Arrival at a Ripon Cathedral bathed in early-evening sunshine, signalled the conclusion of  the 2023 St Wilfrid’s Procession.

It was the end of a 7.5 mile journey along residential streets and into the city centre, where thousands of people had gathered.

For the actor playing the part of the city’s patron saint and Colin the 19-year-old Cob Cross Clydesdale, there was a guard of honour provided by Ripon City Morris Dancers, as horse and rider approached the iconic building in time for a service of celebration.

Prior to that the rousing music of Ripon City Band (pictured above) resounded on Kirkgate as the procession made up of decorated floats and people in fancy dress carefully navigated the ancient street.

There was a carnival atmosphere throughout the day as crowds lined the streets to watch the parade go by and gathered in the Market Square for a Saturday afternoon of free family-focused activities and entertainment organised by the volunteers of the St Wilfrid’s Procession Committee.

Time to celebrate for these members of the procession

Among the musical entertainers were the One For All Choir, who performed to a large crowd in front of Ripon Town Hall.

Also singing and dancing throughout  the day, were those who circled the city streets on the 20 decorated floats that took part in the procession.

The floats came with many imaginative themes and designs from superheroes, to one inspired by the TV comedy series Last of the Summer Wine.

Read more:

• Date set for opening of refurbished Ripon hotel
• Ripon’s Salvation Army to hold Yorkshire Day celebration

The focus was on family fun in the sun as Ripon Theatre Festival’s outdoor performers took centre stage over the weekend.

Yesterday’s bright sunshine brought hundreds of children, along with parents and grandparents to Spa Gardens, where they saw puppets, pirates, a Noah’s Ark show (pictured below) musicians, singers, dancers and many more entertainers.

Among them was Rhubarb Theatre (see main picture), which provided an interactive experience for the audience combining street entertainment with family games, featuring characters inspired by Lewis Carroll’s wonderland creations.

On Saturday, Ripon city centre Market Square, Minster Gardens, The Arcade, North Street and Kirkgate and Westgate, were among the venues for a eclectic mixture of alfresco theatrical performances, while the Flying Dodos and other puppet characters roamed the streets.

The Flying Dodos on North Street

Ripon Arts Hub, the cathedral, Curzon Cinema, the Claro Lounge, Wetherspoon’s Unicorn Hotel, the library and The Little Ripon Bookshop and Workhouse Museum, also hosted indoor festival events.

The Strange Twig pirates in Spa Gardens

Ian Gouge 

At Curzon Cinema, Ripon-based award-winning author and poet Ian Gouge, gave a premiere performance of his dramatic poem Crash while on Market Square, a large crowd gathered for a whole host of acts, including The Giant Balloon Show (pictured below).

Just a hop and a skip away at the cathedral, Ripon City Morris Dancers  attracted a large gathering as did dancers of a different kind when Sarita McDermott and her team of Bollywood-style performers, Bethany, Matthew and Martin, from Jennyruth Workshops, performed in Spa Gardens.

Ripon City Morris Dancers

Sarita McDermott (right) with the Bollywood dancers.

While it was a weekend for enjoyment across the city, the daily hardship of a life in poverty was given a dramatic twist at the Workshouse Museum.

Through interactive displays and presentations, volunteers in period costume told the story of what it was like for some of Ripon’s Victorian forebears.

Volunteers Lindy (left) and Judy showed visitors what wash day in the Workhouse was like for its Victorian inmates

The finale of Ripon’s second theatre festival came yesterday evening with Illyria’s action-packed production of Robin Hood  at Fountains Abbey and as the curtain came down on this year’s event, festival director Katie Scott (pictured below) told the Stray Ferret:

“It has been a great success. Building on last year’s launch we have seen increased ticket sales and hundreds of people attending the free outdoor events and pop up shows.

“This gives us a tremendous platform for next year.”

Festival director Katie Scott

Read more:

• Free festival for disabled children returns to Ripon
• Plan to convert Ripon dentist premises into flat

Seven of Ripon’s best-known locations are combining on Saturday March 12 to provide free entertainment and interactive fun for families.

The Sights and Sounds of Ripon programme, organised by Harrogate Borough Council, runs from 11am until 2pm at all venues.

It includes activities ranging from participation in a Victorian school lesson at the Workhouse Museum, to a visit to the bell tower at Ripon Cathedral.

Anyone interested in how fingerprints have been used to catch criminals can find out at the Prison and Police Museum, on St Marygate, where they can try fingerprinting themselves.

The cathedral will host singing, dancing, displays, craft activities and a bell tower tour.

At the nearby Courthouse Museum on Minster Road, visitors can see how the city’s criminals were brought to justice in bygone days.

In addition to the array of activities at the three heritage attractions run by Ripon Museum Trust, the cathedral, which celebrates its 1,350th anniversary this year, will host an exhibition featuring community services provided by 14 local organisations.

There be family crafts and games and performances from local choirs, Ripon City Morris Dancers and Betty Lupton’s Ladle Laikers.

The dancers and the Ladle Laikers will also be performing at the Workhouse Museum, along with singers and a ukulele band, while Punch and Judy shows will take place at 11.30am and 1.30pm.

The city council’s treasured items will be the focus of talks in the Mayor’s Parlour

At Ripon Town Hall, the city’s silverware and other treasures, collected over centuries, will be the focus of talks held on the hour from 11am in the Mayor’s parlour.

Those looking for some interactive entertainment will find it at Ripon Arts Hub on Allhallowgate, where they can view a working rehearsal by Ripon Youth Theatre between 11am and 12 noon  and join in live Oliver! workshops at 12.15pm, 1pm and 1.45pm.

Read more:

• Ripon gala concert will celebrate thee Queen’s jubilee
• Calls to relocate Ripon’s public litter bins