Ripon is preparing for a bank holiday street party after Knaresborough took centre stage yesterday.
Knaresborough Spring Fayre saw thousands of people visit the sun-bathed Market Place.
The activities included a free petting farm, a free craft tent, fairground rides, a spring window competition, a magician and an appearance by the Easter bunny.
It was the second time the spring fayre has been staged by Knaresborough Business Collective, which was set up by a group of small businesses to make the town centre more vibrant.
Yesterday’s event certainly had the town buzzing for the entire six hours from 10am to 4pm.
Collective member Natalie Horner said:
“It was such a brilliant day and a huge success for both the event itself and the shops in town too.
“The weather was lovely and it was so nice to see so much community spirit and joy in town.”
The Nailery won the spring window competition.
The forecast looks a little less kind for tomorrow’s street party on Kirkgate in Ripon, but spirits will no doubt be equally high.
Kirkgate will be closed to traffic from 10am to 4pm while residents and visitors enjoy live music, al fresco dining and entertainment.
The event is part of the Totally Locally scheme being adopted by traders and Ripon Business Improvement District to encourage people to spend with independent businesses in the city.
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Crowds enjoy the fun at Knaresborough Spring Fayre
A carousel ride, choir performances and the Easter bunny were among he attractions at today’s Knaresborough Spring Fayre.
Patches of rain didn’t dampen spirits as crowds flocked to Market Place in the town centre for the new event.
From 10am this morning, there were queues of young families waiting to get on the carousel or to have their picture with the Easter bunny.
By midday the Easter parade was underway — children were able to get dressed up and walk around with the bunny.
There were also performances from Meadowside School Choir, All Together Now choir and Studio 3 Dance in Knaresborough.
The carousel was a crowd pleaser, with long queues for most of the day
Dancers from Studio 3 kept visitors entertained.
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Lots of children enjoyed getting their picture with the Easter bunny.
The All Together Now choir performed just after midday.
There were also local businesses holding stalls.
Knaresborough’s Market Place is set to host a new event tomorrow of family activities, food and drink and even farm animals.
The Knaresborough Spring Fayre, organised by Knaresborough Business Collective, is being held from 10am until 4pm tomorrow.
There’ll be fairground rides, a mobile petting farm, the chance to meet the Easter bunny and foam clay and flower crown making workshops.
There is also live entertainment throughout the day with the Meadowside School Choir and All Together Now choir, an easter parade at 12pm, a live dance performance from Studio 3 and music from Albert Stott.
Local businesses will also be holding stalls for visitors to buy from and there will be food and drink vendors too.
Organisers Natalie Horner and Annie Wilkinson-Gill said:
“We are super excited as it looks to be a very busy and amazing day, we have things happening all day long and so much love and effort has been put into it, right down to the smallest details.
“We have involved as many local businesses as possible as that’s what this is all about, bringing people to town not taking trade away from shops.”
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People can arrive throughout the day and entry is free. Activities like the fairground rides, easter bunny grotto and face painting are one token per child which can be bought for £3 each.
This is the first event organised by Knaresborough Business Collective. The not-for-profit venture launched in January to stage events and be a voice for businesses. About 30 businesses have signed up so far as subscribers.