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08
Jul
5 things to do in and around Harrogate this weekend, July 10-12
Enjoy a family weekend at Ripon Theatre Festival
The 2026 Ripon Theatre Festival, which began on July 4, concludes this weekend with a series of family-focused events. Expect to see open-air performances, circus acts, and theatre across the historic city.
Saturday features a full day of entertainment, including walkabout acts, circus, music and community performances, before one of the festival’s highlights, The Three Musketeers, takes to the stage to bring comedy, adventure and swordplay to Ripon Spa Gardens in the evening.
The celebrations continue on Sunday with the Big Family Weekend, filling Ripon Spa Gardens and the city centre with open-air theatre, puppetry, dance, music and creative activities.
Families can get involved with theatre-inspired fun including mask-making with Yorkshire Create, while performances such as Kismat Walla, Sound Board and The Rubbish Shakespeare Company’s Romeo and Juliet will provide entertainment for all ages.
Various times and venues across Ripon; see the website for details, July 11-12.
Experience Viking culture
Are you curious about what life was like in the turbulent Viking Age? Vanaheim, a Viking reenactment group, is bringing displays of crafts, cooking, and combat to the Himalayan Garden & Sculpture Park from July 11-12.
Visitors can watch demonstrations of traditional Viking crafts, cooking and combat, alongside displays of weapons, armour and battle tactics.
The main battle performance at 2.30pm recreates a Viking raid on the monastery at Ripon, as local Saxons attempt to intercept the raiders.
Throughout the weekend, visitors can explore the Viking village and experience the clash of swords and shields, while children can take part in activities including shield making and clay crafts at the Yeti Den.
£16 (normal garden entry), the event runs from 10am to 4pm, July 11-12, Himalayan Garden & Sculpture Park, Hutts Lane, Ripon, HG4 3DA.
Celebrate craft ales, live music and rugby fun for all the family
Harrogate Rugby Club Beer Festival takes place on Saturday, bringing together local and regional breweries, live music, food and community entertainment.
Visitors can sample a range of drinks, including craft ales, lagers and ciders, as well as soft drinks, while enjoying live performances and street food throughout the day. A friendly touch rugby competition will also take place on the pitch, adding to the festival atmosphere. The event will finish with a screening of the England vs Norway World Cup match on the big screen.
The festival helps support grassroots rugby and celebrates the wider rugby community.
Free for under 10s, £5.04 for children aged 10 to 16, £11.55 for adults, 10am until late, July 11, Harrogate Rugby Union Football Club, Rudding Lane, Harrogate, HG3 1DQ.
A previous year's Scotton Feast & Dog Show
Visit Scotton Feast
Scotton Feast is coming back this summer with more entertainment and community spirit at Scotton Village Hall Field. Visitors can enjoy a series of fun events with family and friends, including magic shows, live music, choir performances, face painting, as well as lots of food and drink.
The popular dog show will be a highlight of Scotton Feast, giving dogs and their owners the chance to take part. The show begins at 1pm, with categories including Best Dog, Best Trick and Young Handler.
The funds raised will support the new MUGA at Percy Fields, Scotton Lingerfield Primary School, and St Thomas’ Church.
Free entry for the Feast, £3.50 entry per class for the dog show, 12pm-4pm, July 11, Scotton Village Hall Field, Harrogate, HG5 9HR.
Meet Ruth Ware at Book & Brunch
Book & Brunch returns this Sunday with internationally bestselling author Ruth Ware. Her thrillers include In a Dark, Dark Wood, The Woman in Cabin 10, The Turn of the Key, and One by One. Her psychological suspense novels have earned her millions of readers worldwide.
Along with food and drink served at Cedar Court Hotel, Ruth will discuss her inspirations, the art of building suspense, and the appeal of locked-room mysteries and unreliable narrators.
Copies of her books will be available to purchase at the event, with the opportunity to get your book signed. However, places are limited for the round table event, so book early to avoid disappointment.
Tickets are £22 per person, the event starts at 10am and lasts approximately two hours, July 12, Cedar Court Hotel, Park Parade, Harrogate, HG1 5AH.
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