Ripon will be rocking on Saturday when four musical acts perform in the city’s ancient square.
The Yorkshire Day Weekend will also feature free fairground rides for children, fireworks and a Little Bird Artisan Market.
The weekend has been arranged by Ripon City Council, which is funding the events from the parish precept paid by council tax payers.
It will be the city’s first mass public gathering since the relaxation of covid restrictions on July 19.
In line with the council’s family-friendly policy, two free fairground rides for young children will operate from 2pm until 8pm on Saturday and 10am until 4pm on Sunday.
For older children, a climbing wall will be in place for use free of charge.
Ripon’s first Little Bird Artisan Market this year was held on Market Square in May.
Music takes centre stage from 5.45pm on Saturday, when local singer-songwriter and acoustic guitarist Freddie Cleary performs.
He will be followed by Elton John, Amy Winehouse and Queen tribute acts, whose respective performances will begin at 7pm, 7.45pm and 9.45pm.
A more traditional performer will be on Market Square at 9pm, when a hornblower’s blasts at the four corners of the obelisk will signal the setting of the night watch.
Ripon’s day of fairground fun and entertainment will be brought to a sparkling crescendo with a Saturday night fireworks display.
Cupcakes by Ripon-based When the Cake Door Opens will be among the items for sale at Sunday’s market.
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Between 10am and 3pm on Sunday’s Yorkshire Day, the Little Bird Artisan Market will showcase more than 50 businesses, selling goods handmade or produced in the Yorkshire area.
Last month the market attracted many local people and visitors to the city centre, who browsed stalls selling an array of crafts, homeware, skin products, candles, clothing, photography, wood crafts and other goods.
Artisan market returns to Ripon on bank holiday Monday
Ripon Little Bird Artisan Market will return on Monday.
The May Bank Holiday event will be the first staged by Ripon City Council for 18 months.
The covid lockdown put paid to all public and civic events planned by the council in 2020.
They included the 75th anniversary celebrations for VE Day, Saint Wilfrid’s procession and Remembrance Sunday.
Andrew Williams, council leader and chair of the city council’s events committee, said:
“For the first time in 18 months Ripon City Council is once again able to provide an event for local people to enjoy.
“I hope that as lockdown restrictions ease we will be able to return to the larger scale events that we have hosted so successfully in recent years.
“We have ambitious plans for the summer onwards and will provide further details on our plans as soon as we are able to do so.”
The time has come for Ripon City Council to stage its first event since the covid lockdown
The market will have more than 40 artisans selling homemade local products.
It will be open from 10am to 3pm and social distancing measures will be in place.
As well as providing a platform for the artisans to display and sell their goods, the council hopes it will attract footfall to benefit businesses in the city.
Items on sale will include clothing, jewellery, hand-crafted wood items and food.
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Jackie Crozier, owner and curator of Little Bird Artisan Markets, said:
“The Ripon artisan market celebrates the entrepreneurial spirit of the local traders, inviting visitors and residents to discover artisanal crafts from up-and-coming local businesses and further afield
“As someone who was born and lives in Ripon, I am very proud to hold events in the city I am passionate about.”
For more information on the artisan market or to become involved as an artist, artisan or vendor, email info@littlebirdmade.co.uk.