Oz Clarke and the Armonico Consort toast music with ‘Gin & Phonic’

A top wine critic and broadcaster is set to team up with a choir and instrumental ensemble to explore the relationship between music and gin.

Held in association with Harrogate’s Slingsby Gin, the event will see Oz Clarke and the Armonico Consort investigate the highs and lows of the connection between gin, music, and humans over the centuries.

Gin and Phonic will take place in The Spiegeltent, in Crescent Gardens, Harrogate, on the evening of Monday, July 4, as part of the Harrogate Music Festival.

Slingsby Gin will be providing two free gin tastings for each audience member, which can be sipped whilst listening to the music of Purcell, Handel and Dowland.

Whilst William Slingsby discovered the unique properties of the natural spring water from Harrogate’s Tewit Well in 1571, more than 40 years later Slingsby Gin captured the ‘Spirit of Harrogate’, synonymous with its beautiful and restorative nature, in a variety of different gins.

Tickets cost £28 and are available here or by calling the Harrogate International Festivals box office on 01423 562303.

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Grab a picnic rug for open air theatre performances in the district

It has been a week of soaring temperatures across the Harrogate district.

And when the sun shines, there is nothing better than grabbing a picnic rug or deckchair and enjoying some fabulous outdoor entertainment.

We have put together a selection of outdoor theatre performances taking place across the Harrogate district this summer where tickets are still available:

Hamlet The Comedy – RHS Harlow Carr Gardens, July 5 and 6

Festival favourite Oddsocks Productions return to Harrogate with yet another high-energy, feel-good family theatre show.

Pack your picnic and join the crazy theatre troupe for a festival of music, magic and mayhem as they bring Hamlet The Comedy to the beautiful grounds of Harlow Carr.

Hamlet The Comedy finds the eponymous royal student returning home for the summer holidays to find something rotten in the state of Denmark and it’s more than just the bag of dirty washing! Mum’s married Uncle Claudius and Dad’s dishing the dirt from his grave – it’s enough to make a teenager mad!

Shakespeare’s famous tragedy is performed as you’ve never seen before with lots of laughs, music and memorable moments.

Presented by Oddsocks Productions as part of Harrogate International Festivals.

Event details:

Doors open at 6.30pm for Friends of the Festival and RHS card holders.

General admission from 6.45pm.

This is an outdoor event, please dress appropriately for the British weather. Feel free to bring your own picnics, rugs and deckchairs to make the most of the event.

Tickets are available here.

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Cinderella – Valley Gardens, Harrogate,  July 17

In an enchanted kingdom faraway land magical creatures and fairy godmothers come together to tell the best-loved of all fairy tales.

Full of song, mirth, and joy for the summer ahead, join us on Cinderella’s journey of a lifetime to a magical ball where nearly anything is possible especially if it is before midnight.

Family and friends are welcome to picnic and children are invited to dress in their favourite fairy tale characters and join for the midsummer ball dance.

Presented by Chapterhouse Theatre.

Event details:

Doors open at 3pm and the production starts at 4pm.

The performance will last around 90 minutes (with no interval) and will take place in all but the worst weather.

Please bring your own deck chairs, rugs and picnics etc for the performance.

Tickets are available here

Romeo and Juliet – Knaresborough Castle, August 6

This best-loved story of star crossed lovers and feuding families shall be performed in the castle yard.

Dressed in beautiful Elizabethan costume and performed by a fine troupe of Shakespearean players, join Chapterhouse for the greatest love story ever told as they perform magical theatre in magical surroundings.

Presented by Chapterhouse Theatre.

Event details:

Doors open at 6pm and the production starts at 7pm.

The performance will last around 90 minutes (with no interval) and will take place in all but the worst weather.

Please bring your own deck chairs, rugs and picnics etc for the performance.

Tickets are available here 

Pride and Prejudice – Ripon Spa Gardens, August 20

Take a step back in time as we meet Elizabeth Bennett and her sisters. Whilst their interfering mother engineers various courtships, Elizabeth and Jane must pursue their own quest for true love.

Amidst mistakes and miscommunications, can Elizabeth finally surpass her prejudices to see past the proud exterior of the enigmatic Mr Darcy?

Presented by Chapterhouse Theatre.

Event details:

Doors open at 6pm, the production starts at 7pm.

The performance will last around 90 minutes (with no interval) and will take place in all but the worst weather.

Please bring your own deck chairs, rugs and picnics etc for the performance.

Tickets are available here 

Carnival coming to Harrogate as part of summer programme

Harrogate is to hold a carnival for the first time in three years as part of a summer programme of cultural activities announced today.

Harrogate International Festivals will stage nine nights of events. starting on July 28 with the Brodsky Quartet at St Wilfrid’s Church.

Other highlights include the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival, featuring authors such as Lynda La Plante, Michael Connelly and Ann Cleeves and the return of the Spiegeltent, including festivals favourite Graeme Park and a burlesque performance.

Mark Billingham (left) and Richard Osman (right) at the crime writing festival last year

Musicians and dancers will parade through the town centre on July 30 as part of a Rio de Janeiro-themed carnival.

The free family event, which has been commissioned by Harrogate Borough Council., will start with a parade through the town centre, featuring dancers and musicians.

It will finish in Valley Gardens where there will be street food stands, dance classes, jugglers, and live music.

This year’s programme also includes Oddsocks Productions’ performance of Shakespeare’s Hamlet  at RHS Harlow Gardens, numerous classical and chamber music events and Berwins Salon North hosting a variety of TED talks discussing the power of influence.  

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Harrogate International Festivals chief executive, Sharon Canavar said:  

“Our final event of our 2022 summer programme is a real show-stopper.

“Carnival is an all-day, free family event which will bring the world to Harrogate as we celebrate a wealth of different cultures through dance, music and food.”

Since the pandemic, Harrogate International Festivals has held most events online.  

Ms Canavar said:  

“Two years ago, covid shut the events industry down overnight — and our very future was left hanging by a thread.”

The full programme is available here.

Fire dancers and art installations take over Harrogate’s Valley Gardens

As the sun went down this evening, Harrogate’s Valley Gardens was lit up with fire and lights on the opening night of a new event.

The Fire and Light Experience is curated by Harrogate International Festivals and Culture Creative.

For tonight and the next two nights, they have taken over the lower part of Valley Gardens and filled it with fire lanterns, art installations and fire dancers.

The trail is open from dusk until 10pm tonight, tomorrow and Saturday.

Here are some images from the opening night of the fire and light spectacle:

Jane Porter, who was visiting Harrogate on holiday, said:

“It’s just something completely different and it’s lovely to get outside whilst it’s warm too. I’ve really enjoyed it. It’s definitely not the thing I expected to be doing in Harrogate but I’ve loved it!”

Six-year-old Edward said the fire dancers were his favourite:

“I can’t believe they can do that, he’s got spiky hair like me and it didn’t get burnt! It’s really cool.”

Most of the earlier time slots have gone, however there are tickets left for most of the later times.

Tickets for the event are priced at £12 for adults, £6 for 5 to 16-year-olds, and under-fives go free. You can buy tickets here.

Your guide to Valley Gardens’ Fire and Light Experience, which starts tonight

Harrogate’s skies have been ablaze with long-awaited sunshine this week.

And the heat is set to continue when the ‘The Fire and Light Experience – a trail of blaze and brilliance through the Valley Gardens’ begins its three-day run tonight.

Sharon Canavar, chief executive of event organisers Harrogate International Festivals, told the Stray Ferret:

“We are so excited to be back to running events, especially something on this scale.

“It has been tremendously difficult for the last two years due to the many restrictions, but as we approach this weekend with the sun shining and flowers in bloom, to be producing something so special in the Vallely Gardens is really exciting!”

Here is a brief guide to the trail to help you enjoy Harrogate International Festivals’ first big event of the year.

Who is organising the event?

Harrogate International Festivals has teamed up with outdoor events company Culture Creative for the event, which is being part-funded by Harrogate Borough Council and Harrogate Business Improvement District.

What can I expect to see?

Visitors will be able to see “mythical creatures, fire performers and captivating displays of fire and light”, according to HIF. Harrogate — a destination famed for water — will bring “all the elements of nature alive; earth, air, water and fire in a spectacle of brilliance and blaze”.

Will it be similar to Cie Carabosse Fire Garden event in Valley Gardens in 2016? 

Ms Canavar said:

“Carabosse was an event in 2016 especially produced to celebrate our 50th Anniversary.

“Whilst this event does have some fiery spectacles, this is very much about celebrating nature around us with lights and flame and we’re thrilled to be working with a fantastic company called Culture Creative who create amazing arts installations from Blenheim and Kew to locations around the world.”

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When does it take place?

The event starts tonight and takes place over three evenings until Saturday, from 6.30pm until 10.30pm.

Where does it take place?

It takes place at the lower end of Harrogate’s Valley Gardens, with entrance to the event via the main access to the gardens, located by the Royal Pump Room Museum.

Will I still be able to access the Valley Gardens during the day?

HIF has taken a license of the Valley Gardens, so whilst people can wander through and see the build process throughout the day, each evening the lower area of Valley Gardens will be turned into a ticketed event space.

Are there still tickets available?

Most of the earlier time slots have gone, however there are tickets left for most of the later times.

How much are tickets? 

Tickets for the event are priced at £12 for adults, £6 for 5 to 16-year-olds, and under-fives go free. You can buy tickets here.

What type of footwear is suitable?

Visitors are advised to wear sturdy shoes, as the trail takes place on natural paths covering areas of uneven ground and variable terrain.

Can I take photographs?

Photographs are allowed and visitors are encouraged to share images on social media using the hashtag #HIFfireandlight.

Will there be refreshments available to purchase?

There is no food and drink available on site as it is hoped people will use the event as an opportunity to experience “the great food and drink” offer available across Harrogate.

‘Fire and Light Experience’ arrives in Harrogate’s Valley Gardens this week

In 2016, 40,000 people headed to Harrogate’s Valley Gardens to see it transformed into a stunning fire garden, featuring a flaming display of sculptures and installations.

Now, five years later, the town’s iconic landmark is set for a second blaze of glory, when a magical fire and light trail arrives on Thursday evening.

Harrogate International Festivals has teamed up with outdoor events company Culture Creative for the occasion, which is being billed as ‘The Fire and Light Experience – a trail of blaze and brilliance through the Valley Gardens’.

‘Captivating displays’

Visitors will be able to see “mythical creatures, fire performers and captivating displays of fire and light”, according to HIF, which was also responsible for bringing the hugely successful Cie Carabosse Fire Garden to the town in 2016.

Sharon Canavar, HIF chief executive, said:

“We are incredibly excited to be launching our 2022 festival season with our Fire and Light Experience.

“Culture Creative are masters at delivering stunning visual displays in large, outdoor settings, and they are now adding the Valley Gardens to their impressive list of locations, which includes some of the most famous gardens in the UK, America and Australia.”

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Taking place from 6.30pm until 10.30pm from Thursday to Saturday it will be HIF’s first event of 2022 and is being part-funded by Harrogate Borough Council and Harrogate Business Improvement District.

Useful information

Salon North returns to Harrogate with TED-style talk on human brain

Berwins Salon North, a series of evenings featuring speakers on different topics, is returning to Harrogate this month after a two-year absence.

The events, run by Harrogate International Festivals, will return to the Crown Hotel on March 17.

Three evenings are arranged for the coming months, each exploring a different topic in a way that organisers said will “change lives for the better”.

The series will begin with ‘Out Of Your Head… Out Of Your Mind…’ in which a trio of award-winning speakers will explore the human brain.

Scientist and historian Professor Matthew Cobb will speak first on how to create artificial memories in mice and other artificial intelligence programmes.

Dr Pragya Agarwal will then open the audience’s eyes to their own unconscious bias and explains how it impacts their jobs, futures and even their romantic relationships.

Finally, David Robson will look at how expectations can shape experience — for example, those who believe that ageing brings wisdom may in fact live longer.

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The event is sponsored by Harrogate law firm, Berwins and organised by Harrogate International Festivals.

Sharon Canavar, Harrogate International Festivals’ chief executive, said:

“After two years away, we are thrilled that Berwins Salon North is back – and back in style.

“Before covid, these evenings of TED-style talks – where the speakers really do make the audience sit up, take notice and even question their own lifestyles – were a staple of the northern cultural scene.

“We are once again able to stage these fantastic evenings, ones that firmly establish Harrogate’s position on the cultural map, and ones that often change lives for the better.”

The next two Berwins Salon North events will be held on April 21 and May 19.

Harrogate’s crime writing festival reveals 2022 special guest line-up

Lynda La Plante, Paula Hawkins and Tess Gerritsen are among the authors set to appear at this year’s Theakston Old Peculiar Crime Writing Festival.

Hosted by programme chair and award winning novelist, Denise Mina, the event will return to Harrogate’s Old Swan Hotel from July 21 to 24.

The event, organised by Harrogate International Festivals, offers an international audience the opportunity to discover the next big names in crime fiction and hear giants of the genre discuss their work. It includes panels, workshops and talks.

Among those appearing will be Lynda La Plante, creator of Prime Suspect, and Paula Hawkins, author of the global phenomenon Girl on the Train.

Michael Connelly, CL Taylor, Lucy Foley, John Connolly and Kathy Reichs will also appear as special guests.

Channel 4 journalist and broadcaster Steph McGovern, who lives in Harrogate, will also be speaking with actor and author Charlie Higson about his new crime novel Whatever Gets You Through the Night.

Read more:

Meanwhile, festival favourite Val McDermid will be returning with her New Blood panel, showcasing four exciting debut crime writers to look out for.

‘Greatest crime-writing event of the year’

Denise Mina, bestselling author of the Garnethill trilogy and the Paddy Meehan novels, said: 

“The Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival is the greatest crime writing event of the year so it is a very real honour to be chairing it, to work with the programming committee and to have the chance to attend all the thrilling events. 

“After the difficulties and hardships of the past two years we are all very much looking forward to all of the writers and readers coming together in Harrogate once more.”

Sharon Canavar, chief executive of event organisers Harrogate International Festivals, said: 

“We look forward to announcing the full programme in the coming months, and sharing the exciting weekend we have planned for our attendees.”

Weekend break packages for the festival are on sale now.

A full programme for the event will be released in spring.

For more information and to book tickets, call +44(0)1423 562 303 or email info@harrogate-festival.org.uk.

Harrogate’s Valley Gardens to host spectacular fire and light show

Harrogate’s Valley Gardens will host a spectacular series of displays next month that celebrate fire, light and water.

Harrogate International Festivals has teamed up with outdoor events company Culture Creative for the event, which is being billed as ‘The Fire and Light Experience – a trail of blaze and brilliance through the Valley Gardens’.

Taking place from dusk until 10pm on the nights of Thursday, March 24 to Saturday, March 26, it will be HIF’s first event of 2022 and is being part-funded by Harrogate Borough Council and Harrogate Business Improvement District.

Culture Creative specialises in creating shows in heritage and landscape settings. Its clients include Kew Gardens, Blenheim Palace, The National Trust and English Heritage.

Sharon Canavar, Harrogate International Festivals’ chief executive, said:

“The town is famed for its waters, and this arts installation will bring all the elements of nature alive – earth, air, water and fire – in a spectacle of brilliance and blaze.

“With covid having cast a dark shadow for almost two years, we wanted to create a magical experience for the whole family to marvel at. And those who venture into the Valley Gardens will find themselves immersed in a trail of discovery, and one where they will be able to reimagine the natural world around them.

“They will lose themselves in the magic of nature, as each twist and turn reveals a new picture of tranquillity and wonder.”

Tickets for the event, priced at £12 for adults, £6 for 5-16-year-olds, and under-fives go free. You can buy tickets from the Harrogate International Festival website.

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First Harrogate Christmas Fayre set to showcase local charities

The new Harrogate Christmas Fayre is set to showcase local charities when the festive market comes to town next month.

Organisers Market Place Europe have set aside a stall for 10 charities, which they can use to raise awareness and fundraise.

Across the 10 days, Samaritans of Harrogate and District, Harrogate Town AFC Community Foundation, Bilton and Woodfield Community Library, Dementia Forward, Harrogate Skills 4 Living Centre, Harrogate Easier Living Project, Citizens Advice Craven and Harrogate Districts, Harrogate International Festivals, Harrogate Hospital and Community Charity and Horticap will also use the stall.

A press release today by Harrogate Borough Council, which is organising the event in partnership with Market Place Europe, said the charities ‘were identified through the council’s Local Lotto initiative’, which conducts weekly prize draws that generate money for local charities.

Nick Rhodes, chief executive of Market Place Europe, said:

“Almost 50 coach companies are set to arrive across the 10 days, along with the thousands of Harrogate district residents and regional visitors, so it is anticipated that traders, local businesses and charities are going to benefit from the additional footfall the fayre will bring.”

The organisers hope the stall will help fill the void left by the original Harrogate Christmas Market on Montpellier Hill, which over the last five events contributed more than £90,000 to local charities.

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Gemma Rio, Harrogate Borough Council’s head of destination management, said:

“There is a lot of excitement building for the market, and we are anticipating thousands of people visiting Harrogate this festive period, so I’d like to thank Market Place Europe for donating a stall that will no doubt raise the profile of local charities and The Local Lotto.”

Location and dates for new Harrogate Christmas Fayre

The Harrogate Christmas Fayre will feature around 50 stallholders on Cambridge Street, Market Place, Station Square and Cambridge Crescent.. They will be spaced out wider than usual to encourage social distancing.