Starbeck Fest takes place this Saturday

Starbeck Fest returns on Saturday, bringing with it a full day of community activities and entertainment.

Celebrating the local community, the event offers residents and visitors the chance to support local organisations, browse and shop with independent retailers, and enjoy a packed programme of activities in a relaxed outdoor setting.

The annual festival features performances from local groups, charities and community organisations, as well as a range of family-friendly activities including games, crafts and face painting. Full timings and programme details are available on the festival’s Facebook page.

Visitors can also enjoy a selection of food and drink from local vendors throughout the day.

Free entry, 11am-5pm, July 4, Belmont Field near Starbeck Methodist Church.

Ripon Theatre Festival returns with new writing and live performances

The fifth annual Ripon Theatre Festival runs from July 4 to July 12, bringing a packed programme of free and ticketed theatre, street performances, music, comedy, family entertainment and live events to indoor and outdoor venues across the city.

As part of this year's festival, two original productions will premiere. Tributaries, by Fell-Foss Theatre, is inspired by the River Ure and the poetry of 18th-century writer Thomas Maude, exploring Wensleydale's folklore and the river's significance through music and storytelling. Meanwhile, Outcast, written by Andy Croft and Paul Mills, examines themes of social stigma through the history of Ripon's medieval leper hospital, drawing parallels between the past and present.

The new productions reflect the festival's commitment to supporting original writing, celebrating local heritage and providing opportunities for artists from across Yorkshire as well as the North East, alongside a diverse programme of performances for audiences of all ages.

Various prices, times and venues across Ripon; see the website for details, July 4-12.

Live music, family fun and food returns to Boroughbridge

BridgeFest 2026 returns for its second year as a mini music festival at Boroughbridge Football Club on Saturday. 

The family-friendly event will feature live music throughout the day alongside food and drink vendors including a BBQ, ice cream, and licensed bars serving beer, wine and Prosecco. 

Children’s entertainment will include bouncy castles, face painting and a football shoot-out, with all under-16s required to be accompanied and supervised by an adult at all times.

Under fives are free, £10 for children aged 16 and under, £15 for adults, gates open at 11am but the event runs from 12 noon to 8pm, July 4, Boroughbridge Football Club, Boroughbridge, YO51 9EA.

HIF's live music and cultural events continue

The Harrogate International Festivals programme continues this weekend, with a packed schedule of events across the Spiegeltent and partner venues.

The programme combines family activities, literary-themed sessions and live music, including on Friday, Library Takeover events such as Family Parachute Fun, Coffee & Conversation and Books & Beverages, and performances from Young Musicians at the HACS Harrogate Music Festival, including pianist Mariatu Kanneh-Mason, and an evening concert from jazz artist Camilla George.

Saturday  continues with a Brass Brigade performance, a free drop-in art workshop, more Young Musicians performances featuring Nikki Martin and Esther Ersfeld, and Jimmy’s Night in the Spiegeltent. 

On Sunday, the programme concludes with a performance by the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, rounding off a weekend of music, arts and community-focused cultural events as part of the wider Harrogate International Festivals season.

Various prices, times and venues across town; see the website for details.

Classic cars and community spirit come together in support of a charitable cause

This Saturday, the inaugural Knaresborough Classic Car Show will take place at Knaresborough House, bringing together a display of classic vehicles and supercars as part of a broader family-focused community day in Knaresborough. 

The event is organised as a local initiative by Knaresborough Revolution/Rotary with a charitable aim to raise funds supporting the visit of Ukrainian children to the town. 

Positioned as both a social gathering and a fundraising effort, the show reflects a growing trend of using automotive events to blend leisure, community engagement, and international solidarity into a shared event.

Free, 10am-4pm, July 5, Knaresborough House, High Street, Knaresborough, HG5 0HW.