The Harrogate beer festival that attempts to break down barriers between women and beer is back next month.

The beer and arts festival called WOTFEST SIX, organised by Women on Tap CIC, will return to Harrogate between May 4 and 8 and offer a place for women interested in beer or those wanting to learn more to come together and try it out.

The festival works with bars, breweries and industry experts to provide a space for thought-provoking communications and for women to explore more beers.

Festival highlights include an evening of conversation with women in beer from Track Brewing Co and Brew York and Mindful Drinking workshops hosted by Club Soda which aim to emphasise positive drinking habits over abstinence.

There will also be quizzes, treasure hunts and other events held at some of Harrogate’s best known bars including Major Tom’s Social, The Disappearing Chin, The Harrogate Tap and Rooster’s Taproom.

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As in previous years, a special festival beer has been brewed at Brew York. The pineapple sour will be available at venues throughout the festival.

Women on Tap founder, Rachel Auty said:

“It feels good to properly root the festival back in Harrogate where it all began while also retaining an element of online events and activity.

“We are a tiny team with an enormous goal and thanks to the incredible support we get from the UK wide beer industry, our network across Harrogate and Knaresborough, and our local friends who never fail to cheer us on from the sidelines, we continue to stride out every year – passionate, determined, and smiling!”

Women on Tap CIC was formed in 2017 in Harrogate to help influence and shape a beer industry where women have equal opportunities, feel welcome, and are safe.

Unique works of art are being created as part of a programme to mark the 1,350th anniversary of Ripon Cathedral.

They will include paintings by internationally-renowned Syrian artist Sara Shamma, who has been commissioned to produce three portraits featuring St. Wilfrid and his contemporaries, who founded the church in 672.

Ms Shamma’s work will be centrepieces of the From Rome to Ripon exhibition, which has been produced  in collaboration with Paul Baily and Jack Chesterton.

It will be on display at the cathedral from May 27 until November 1.

Before then, weaver, Chrissie Freeth’s  tapestry work Beyond Words can be seen from Thursday April 28 until May 26.

Chrissie Freeth’s tapestries will be on display from April 28

Ms Freeth, was shortlisted for last year’s Cordis Tapestry prize and her work Momento Mori was also selected for the Royal Academy’s summer exhibition.,

She blends folklore, family stories, medieval iconography, and craftsmanship in her large tapestries, 13 of which will be exhibited at the cathedral.

Between May 27 and July 26, Peter Marlow’s exhibition will give a fascinating insight into how English cathedrals developed

The Dean of Ripon, the Very Revd. John Dobson, said:

“To reimagine this sacred space with new artworks from such a wide range of renowned artists, each working in different ways, is a fitting tribute to our founding father, Wilfrid.

“It will tell us something new about who we are, re-connect us with our past, and ground us in our future and I wholeheartedly commend this arts programme to all of you.”

Celebrations of the iconic building and its fundamental importance to Ripon’s development, begin on April 28 and will continue over the Bank Holiday Weekend,

The festivities will include dancing in the nave to a local jazz and swing band, a beer festival on the Bank Holiday Monday in the cathedral grounds, a pilgrimage from Bradford Cathedral, and a Son et Lumiere finale that promises to recreate Wilfrid’s miracles – including that of the lunar rainbow.

 Rome to Ripon is a partnership between Ripon Cathedral and Art in the Churches, an award-winning local charity that aims to bring major contemporary art into rural churches to reposition them as the beating heart of their communities.

Who was St Wilfrid?

Wilfrid – one of the greatest and most controversial English saints – was born into a noble Northumbrian family, a patron of the arts, he studied at Lindisfarne before embracing the Roman ways, was deposed on more than one occasion, and yet helped unite England behind a single Christian tradition.

It is said he was born in flames, survived shipwrecks and exile, and his jailers could not keep him chained. He was a healer, he kept people from hunger by teaching them to fish, and it is said that the moon and stars shone so bright for him, that a lunar rainbow appeared on the anniversary of his death.

In his early twenties, he made a pilgrimage to Rome and was much inspired by the lives of the saints there, and the great basilica churches. He brought some of the beauty of Rome back to England with him.

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Knaresborough Lions’ Charity Beer Festival is back this year after a year away with members eager to raise as much as they can for charity.

Coronavirus cancelled the 2020 festival but this year the Lions are back with their charity beer festival next weekend, Friday August 20 to August 22.

In previous years the festival has raised up to £4,000, with 80% of the funds staying locally. The Lions distribute the funds to numerous community and charity causes as well as to individuals and families identified by social services as in need of extra support.

The pandemic meant a number of the group’s usual events, including the Bed Race and Christmas Market, couldn’t go ahead so they’re hoping to make up for it this year.

The beer festival will be held in the assembly rooms inside Knaresborough House. Numbers will be regulated indoors so there is no overcrowding.

Mike Pyle, president of Knaresborough Lions said:

“There will be a running barbecue operated by Andy from McQueens, with separate vegan and street food on the Friday evening and all day on Saturday. Sunday, as ever, is pot luck day to see what’s left.

“The town feels like it is ready for a party and in conjunction with feva we are delighted to bring our beer festival back.”

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The Saturday afternoon section of the festival will run alongside the feva festival‘s Picnic in the Park.

Organisers promise there will be something for everyone with beers like Bad Kitty, Ay Up, Pale Rider, Screech Owl and Strength in Numbers as well as prosecco, wine, soft drinks and ciders.

Entertainment will be provided by Chorus Crew and Paul Watson on Friday. Saturday afternoon will be devoted to feva’s line-up in the gardens, with Paul Mirfin and Paul Watson playing later.

Sunday afternoon visitors will be entertained by the Tewit Youth Band.

The beer festival runs across the weekend; 7-11pm on Friday, 12-11pm on Saturday and Sunday from midday.

Women on Tap, a community interest company in Harrogate celebrating females in the beer industry, is to stage its fifth festival from June 9 to 13.

The company, which was established in 2017 by Harrogate beer enthusiasts Rachel Auty and Andrew Cameron, has previously hosted four festivals.

Ms Auty hopes the festival will encourage women to explore beer and break the stereotype that it’s a man’s drink. She said:

“I’ve always been a beer drinker and I noticed that women drinking pints was seen as strange.

“I got in touch with women brewers and realised I wasn’t alone in seeing the gender stereotype, so I wanted to start something that would encourage women to be involved in the beer industry.”

Women on Tap’s 2020 festival involved a series of virtual events, including online beer tasting sessions, art exhibits, quizzes and talks from women, about women.

Women on Tap Festival in 2018.

The 2020 festival achieved a global reach, with people from as far as Australia joining in. This inspired Ms Auty to keep parts of this year’s festival online.

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But it is hoped there will be live events, depending on the latest government guidance when it takes place. She said:

“We obviously have to work with guidelines, but we have high hopes that at least two-thirds of the festival will go ahead live, even if that’s a tasting for two households in a Harrogate independent brewery.”

On International Women’s Day on March 8, the organisation set out to get 20 sponsors giving £300 each to fund the festival.

Today, exactly one month on, Women on Tap gained its 20th sponsor.

Ms Auty said she can’t wait for pubs to reopen on Monday.

“I’m so excited to see Harrogate hospitality reopen its doors, everyone seems so energised.

“Harrogate Brewing Company opens at 4pm on Monday, so you’ll bet I have a table booked at 4pm on Monday!”