The August Bank Holiday weekend is upon us and it’s our last long weekend until Christmas.

If you haven’t decided how you will be spending it, here’s a guide to some of the events taking place in the Harrogate district.

There’s a wide range of events happening from live music to children’s activities. They offer a perfect excuse for families and friends to get together while the sun is still shining.

Jurassic Crazy Golf, Victoria Shopping Centre Piazza, Harrogate

Some of the Jurassic Crazy Golf holes.

This nine-hole mini golf course combines crazy golf with dinosaurs and is accompanied by an educational Dino Trail around the town centre.

Matthew Chapman, manager at Harrogate BID which commissioned the course and trail, said:

“With the school summer holidays nearing an end, parents maybe scratching their heads thinking what to do to entertain their children.

“Well, we have the answer – jurassic golf! And what could be me more fun than a combination of dinosaurs and crazy golf?”

The Dino Trail is a fun, educational trail where people can find answers to jurassic-themed questions by scanning a QR code on a poster, displayed in shop windows.

The answer will then appear on their phones.

As people complete the trail, they will also be collecting letters that form a simple, themed anagram. Users can then submit the anagram/answer via the LoyalFree app for an additional chance to win a prize draw.

Those wishing to play a round of golf can turn up on the day or book at the jurassic golf website here.

The cost is adults £3, children £2.50, family of four (two adults and two children) £10 and one adult and one child £5.

Friday, Saturday and Sunday, jurassicgolf.co.uk/harrogate

Fireworks Championships, Newby Hall, Ripon

A dazzling night of fireworks at Newby Hall and Gardens, which sees three teams create stunning displays choreographed to music and the audience voting for a winner on the night via SMS.

The event also includes a final display by SmartPyro to round off the night. Watch from a picnic rug or camping chair against the stunning backdrop of 17th century house and its impressive grounds

There will also be a drone light show, courtesy of DroneSwarm, funfair rides, music and food and drink.

Mat Lawrence, managing director at event organiser MLE Pyrotechnics, said:

“It’s an honour to return to Newby Hall for another year of our Firework Champions event. We’ve got a tonne of great entertainment in store thanks to our three competitors, as well as a spectacular closing display. It’s going to be a great day out for families.”

Gates open for entry at 4pm, alongside pre-show entertainment. The DroneSwarm light show takes place at twilight and the main event begins at 9.30pm, with SMS voting at 10.15pm. The larger closing display takes place at 10:30pm and the results are announced at 10.40pm.

Book your ticket here.

Saturday, fireworkchampions.co.uk

Read more:

• What’s On across the district?
• Free activities to do with the kids this summer in the Harrogate district

Leeds Festival, Wetherby

Leeds Festival is once again set to take over Bramham Park, near Wetherby.

Thousands of people are expected at Bramham for the three-day event, which starts on Friday and is headlined this year by the likes of Arctic Monkeys, The 1975, Dave, Halsey, Bring Me the Horizon and Megan Thee Stallion.

Last year’s new format continues, with two main stages instead of the previous one.

Friday to Monday, leedsfestival.com

Family Fun Day at Ripon Races

The final family fun day of the season is taking place at Ripon Races on Bank Holiday Monday. It will also be hosting the only listed race of the season, the EBF Ripon Champion Two-Year Old Trophy. Pack a picnic basket and blanket and enjoy lots of free fun for the children in the course enclosure including:

• Balloon modelling and face painting
• Barrel train ride
• Kub karts
• Inflatable assault course and giant inflatable slide
• Punch ‘n’ Judy and magic show

Monday, ripon-races.co.uk/family-days

Free entertainment on the Market Square, Ripon

Ripon City Council’s season of complimentary summer events for residents and visitors will finish on a high tomorrow (Saturday), with a full-size ferris wheel operating on Market Square from 2pm until 8pm.

City council leader Andrew Williams, said:

“This is the first time that the council has had a ferris wheel for families to enjoy as part of its fairground attractions.

“It will be alongside a climbing wall for older children and a ride for younger children.”

A climbing wall will be among the attractions

All rides will be free of charge, like the evening of musical entertainment starting at 6.30pm, when Ripon singer-songwriter Freddie Cleary takes the stage.

He will be followed by tribute acts singing the hits of Bruno Mars, Katy Perry, Olly Murs and country and western favourites.

Performances will go on until 11pm with a break from the contemporary sounds at 9pm, when attendees will be able to see one of Ripon’s team of Hornblowers, setting the watch.

On Sunday and Monday the Market Square will host another Little Bird Artisan Market. Open from 10am until 3pm, it will again include stalls selling goods ranging from food to home furnishings, produced by local and Yorkshire-based traders.

Saturday and Sunday.

Pop-up parties, Knaresborough Castle and Ripon Spa Gardens

Harrogate Borough Council has organised these summer events for the whole family to enjoy.

The events are all free and are a chance for young people to enjoy juggling and circus shows, magicians, character meet and greets, and mini discos.

They follow a party held in Harrogate’s Valley Gardens earlier this month, which was a huge success.

Knaresborough Castle on Friday, August 26 between 11am and 4pm

• 11am – Bubble circus tricks show
• 11.45am – Magic show
• 12.30pm – Character mini disco
• 1.30pm – Juggling/circus tricks show
• 2.15pm – Magic show

• 3pm – Character mini disco

Ripon Spa Gardens on Saturday, August 27 between 11am and 3pm

• 11am – Circus tricks workshop
• 11.45am – Magic show
• 12.30pm – Character mini disco
• 1.30pm – Circus tricks workshop
• 2.15pm – Magic show
• 3pm – Character mini disco

Friday and Saturday

Sheffield indie band Arctic Monkeys have been announced today as one of six headliners for Leeds Festival 2022.

They previously headlined the festival in 2009 and 2014.

The event returned to its usual location at Bramham Park this year after being cancelled last year due to the pandemic.

Next year’s Leeds Fest will take place from August 25 to 28, over the bank holiday weekend, and will once again have two main stages and six headliners.

Veteran rockers Rage Against the Machine, UK hip hop artist Dave, pop star Halsey, metal band Bring Me The Horizon and US rapper Megan Thee Stallion were also confirmed at the top of the bill.

Other confirmed acts include Polo G, Little Simz, Circa Waves, Griff, Fever 333, Wolf Alice, Fontaines D.C., Jack Harlow, Enter Shikari, Madison Beer, Run The Jewels, Måneskin, and Bastille.

For more information visit the festival’s website.

Read more:

• Eat, drink and be merry: the best Christmas food & drink from local independents
• Popular Harlow Hill fruit and veg shop to reopen in February

From comedy at Harrogate Cricket Club, to pig-themed scarecrows at Ripley or a family-friendly festival at Stockeld Park, here are the best activities on offer over this three-day weekend: 

Music and culture

Leeds Festival, Wetherby

Festivals are back with a bang, and Leeds Festival is once again set to take over Bramham Park, near Wetherby. Almost 90,000 people are expected at Bramham for the three-day event, which starts on Friday and is headlined this year by the likes of Liam Gallagher, Biffy Clyro and Stormzy. This year new format will see two main stages instead of the previous one. Friday to Monday, leedsfestival.com

Stockeld Rox, Wetherby

Family-friendly festivals have surged in popularity over the years, so Stockeld Park’s family tribute festival is sure to get parents and children singing along and dancing to the likes of Madonna, Jessie J, Rita Ora and Take That. Pizzas, snacks and drinks, including a full bar will be available. Each evening will end with a spectacular firework finale. All ticket holders will now also get free access to the adventure park from 3.30pm to 6pm to enjoy the attraction before the event. Sunday and Monday, tickets from £14, stockeldpark.co.uk

Stockeld Park is holding Stockeld Rox, a family-friendly tribute music festival.

Silly Point Comedy, Harrogate 

Balcony Bar at Harrogate Cricket Club has teamed up with Sitting Room Comedy to bring a night full of much-needed laughs. The outdoor show features award winning comedians: Chris Washington, Steve Day, Andrew Bird and MC Matt Stellingwerf. Sunday, tickets £12, sittingroomcomedy.com

Our Gate, Harrogate 

For those interested in a theatrical experience with a difference, Our Gate is an immersive community play with Harrogate and its citizens at its core. The show travels between indoor and outdoor locations through the town, rather than being fixed on stage like a traditional theatre show, with the audience at the centre of the action. Friday to Sunday, tickets from £18, harrogatetheatre.co.uk

Food and drink

Harrogate Food and Drink Festival, Harrogate

The Harrogate Food and Drink Festival is returning to Ripley Castle, with a huge selection of food, drink, independent traders and family entertainment. The dog-friendly event follows on from the previous sell-out festival held on The Stray in June and also features live bands, chef demos and art. Saturday to Monday, tickets £2.95 for under 16s and £6.98 for adults, under 5s free, harrogatefoodfestival.com 

Harrogate Food and Drink Festival is back – this time at Ripley Castle.

Malton Food Lovers Festival, Malton

Further afield, the quaint market town of Malton considers itself the food capital of the North, and this family-friendly festival is a huge hit with locals as well as tourists, who flock from all over the country to eat and drink local produce, listen to music and enjoy foodie talks. Saturday-Monday, free entry, visitmalton.com

Read more:

• What’s On across the district?
• Ripon to host another weekend of free family entertainment

Attractions

Fireworks Championships, Ripon

A dazzling night of fireworks at Newby Hall and Gardens, which sees three teams create stunning displays choreographed to music and the audience voting for a winner on the night via SMS. The event also includes a final display by the organisers to round off the night. Watch from a picnic rug or camping chair against the stunning backdrop of 17th century house and its impressive grounds. Saturday, fireworkchampions.co.uk

Mamma Mia! Harewood

This is the first time that the original Mamma Mia! stage show has been performed in the open-air and the Bank Holiday weekend is the last chance to catch this unique production, set in the grounds of Harewood House. Friday to Monday, tickets from £39.50, mamma-mia.com/harewood-house

Outdoor Cinema, Bedale

Outdoor Cinema at Thorp Perrow Arboretum.

Free events

Wath Street Fair, Ripon

Wath’s main street will be filled with stalls, a Pimms and prosecco stand and a children’s treasure hunt. Other attractions include a bouncy castle, a brass band and a dog show, while teas will also be available in the village’s Samwaies Hall. Saturday, Free entry, funds raised go to St Mary’s Church.

Ripley Scarecrow Pigfest, Harrogate

Organised by Karen Evans for the last 21 years – with one year off in 2020 due to Covid19 – the scarecrow trail was originally started in 2001 to encourage visitors back to the countryside after the foot and mouth crisis and has a fun take on the traditional scarecrow hunt. The Scarecrows are inspired by the story of Thomas de Ingilby, an ancestor of Sir Thomas Inglby of Ripley Castle, who saved King Edward III from a wild boar attack in 1355 and whose crest (the boar’s head) is the emblem of Ripley village. All the scarecrows have pigs heads and pig names such as Boarglar Bill, Pigmaylion, Porkupine, Thumboarlina and the Statue of Liboarty. Competition sheets cost £4 and list the names of the scarecrows. Each scarecrow has a number and the idea is to match the name to the number. Those who get them all correct are entered into a hat, with the winners drawn at random. A great family day out and a good excuse for a Ripley ice cream! Friday to Monday, ripleyscarecrowpigfest.co.uk

A free weekend of entertainment on the Market Square, Ripon

The August Bank Holiday weekend will see the return of fairground rides and a climbing wall. The event-staged by Ripon City Council follows the Yorkshire Day weekend, that brought hundreds of people to the city centre. There will be musical entertainment from 7pm on Saturday, featuring three tribute acts singing a selection of chart-topping hits from the best-known boy bands, Paloma Faith and ABBA. On Sunday Market Square will host another Little Bird Artisan Market. Open from 10am until 3pm, it will again include stalls selling goods ranging from food to home furnishings, produced by local and Yorkshire-based traders. Saturday and Sunday.

Families gather in Ripon Market Square.

Harrogate Car Enthusiasts Motor Show and Family Fun Day, Harrogate 

With everything from super cars to classic cars and “boy racer” cars, Harrogate Car Enthusiasts is hosting its fifth charity Motor Show and Family Fun Day in aid of Yorkshire Air Ambulance at a brand new venue – Harrogate Rugby Club. More than 250 vehicles, including tractors and motorbikes, are set to go on display and there will also be a variety of stalls and children’s entertainment, including a bouncy castle and rides. Monday.

Water Trail, Harrogate

Harrogate Mumbler has teamed up with the Harrogate BID to celebrate Harrogate’s most famous export… water. The Water Trail has two different challenges for families to enjoy – firstly finding the 20 water-themed pictures and secondly answering 20 Harrogate trivia questions. There are four different trails in total and participants have to simply spot the water-themed image in participating retailer’s windows. There is a prize for everyone who completes a trail. Until Sunday, September 5th, harrogate.mumbler.co.uk

The Harrogate Water Trail is a free activity for families.