The Yorkshire Event Centre in Harrogate is expecting to host tens of thousands more visitors after securing several new deals for 2023.

The new events include an epic comic convention, the UK’s biggest outdoor holiday home show, a model rail showcase and an electric vehicle extravaganza.

Heather Parry, managing director of the Yorkshire Event Centre, said:

“We are excited to be heading into 2023 with a number of new, high-profile shows to be held here for the first time. All of these have strong national profiles, guaranteed to attract thousands of visitors into the region, and we are proud to host them here.”

Harrogate Model Engineering Exhibition and Model Rail 2023, on Friday and Saturday, March 10 and 11, will have large-scale traction engines, model boats, military, earth-moving display, live steam, model trucks, aero modelling, railway locomotives and over 40 club and society displays.

Model Rail 2023 will feature  the largest model railway in the UK. ‘Heaton Lodge Junction’ is a 200ft x 50ft masterpiece that took over seven years to build.

Fully Charged LIVE North 2023, which is billed as the world’s number-one electric vehicle and clean energy show, is expected to attract 10,000 to 15,000 visitors to the YEC.

The show, which will be held from Friday, May 19 to Sunday, May 21, will complement a series of other Fully Charged LIVE shows which are held in Europe, America, Canada and Australia, as well as Fully Charged LIVE South, which is held in Hampshire.

Founded by actor, author and presenter Robert Llewellyn, the hugely popular Fully Charged YouTube channel has more than 163 million views and nearly a million subscribers, and covers electric vehicles of all shapes and sizes, from electric bikes to electric boats, as well as covering the clean, sustainable energy sources that these technologies can run on.

Fully Charged at the Yorkshire Event Centre: (l to r) presenter Robert Llewellyn, YEC venue manager Richard Moorhouse, Dan Caesar and YEC sales manager Ben Chatburn.

Comic-Con will be at the Yorkshire Event Centre on the weekend of June 3-4 as part of a national tour. Visitors can expect big-name guests, amazing set and prop builds, major attractions, cosplay, anime, traders, gaming and more.

Finally, organisers of the UK’s biggest outdoor holiday home show, HERCMA, recently announced their relocation to the Great Yorkshire Showground.

Rebranded as The Great Holiday Home Show, it will be held from Friday, September 8 to Sunday, September 10 for the public, followed by a trade-only show from Tuesday, September 12 to Thursday, September 14. The outdoor show of holiday homes, caravans and motorhomes, is set to get a brand-new look, with new content to be announced nearer the time.

The Great Yorkshire Showground has 250 acres of outdoor space and can also host large-scale indoor events.

The YEC is based on the 250-acre Great Yorkshire Showground, which has 250 acres of outdoor space to offer event organisers and free parking. It can host large-scale indoor events across the two halls in the Yorkshire Event Centre or in one of the 14 rooms at the Pavilions of Harrogate.

Businesses and events held at the Great Yorkshire Showground contributed £73.7 million to the local economy in 2019, the latest year for which figures are available.

Read more:

• Harrogate to host Comic Con Yorkshire 2023
• UK’s biggest outdoor holiday home show to come to Harrogate

A model railway exhibition is arriving in Harrogate tomorrow, with the organisers hoping it will encourage more people to take up the hobby.

Harrogate Model Railway Group holds meetings twice a week at St Aidan’s Church of England High School for rail enthusiasts to share ideas and modelling tips.

Clem Dye, one of about 20 members, said he expected as many as 500 people to attend tomorrow’s exhibition, depending on weather conditions. It will be the group’s first since covid.

As well as model railways created by members, there will be additional exhibitors there including Wenselydale Railway and Embsay & Bolton Abbey Steam Railway.

Visitors will also have the chance to browse a number of trade stands.

Mr Dye said:

“We have a number of exhibitors, who model in different gauges, be that ’009’, ’N’, ‘OO’ or ‘O’. There should be something for everyone at the show.

“Just because you might model in one particular gauge it doesn’t stop you appreciating a layout in a gauge that you’re not familiar with. People come and see the exhibits to gather ideas and inspiration for their own layouts. I’m looking forward to checking them out too.”

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He added he hoped events like this, and a further exhibition planned for August, will open the hobby up to more people.

Tomorrow’s event takes place from 10am to 4pm. Tickets are £5 for adults, £2 for children and £10 for a family.

To join the group or find out more, click here.