Rock ‘n’ roll tribute band The Perfect Shambles will perform at Park Place Social Club, covering popular bands such as ACDC, Aerosmith, and Black Sabbath. Doors open at 8pm. 

Saturday, August 15

A special, musical edition of parkrun is returning to Conyngham Hall. The 5km run will be accompanied by bands and ‘musical marshals’ to help motivate your effort.

Covent Garden favourite Felicity Footloose will be juggling knives and completing acrobatic stunts at 11am, 1pm, and 2pm at Market Cross.

Local singer-songwriter Leo Hicks will perform at The Knaresborough Inn at 2pm.

Beginning at 7.30pm, three different bands will take to the stage at Park Place Social Club: rock band Hellfire Jack; Leeds-based psychedelic rock band Default Mode Network; and funk-alternative group PIPS.

Punk rock cover band Powersurge will perform at the Knaresborough Working Men’s club at 8pm. 

Sunday, August 16

As part of Feva, a special choral Eucharist service will be taking place at St John’s Church at 10.30am, open to all.

Knaresborough town crier Mark Hunter will oversee the popular Town Criers Competition, returning to the Market Cross at 2pm on August 16. Town criers from across the North of England will deliver two cries each, and will be judged for their volume, diction, accuracy, presentation, and for the content of their cry. It promises to fun, and loud, event for all the family.

Ecological acting troop The Handlebards, who cycle across England transporting their sets and costumes with them, will bring their production of Shakespeare’s As You Like It to Conyngham Hall at 5pm.

The UK’s premier Queen tribute band Qween UK will take to the stage at the Frazer Theatre to perform the band’s classic hits. 

Monday, August 17

Punch and Judy shows will take place at Market Cross from 11-3pm.

A unique clog dancing performance by folk  group Clogarhythym will be held at the Market Cross at 6.30pm.

Knaresborough dance company Studio 3 Workshop will showcase their talents across many different styles of dance at the Frazer Theatre at 7.15pm. 

A Red Wall Theatre Company production of ‘Fighting Fascism: Knaresborough’s Home Front’, a musical celebration of the town’s history, will take place at COGS (Centre on Gracious Street) at 7.30pm. 

Tuesday, August 18

Performances of Pete White’s Suitcase Circus will take place at 11am, 1pm, and 2.30pm at the Market Cross.

There will be an open mic night held at Mother Shipton’s Inn from 7pm. Musicians, singers, poets, comedians, and spectators are all welcome.

The History Wardrobe group will present FASHION REVOLUTION, a showcase of the styles of boundary-breaking fashion figures throughout history, at 7.30pm in the Frazer Theatre. 

Wednesday, August 19

Local clarinet quartet Silver Keys will give a performance at 2pm at COGS (Centre on Gracious Street).

The Medusa Gothic Morris Dancers will return to the Market Cross to give a performance at 7pm.

A Knaresborough Youth Theatre production of Orpehus: A New Musical will bring the tragic mythical romance of Orpheus and Eurydice to the Frazer Theatre. The show begins at 7pm.

A second performance of Fighting Fascism will take place at 7.30pm at COGS. 

Award-winning Elvis tribute act Victor Andrews will perform at Knaresborough Working Men’s Club at 8pm. 

Thursday, August 20

Street performer the Great Mandavi will perform dangerous stunts at the Market Cross at 11am,1pm, and 2.30pm.

Orb Community Arts will be showcasing their work at the free-to-enter Orb Fest at their centre in the Elephant and Castle Yard, beginning at midday. Orb is a charity that supports individuals who want to use the creative arts to support their mental health.

Leeds City Swingers, a blues, swing, and ragtime band, will be performing at the Six Poor Folk bistro at 7pm.

Conyngham hall will host a production of Gilbert and Sulivan’s The Pirates of Penzance, performed by the Illyria Outdoor Theatre company. The show begins at 7pm.

Knaresborough Camera Club will host their Photo Walk, which will begin at 7pm at the Market Cross. The walk is open to photographers of all abilities, including beginners.

A quiz in aid of the Royal British Legion will begin at 7pm at the Working Men’s Club. £10 tickets include buffet access. 

Friday, August 21

Magic Keith will take over the action at Market Cross, with performances at 11am, 1pm, and 2.30pm.

Boats and Burgers returns to Marigold Cafe at 6pm.

The Knaresborough Lions Club’s 3-day-long beer festival will kick off at Knaresborough House at 6.30pm, accompanied by the Chorus Crew, known for their lively sea shanties, and Celtic and bluegrass group, The Blarge.

Rock-n-roll band Vincent Flatts Final Drive will perform at Frazer Theatre at 7.30pm.

For a more classical palate, string ensemble Ebor Quartet are returning to St John’s Church to perform Songs from the Shows, at 7.30pm. 

Saturday, August 22

The main event! Picnic in the Park returns to Knaresborough House, with entertainment beginning at 12pm. DJ Trev, Rory Hoy, the Orb House band, Biz Denton, The Diamonds, Drop Leg Steppers, and Hot sauce are all scheduled to take to the main stage. Entry is free, so bring your own picnic and enjoy an afternoon of entertainment.

The Lions’ beer festival continues with a further performance by the Blarge following Picnic in the Park.

The Afghan pop-up kitchen is returning to COGS. They’re offering a £30 set menu, with both meat and vegetarian options available. Food is served from 7pm, and tickets can be purchased by emailing theafghankitchenyorkshire@gmail.com.

Children’s book author Gervase Phinn will give a talk at the Frazer Theatre at 7.30pm.

Ripley Live, held at Ripley Town Hall, is headlined this year by winners of the 2019 European blues challenge The Kyla Brox Band, and Reno Sparks. Doors open at 7pm for an 8pm start. 

Singer-Songwriter Rufus Beckett will perform at the Mitre pub on Knaresborough’s Station Road, at 7.30pm. 

Sunday, August 23

The Feva family bike ride will meet at Conyngham Hall at 9.30am, ready to set off for Ripley at 10am. Refreshments will be served afterwards. 

The Chorus Crew will serenade Knaresborough’s Waterside with their sea shanties at 11am,1pm, and 2.30pm.

ABBA tribute act Agnetha False Kog will perform at the Working Men’s Club from 4pm.

ABBA action then continues with Knaresborough Film Society screening a sing-along edition of Mamma Mia at 7pm in the Frazer Theatre. Lyric sheets will be provided!

The World’s End pub will host an open mic night, with sign-ups starting at 6.30pm, and music kicking off at 7pm.

The ‘End of Feva’ silent disco will close off the festivities at Conyngham Hall. DJ Mike Atkinson will MC from 6pm.