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10
Jun
5 things to do in and around Harrogate this weekend, June 12-14
Watch the Knaresborough Bed Race
The biggest day in Knaresborough's calendar returns for its 60th year this Saturday.
The event, organised by Knaresborough Lions, has taken place annually on the second Saturday of June since 1966.
Besides the 2.4-mile bed race itself, the day will include a parade through the town, food and drink stalls, and attractions for children at Conyngham Hall.
The 2025 Bed Race took place in glorious sunshine. Hopefully this year's will be the same.
The theme for this year’s event is The Swinging Sixties.
Looking to watch the race? The town is known to be packed with spectators, so it’s wise to arrive early or go by train.
Read our feature that looks back at 60 years of madcap glory.
Various activities take place before the Bed Race starts at 3pm; see the programme of events on the website for details. June 13.
Live music, family fun and food
Join Henshaws BedFest 2026 this Saturday for a vibrant celebration of music, food, and family-friendly entertainment, perfectly positioned to take in the world-famous Knaresborough Bed Race. Expect a full day of live music, great food and drink, and a lively festival atmosphere for all ages.
The programme features a diverse lineup of live music, alongside family-friendly games and activities such as hook-a-duck and face painting, plus a wide range of street food vendors serving throughout the day.
Henshaws BedFest is a community-focused fundraising festival organised by the disability charity Henshaws at its Arts and Crafts Centre in Knaresborough, bringing people together to celebrate and support the charity’s work.
Free for under threes, £6 for children aged three to 17-years-old, £12 for adults booking in advance or £14 on the door, 12noon-11pm, June 13, Henshaws Arts and Crafts Centre, 50 Bond End, Knaresborough, HG5 9AL.
Left: a moorland painting by Garth Bayley. Right: Garth Bayley painting en plein air.
Open doors: North Yorkshire’s biggest art trail returns for another weekend
One of the UK’s largest and most celebrated open studio events, North Yorkshire Open Studios returns this weekend, bringing together more than 200 artists and makers from across the county.
Taking place on 13-14 June, the artist-led festival that was also on last weekend, offers a rare opportunity to step inside working studios, meet artists in the places where they create, and gain insight into the processes behind their work.
From the dramatic landscapes of the Yorkshire Dales and North York Moors to the county’s towns, villages and coastal communities, visitors can discover an extraordinary breadth of contemporary practice spanning painting, ceramics, printmaking, textiles, jewellery, sculpture, photography and mixed media.
Free, 10am-5pm, 13-14 June, various locations across North Yorkshire; see the website for details.
Harlow Hill Allotment Open Day and Plant Sale returns
The annual Harlow Hill Allotment Association Open Day and Plant Sale returns this Saturday as a welcoming, community-focused event.
Visitors will have the opportunity to explore the allotment grounds on guided tours, meet local growers, and browse a selection of plants grown on site and available to purchase.
A refreshments stall will also be serving homemade cakes, alongside additional plants for sale. This year’s event will feature a 'Guess the Weight of the Cake' competition, adding a bit of light-hearted fun to the day.
All proceeds will be shared between Harlow Hill Allotment Association, Horticap and Rossett Acre Primary School Gardening Club.
Free, 10am-1pm, June 13, Harlow Hill Allotment Association – Open Day and Plant Sale, Beckwith Avenue, Harrogate, HG2 0BW.
Photo: Jim Allinson
St Cecilia Orchestra to close 30th anniversary season with summer concert
Ripon’s St Cecilia Orchestra will conclude its 2025/26 season with a 'Music for a Summer’s Evening' concert at Holy Trinity Church in Ripon on Saturday, featuring a richly varied programme of chamber works.
The main event is Rodrigo’s much-loved Concierto de Aranjuez, performed by the rising guitar soloist Chris Godhard, alongside Ravel’s elegant Pavane pour une Infante Défunte, Kodály’s pastoral Summer Evening, and Poulenc’s lively Sinfonietta.
Under guest conductor Gary Matthewman, the evening promises a blend of lyrical warmth, pastoral colour, and spirited energy, marking a fitting finale to the orchestra’s 30th anniversary season and celebrating both established masterpieces and emerging musical talent.
Free for under-18s, £20 for adults, June 13, Holy Trinity Ripon, Kirkby Road, Ripon, HG4 2EY.
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