400 young people take part in Ripon’s free Summer Funfest

Organisers of Ripon’s third Summer Funfest are celebrating its success and looking to build on this further in 2024.

Ripon Together director Simon Hewitt said last week’s free activities at locations across the city and at Studley Royal Cricket Club were fully booked, with 400 youngsters taking part.

Activities included football, cricket, athletics, croquet, tennis, crazy golf and circus skills.

The week culminated in a megafun day on Thursday with obstacle courses, tug-of-war, sumo wrestling and many other sports and games, plus free Syrian street food.

Mr Hewitt said:

“Attendances at these events are growing year by year and this year they were all full up. Ripon Together will be considering how to grow the initiative further next year.”

In addition to its own funding, Ripon Together received grants from the locality budgets of city and North Yorkshire councillors Barbara Brodigan and Andrew Williams, the Jepson Trust and the Ripon Girls Fund.

The week was also supported by Ripon Runners, Ripon Spa Croquet Club, Studley Royal Cricket Club, JD Football Academy and the Sun Parlour Cafe, as well as Morrison’s, Sainsbury’s, Booths and M&S.