Ferret Unlocked: don't miss out on all the latest in Lifestyle

The Stray Ferret's lifestyle team is always hard at work, shining a spotlight on what's happening in the Harrogate district, especially during the festive season.

Don't forget to check out our regular round-up of activities to find out what's happening in your area - it's published every Wednesday, to provide some inspiration for the weekend.

Last week, ahead of the music festival in his honour, we focused on the life of the composer Gerald Finzi, who grew up here in Harrogate.

Following the BBC's FOI request that exposed that more than 180 UK council-run libraries have closed or been handed over to volunteer groups since 2016, we spent the day at Knaresborough Library to answer the question of whether libraries are still a valuable asset to local communities?

Our food writer Yemi was keeping things festive in her regular column, sharing her tips for creating the perfect giftable Christmas hamper.

We've also pulled together a number of photo galleries from event over the last few weeks - check out our coverage of Knaresborough's Bright Friday, the Harrogate Christmas markets, the annual Mental Elf Run and Harrogate's Christmas window display.

Remember, if you've got your own photographs from across the Harrogate district to share, send them to letters@thestrayferret.co.uk for your chance to be featured in our column Photo of the Week.

Coming up at the weekend, we've spoken to Nick Copland from Homage2Fromage to get his tips on how to create the best festive cheeseboard for your Christmas buffet table. 

While we all know the saying 'a dog is for life, not just for Christmas' there are still plenty who are looking for their forever home this side of 2024. We've spoken to rescues in the district to highlight some of the pets that need some extra love over the festive period.

Finally, by subscribing to the Stray Ferret, readers can enjoy a range of fantastic exclusive offers, discounts and giveaways from local businesses, which we regularly update. From treatments, experiences and dining out find out what you could save money on this Christmas time.

The Stray Ferret covers daily news, features, investigations, what’s on and so much more. By subscribing, you’re helping us keep telling the stories that matter most to the region.

Get started with a subscription today and stay informed with what’s happening in your local area. Or give the gift of local news to a loved one this Christmas time.