Take your dog to an art exhibition

If you’re out for a Sunday stroll with your four-legged friend, combine it with a visit to the Mercer Art Gallery in Harrogate.

They’re running Doggie Sundays, offering a rare opportunity for owners to bring their dogs to the gallery for a canine-themed exhibition.

We Think the World of You is a collection of artist David Remfry’s pencil and watercolour portraits exploring the relationships between people and their dogs. The series includes well-known faces such as Susan Sarandon and her Pomeranians, and Ethan Hawke with his dog Nina.

Bring the rest of the family too - children can add a picture of their favourite dog to the paw-trait wall, read some dog-themed stories, and try a ‘299 Dogs’ jigsaw.

Free entry, exhibition runs Tuesday to Sunday from 9.30am to 5pm until 29 September, dogs welcome on Sundays, Mercer Art Gallery, Swan Road, Harrogate. 

Spot the characters at the Minskip Scarecrow Festival

It’s always a delight to drive down Minskip’s Main Street during the village’s annual scarecrow competition, spotting entries in gardens and at the side of the road.

As it returns for a fourth time this weekend, why not park up in the village field, and have a good wander around. The competition gets better each year, and there’s sure to be a wonderful range of colourful and fun scarecrow characters to find, based on the theme ‘When I Grow Up, I Want To Be….’

You can even drop by afterwards for refreshments at St John’s Church.

Free to view, competition from August 31 to September 1, winners announced in St John’s Church garden on Sunday afternoon, Minskip. 

View the talents of Ripon City Photographic Society members

The Ripon City Photographic Society’s annual exhibition features work by its members, as well as presentations throughout the day.

Print and digital images will be on show, and there’ll be a chance to win a print of your favourite picture.

Cakes and refreshments will be available at the cafe.

Free entry, 9am to 4pm August 31, Allhallowgate Methodist Church, Ripon. 

Enjoy a weekend of trains and beer

A Diesel Gala and Beer Festival is the place to be this weekend if you’re a fan of classic rail and real ale.

Organised by the Yorkshire Dales Railway Museum Trust, the event runs at the Embsay and Bolton Abbey Steam Railway near Skipton.

It will feature diesel locomotives from the railway’s own fleet, as well as the star of the show, a re-liveried Class 31 train visiting the Dales for the first time.

At the beer tent you’ll find 25 cask ales, ciders, perrys, wine and gins, and there’ll also be live music to enjoy.

£6-£30, see website for details, August 30 to September 1. 

Experience the fun of the fair

The “biggest fair seen in Harrogate for 20 years” is returning to the Oatlands Stray after a six-year absence.

World of Fun, which runs from Thursday to Sunday, will span the length of Oatlands Drive and include modern rides, some of which have never been seen in Harrogate before, alongside traditional fairground attractions.

Read more about the fun fair in our article from earlier this week.

Free entry, pay for rides, 1pm-9.30pm Thursday to Saturday, August 29-31, 1pm-7pm Sunday September 1. 

The Stray Ferret subscribers can receive exclusive offers and discounts, click here to find the extensive list, many of which include activities and things to do.