5 things to do in Harrogate and the district this weekend

Head to Harrogate Spring Flower Show

Harrogate Spring Flower Show is back and is taking place this week from Thursday to Sunday. It is one of the most popular events in the area, attracting up to 90,000 visitors each year.

Get garden inspiration aplenty thanks to plant and floral nursery displays, gardens designs, talks and demonstrations. There will also be stalls selling everything you could possibly need to make your garden the sanctuary you’d like it to be – the perfect inspiration as we (hopefully and eventually) head into warmer climes.

From £25, 9.30am-5pm, April 25-28, Great Yorkshire Showground, HG2 8NZ.

Listen to live music at Three’s A Crowd

Elena May

Listen to the laid-back music of Elena May as you drink or dine at Three’s A Crowd this Friday. Or on Sunday enjoy a roast until 7pm all to the background of self-accompanied piano vocalist Beth Ibbotson, who will be playing a range of feel-good favourites.

Elena May, 8pm until late, April 26; Beth Ibbotson, 6pm-9pm, April 28. 11 West Park, HG1 1BL.

Beth Ibbotson

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Go to a personal styling event

Are you unsure of what to wear or what suits you and looking for new clothes? Then head to local personal stylist Anna Mewes, who is hosting an evening of styling and shopping and will be taking clients through the hottest trends for spring and summer.

This will be followed by a chance to shop the Mint Velvet collection in store with a glass of bubbles in hand.

£20, 6.30-8.30pm, April 25, Mint Velvet, 29-31 James Street, HG1 1QY.

Attend a local wine fair

Local independent wine merchants Ake & Humphris is putting on its annual spring wine fair this Sunday.

Simply pick up a tasting glass on arrival and work your way round the table where you can sample more than 50 styles that include floral whites, new champagnes, decadent reds, fruity rosés and natural wines, as well as spirits.

These include wines from new origins including Slovenia and Bulgaria, new grape varieties such as Zelen and Zibibbo, plus some prestigious bottlings by wineries including Crossbarn by Paul Hobbs and Elderton Estate from Barrossa, Australia, not forgetting spirits from local distillers, Noble Spring.

£25, 12-2pm, 3-5pm, 6-8pm, April 28, Balcony Sports Bar, Harrogate Cricket Ground, Saint George’s Road, HG2 9BP. Places are limited so visit the website to reserve your space. For over 18s only.

Go to a duo of choral concerts

Voces Seraphorum choir

Formed in 2015, chamber choir Voces Seraphorum performs regular concerts at cathedrals and churches. Singing in a variety of styles, this Saturday they will perform well-known choral masterpieces alongside some lesser-known songs all to the background of brass band Summerbridge & Dacre Silver Band at St James Church Birstwith on Saturday.

They will also be performing at St Michael & All Angels’ Church Beckwithshaw on Sunday but without the brass band.

From £12, 7pm, April 27, St James Church Birstwith, Lackon Bank, HG3 2NG. £10 per adult (children are free), 4pm, April 28, at St Michael & All Angels’ Church Beckwithshaw, 4 Otley Road, Beckwithshaw, HG3 1QW.

Do you have an event that you’d like us to potentially feature in the future? Drop me an email at francesca@thestrayferret.co.uk

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Sweaty Betty Harrogate has released its annual Warehouse Sale

Sweaty Betty Harrogate has released its annual Warehouse Sale. The renowned event in Harrogate that this year has up to 80 per cent off its clothing, including its popular leggings and workout gear, is so popular that it has had to be ticketed.

Taking place next week at Pavilions of Harrogate from Tuesday April 30 to Thursday May 2, stock will be replenished throughout the three days.

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Shoppers will have a one-hour time slot to select their garments on and try them on in the communal changing rooms before taking them to the checkout.

Tickets cost £5 to get in, with all the proceeds from them being donated to the Sweaty Betty Foundation.

Times are 10am-7pm Tuesday April 30, 10am-6pm Wednesday 1 May and 10am-3pm on Thursday May 2. To find out more and to book, click here.

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Did you know that Everyman in Harrogate screens National Theatre Live productions?

There’s no need to travel to the Big Smoke to see what’s on at the National Theatre, instead you can feel as though you’re at the renowned theatre in London thanks to the luxury cinema chain’s live screenings at its regional premises.

An initiative operated by the Royal National Theatre in London, it broadcasts live, by satellite, performances of their productions – and those of other theatres – to cinemas and arts centres around the world.

The programme began its pilot season in June 2009 with a production of Phèdre, starring Helen Mirren, which screened live in 70 cinemas across the UK. Two hundred more venues eventually showed the production internationally, resulting in a combined audience of around 50,000 people for this one performance.

The second production, All’s Well That Ends Well, was shown at approximately 300 screens.

Today, the number of venues that show NT Live productions has grown to approximately 700 with 11 million people watching them across the globe. Many of the cinemas also offer repeat screenings of popular productions which are termed as ‘Encores’.

Whether you’re watching Kit Harington go to battle in Henry V, or Phoebe Waller-Bridge delivering her solo tour de force in Fleabag, you’ll be at the heart of the action without the big trip down to London.

Did you know?

Most venues screen the productions live as they are broadcast, but due to time differences in South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, and the United States venues in those countries, they show the recorded production some days later.

The actors on stage deliver their performances as they normally would any other night. But to make sure audiences watching in the cinemas have the best seat in the house, it tailors the position of its cameras to capture each production and works closely with technical teams to make sure every element on stage such as lighting, hair and make-up look as good on the big screen so it’s the next best thing to being there.

What National Theatre productions are on this month and next at Everyman Harrogate?

Harrogate’s Everyman is showing Nye, which details the story of Aneurin ‘Nye’ Bevan, the Welshman who has often been referred to as the politician with greatest influence on our country without ever being Prime Minister.

This is all thanks to his tireless campaign for the nationalisation of hospitals that eventually became the birth of the National Health Service in 1948.

Roger Evans (Archie Lush), Michael Sheen (Nye Bevan) and Sharon Small (Jennie Lee). Photography credit: Johan Persson

Written by Tim Price and directed by Rufus Norris, fellow Welshman Michael Sheen plays the title role which delves Bevan into his deepest memories and a mind-bending journey back through his life; from childhood to mining underground, Parliament, and fights with Churchill.

It’s a must-see minus the travel.

Tickets from £19.50, it runs for two hours 40 minutes at 6.45pm on April 23, and 1pm on May 8. Everyman Harrogate, Westgate House, Station Parade, Harrogate, HG1 1HQ.

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5 things to do in and around Harrogate this weekend

Get out and about with our guide of the top cultural goings-on from 19-21 April.

See the bluebells of Nidderdale

Now that the weather is finally fine and dry, it’s time to dust off those walking boots and get out into the great outdoors. And this walk is especially for you if you’re an experienced hiker as it’s a 20-mile loop.

Starting in Hampsthwaite, you’ll walk along the River Nidd then onto Brimham Rocks and Ripley Castle, and on it you’ll see all of the springtime sights including the beautiful bluebells of Nidderdale.

Free, 8am, April 20, starting at Hampsthwaite Church, Station Lane, Hampsthwaite, Harrogate, HG3 2HB. Unfortunately no dogs are allowed on this guided walk.

Paint like Picasso

(Image: Annie Dalton’s Picasso-inspired Two Sleeping Dogs)

Unleash your creativity at one of PopUp Painting’s events held at Harrogate’s Major Tom’s Social Bar. Themed on artist Annie Dalton’s Picasso-inspired Two Sleeping Dogs, try your hand at painting a masterpiece that you can hang on the walls of your home afterwards.

The two-and-a-half-hour class includes all art supplies, and you can also ask for guidance if you so wish.

£35.99, 3-5.30pm, April 21, Major Tom’s Social Bar, The Ginnel, Harrogate, HG1 2RB.

Watch Sister Act the Musical

You can’t go wrong with a musical, and Sister Act the Musical is especially uplifting. The community production presented by Ripon Amateur Operatic Society tells the story of Deloris van Cartier who witnesses a murder and takes refuge in a convent.

Disguised as a nun, she finds herself at odds with both the rigid lifestyle and uptight Mother Superior and she turns the convent choir into a soulful chorus complete with a Motown repertoire.

From £20, 7.30pm April 17 – 20, and a matinee at 2.30pm on April 20, Harrogate Theatre, 6 Oxford Street, Harrogate, HG1 1QF.

Attend a printmaking workshop

(Image: Pixaby)

Learn the basics of how to use printing blocks at this workshop at St Mark’s Church where you can pick your own pattern to stamp a pattern or a message onto a piece of fabric.

All materials are included, as well as light refreshments.

Free but suggested donation £5, 10am-4.30pm, April 20, St Mark’s Church, Leeds Road, Harrogate, HG2 8AY.

Watch The Making of Motown

Local author Derek Shelmerdine is co-presenting Harrogate Film Society’s Season 1 of Music Legends.

The first film of the series of four is on Friday night is Hitsville: The Making of Motown that details the golden age of the soul music legend. It looks at the birth of Motown in Detroit in 1958 until its relocation to Los Angeles in the early 1970s.

Featuring rare performances, interviews and behind-the-scenes footage offer insight into the history and cultural impact of Motown Records.

£6 or £5 for HFS members, doors open at 7pm and the film starts at 7.30pm, April 19, Bilton Club, Skipton Road, Harrogate, HG1 4LL.

Also check out… French Impressions that explores music by two of the great French Impressionist composers: Claude Debussy and Maurice Ravel. It’s on at Ripon Cathedral at 7.30pm on April 20 and tickets cost from £20.

Do you have an event that you’d like us to potentially feature in the future? Drop me an email at francesca@thestrayferret.co.uk

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5 things to do in Harrogate and the district this weekend

Lead image: Pixaby

Stuck for ideas of what to do at the weekend? Here’s the Stray Ferret’s top picks of cultural activities from April 11-14.

Harrogate Dog Show

Harrogate Dog Show

Taking place for the third year running, Harrogate Dog Show is back on Saturday.

Held at Victoria Shopping Centre Piazza, you can show up on the day with your dog and enter him or her into some of the categories that include Handsomest Dog, Fanciest Female, Cutest Puppy, Best Purebred, Best Cross Breed/Heinz 57, Best Trick and Dog the Judge Would Most Like to Take Home, all of which are judged by a surprise guest star.

New for this year are dog training workshops, alongside firm favourite the mini dog park.

Free, 10am-4pm, April 13, Victoria Shopping Centre Piazza, Station Parade, Harrogate, HG1 1AE.

Visit the Spring Food, Home and Garden Show

Spring Food, Home and Garden Show

Get your home spring ready inside and out with ideas from the Spring Food, Home and Garden Show held at Ripon Cathedral. Discover the latest trends in home décor for ideas to revamp your living space and gather garden inspiration aplenty. There will also be garden related talks and demonstrations in the library.

Make a day of it and have a bite to eat in the pop-up café or from one of the vendors at the local food stalls. There will also be a live choir singing, children’s activities and even farm animals in front of the cathedral to see.

£5, 10am-4pm, April 13, Ripon Cathedral, Liberty Court House, Minster Road, Ripon, HG4 1QT.

Take part in a Miss Marbles Mystery event

Murder Mystery event

What could be better than taking part in a whodunnit, dining on a three-course meal all aboard a steam train?

The murder mystery has an unusual horticulture theme and during the evening participants have to search the space for clues, evidence to uncover and suspects to interrogate, trying to out the people who might be connected to the crime in order to get to the bottom of the mystery.

£72 per person, lunchtime performance doors open at 12.30pm and starts at 1pm, evening performances doors open at 5.30pm and start at 6pm, Friday April 12, 6pm, Saturday April 13 1pm & 6pm, Bolton Abbey Station, Bolton Abbey, Skipton, BD23 6AF.

Visit the two baby camels at Yorkshire Wildlife Park

Yorkshire Wildlife Park

Two male Bactrian camels were born at the Yorkshire Wildlife Park in March and the youngsters have recently ventured out into the reserve to join the rest of the herd.

“We are overjoyed by the two new additions, and we cannot wait for our visitors to see them,” says Ayshea Seston, hoofstock team leader at the 175-acre park.

“It is really lovely to welcome the new arrivals at the same time – they will grow up together and create such a strong bond.”

Go visit the fluffy calves along with the rest of the animals at the Yorkshire Wildlife Park this weekend.

From £20.99 per person, Yorkshire Wildlife Park, Hurst Lane, Doncaster, DN9 3QY.

Transform your unworn jewellery

Legacy Jewellery

Most people have unworn pieces of jewellery sitting at home that they may no longer wear, or they may have inherited and don’t know what to do with.

Discover the potential of how they can be created into new pieces at Legacy Discovery Session with Antiques Roadshow dealer Paul Hollis so that you wear them time and time again.

Free, 11am-2pm, Palm Court, Windsor House, Cornwall Road, Harrogate, HG1 2PW.

Do you have an event that you’d like us to potentially feature in the future? Drop me an email at francesca@thestrayferret.co.uk

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5 things to do in and around Harrogate this weekend

Get out and about with our guide of the top cultural goings-on from 5-7 April.

Attend a calligraphy course

(Image: Pixaby)

Handwriting seems to be somewhat of a dying art form, partly due to the rise in technology. Learn the skills of beautiful handwriting at this two-hour calligraphy workshop in Knaresborough.

Aimed at beginners and improvers, you will learn the strokes that are based on ancient manuscripts and get the knowhow to create Celtic designs.

£25, booking is required as spaces are limited, 10am-12noon, April 6, Briggate Art, 9a Briggate, Knaresborough, HG5 8BQ, 07931 778 276, chameleonartclasses@gmail.com.

Meet the artist exploring the life of a curlew

(Image: Paco Valera)

Did you know that the curlew is the largest European wading bird, found on estuaries in winter and the moors in summer?

Head up to the Yorkshire Dales this weekend and meet one of the artists behind the Curlew Calling exhibition, Sally Zaranko.

Sally’s work is shown alongside Paco Valera’s photography as well as experienced and highly regarded North Yorkshire artists including Judith Bromley, Hester Cox and Robert Nicholls.

You can chat, draw and write about the beautiful bird at the event.

Free, 10am-3pm, April 6, Dales Countryside Museum, Station Yard, Hawes, DL8 3NT.

Attempt to grow the tallest sunflower

(Image: Pixaby)

You know warmer climes are on the way when you’re sowing sunflower seeds. And this weekend is the last chance to take part in the Sunflower Challenge at F Tate & Sons in Ripon.

Plant your sunflower seed at the planting table at the nursery, take your seed pot home and then post the results on social media by August 15, tagging @FTateandSons and @RiponBID for a chance to win one of three kids’ gardening prizes.

Free, 10am-4pm, April 6, F Tate & Sons, Larkhill Nurseries, Studley Road, Ripon, HG4 2QR.

Visit Goldsborough Hall gardens

(Image: Goldsborough Hall gardens)

This week is Community Gardens Week for the National Open Garden Scheme, and to mark the occasion Goldsborough Hall is opening its gardens to the public on Sunday 7 April. Visitors can expect to see colourful displays from spring bulbs, the woodland walk and a stroll up the quarter-mile long Lime Tree Walk that is lined by a carpet of more than 50,000 daffodils.

There will also be garden talks in the Kitchen Garden at 12pm and 2pm by Goldsborough Hall’s head gardener, and a plant stall on the terrace too.

£7.50 per adult, children free, 11am-4pm, April 7, Goldsborough Hall, Knaresborough, HG5 8NR.

Last chance to see For the Love of Art at 108 Fine Art Gallery

(Image: For the Love of Art at 108 Fine Art Gallery)

Forming part of 108 Fine Art Gallery’s collections that breathe new life into the stories they tell, For the Love of Art explores personal narratives and shared experiences.

Showcasing the works of artists Paul Wager and Laimonis Mierins, expect to see work that’s from the heart and explores memories and personal connections that have been made.

Free, 11am-5pm, until April 6, 108 Fine Art Gallery, Cold Bath Road, Harrogate, HG2 ONA.

Do you have an event that you’d like us to potentially feature in the future? Drop me an email at francesca@thestrayferret.co.uk

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5 alternative Easter activities in and around Harrogate

(Image above: a Frank Sinatra tribute act is performing on Easter Monday at Grantley Hall)

Easter has come early this year and there are some brilliant activities this weekend – see our 7 Easter activities to keep the kids entertained – but aside from this there are other goings-on in and around Harrogate; read on for inspiration aplenty…

Watch a Frank Sinatra tribute act at Grantley Hall

Listen to Phil Fryer belt out some of the most iconic Frank Sinatra songs of all time including My Way, Strangers In The Night and Come Fly With Me.

Dining during the performance is already fully booked for the event, but guests can sip drinks and enjoy the show in newly relaunched The Orchard’s lounge area where Phil will perform some of Frank’s biggest hits. Or you can always make a reservation to dine in Fletchers restaurant pre- or post-show instead.

Free, limited spaces available, first come, first serve, 1.30pm-3pm, April 1, Grantley Hall, Ripon, HG4 3ET.

Learn how to make pasta from scratch

Pixaby

If you’re walking or up in the Yorkshire Dales this Easter weekend and you fancy trying your hand at something a little bit different, why not take part in a pasta making workshop?

Keld resident Chris Giles demonstrates how you can make pasta from scratch using no specialist equipment. All ingredients are included, and afterwards you can savour the fruits of your labour with a hearty bowl of what you’ve cooked.

£30, March 31, 1-4pm, The Keld Resource Centre, Keld, Richmond, DL11 6LJ.

Take part in traditional Yorkshire Dales dancing 

Nidd Music and Dance

Did you know that there’s traditional music and dances that derive from Yorkshire Dales’ villages? Help to keep it alive by taking part in this event at Ripley Town Hall.

Each traditional Dales dance such as the Kendal Ghyll and the Huntsman’s Chorus is explained and walked through before you dance to them, all to the background of live folk music.

Free for children, £10 for adults, 6.30pm-10pm, March 30, Ripley Town Hall, HG3 3AX.

Visit Ripley Castle Markets

Ripley Castle Markets

Taking place on the last Sunday of every month from February to December, this month Ripley Castle Markets is holding a seasonal market. It will bring together more than 40 independent local artisans, producers and creatives to showcase their wares all to the backdrop of the Grade I listed building.

Goodies and treats that will be available include breads and cakes from Baltzersen’s, Skipton’s Antony’s Biltong, cookie boxes from Carlton Kitchen, cheeses from Wharfedale Fine Cheeses, plus something for your four-legged friends, as well as present ideas inspiration aplenty.

You can make a day of it too as on market day, the castle and grounds are free to visit. And there will be extra Easter activities including a bunny hunt, children’s craft activities – click here for more information – and guided tours of the castle.

Free, there’s an additional cost for the children’s craft activities and castle tours and pre-booking for these is advised, March 31, 10am-3pm, Ripley Castle, HG3 3AY.

Laugh out loud at a comedy show

Harrogate Theatre

If you’ve not yet been to one of the regular Hyena Lounge Comedy Club nights at Harrogate Theatre, this Saturday could be the opportune occasion as there’s a trio of brilliant stand-up comedians including Hal Cruttenden, Simon Evans and Jenny Hart, all led by the compere for the night, Danny McLoughlin.

From £20, 8pm, March 30, Oxford Street, Harrogate, HG1 1QF.

Do you have an event that you’d like us to potentially feature in the future? Drop me an email at francesca@thestrayferret.co.uk

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7 Easter activities to keep the kids entertained

There’s plenty going on in and around Harrogate over the two-week Easter break – take the movie-themed mini crazy golf course and Springtime Live from our ‘5 things to do at the weekend’, for example.

But if you’re specifically looking for activities to keep the kids occupied during the school holidays, here’s a few fun family-friendly ideas to get you started.

An Easter trail and children’s theatre performance at Newby Hall

Newby Hall reopens to the public on 28 March, just in time for Easter. Explore the Easter trail – where fairies will help guide you on a theatrical adventure through the woods while meeting a few cheeky creatures such as Mr Fox along the way –  before enjoying a live children’s theatre performance.

Performed by members of Story Craft Theatre, The Case of the Missing Bunny is an interactive show that will bring puppetry and problem-solving together.

Various prices, the trail runs from 11.30am to 2.30pm on Easter Sunday March 31 and bank holiday Monday April 1 and is included free of charge with a Gardens Admission ticket, Season Ticket & Historic Houses Membership.

The live children’s theatre performances start at midday, 1pm, 2pm and 3pm on Easter Sunday March 31 and bank holiday Monday April 1. Newby Hall & Gardens, Ripon, North Yorkshire, HG4 5AE.

Fun for all the family at RHS Garden Harlow Carr

(Image: RHS Garden Harlow Carr)

RHS Garden Harlow Carr has a whole host of goings-on this Easter; think a giant Easter egg hunt, adventure walks, forest school, clay modelling, Lego workshops, recycling workshops, orienteering and crafts – there’s sure to be an activity to suit everyone.

Various prices, times and dates, RHS Garden Harlow Carr, Crag Lane, Beckwithshaw, Harrogate, HG3 1QB. 

Lamb feeding at Yolk Farm

(Image: Yolk Farm)

Nothing says Easter more than little lambs, and if you’ve not yet fed one, it makes for a memorable experience as lambs enthusiastically suckle from the bottle. Before or after lamb feeding, pay a visit to the other animals on the farm and little ones will love the Yard at Yolk play barn too.

Lamb feeding £7, supervising adults do not need a ticket. Entry to the play barn is £2.50 per child, adults and under 1s are free. Various time and dates, Yolk Farm, Minskip Road, Boroughbridge, York, YO51 9HY.

Try a wellbeing, musical theatre or creative dance workshop for free

(Image: Enchantica’s)

This Easter, Enchantica’s is running free 30- to 45-minute taster sessions of some of the after-school courses that it puts on throughout the year, including Rising Stars – a combination of drama, yoga and mindfulness – Musical Theatre and Creative Dance classes, all of which are sure to inspire and get your kids’ creative juices flowing.

Be quick though – some of the sessions are already fully booked. 

Free, various times, April 3, Enchantica’s Workshop, Unit 9, Beech Avenue Business Park, Harrogate, HG2 8DS.

Go to a Wonka-themed tea party or Easter bunny bop party

(Image: Rascals Entertainment)

As a parent or caregiver, if you’ve not yet been to a Rascals Entertainment party, you’ve not yet lived. And this Easter it’s running both a Wonka and Friends Pure Imagination Tea Party and an Easter Bunny Bop Disco Party at The Crown Hotel on 29 March.

For the former think an Oompa Loompa dance show, Easter crafts and a Wonka’s chocolate fountain for the kids. For the latter there will be an Easter bunnies meet and greet, dancing and games, to name but a few of the activities on offer. Not forgetting bubbles… and more bubbles – a sure-fire winner for every age. 

Wonka and Friends Pure Imagination Tea Party, from £22 per child with food, £10 per adult (no food), 12-2pm. Easter Bunny Bop Disco Party, £14 per child, adults £6. Both on 29 March at The Crown Hotel, Crown Place, Harrogate, HG1 2RZ.

Go to one of three shows at Harrogate Theatre

(Image: Harrogate Theatre)

Harrogate Theatre has a trio of family shows this Easter holidays. Take your pick from Dear Zoo, a classic story with a cheeky monkey, a jumpy frog and a perfect puppy; channel your childhood nostalgia at Sooty: The 75th Birthday Spectacular! where beloved characters Sooty, Sweep and Soo are brought to the next generation; or enjoy a live action retelling of The Tortoise and the Hare by Northern Ballet, which recounts the renowned story about a cheeky hare who won’t boasting about how fast he can run, though the tortoise might just give him a run for his money.

Dear Zoo, from £17, 1.30pm, March 27, 10.30am March 28. Sooty: The 75th Birthday Spectacular!, from £21, 11am and 2.30pm, March 30. The Tortoise and the Hare by Northern Ballet, from £13, 11am, 2pm and 4pm April 6. Harrogate Theatre, 6 Oxford Street, Harrogate HG1 1QF.

Get crafty at Ripley Castle

(Image: Rhythm Camp Events)

As well as a Children’s Easter Trail where kids go in hunt of the bunnies in the gardens and grounds of Ripley Castle, there will also be a Children’s Easter Crafts workshop held by Rhythm Camp Events at the Castle’s Stables. Kids can forage for their supplies in the gardens and grounds and turn their findings into a unique artwork or memorable memento to take home with them.

Children’s Easter Trail, £3.50 per child (children must be accompanied by an adult, entrance to the grounds are £9.50 per adult, free for children 12 and under), March 23 to April 8. Children’s Easter Crafts, £12.50 per child, one-hour slots from 10am-pm, March 31, Ripley Castle, Ripley, Harrogate, HG3 3AY.

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5 things to do in and around Harrogate this weekend from 22-24 March

Get out and about with our guide of the top activities and things to do this weekend.

Play crazy golf at a movie-themed course in the Yorkshire Dales

At The Stray Ferret we like to publish events that are slightly out of the ordinary – and if a movie-themed crazy golf experience isn’t that, then we don’t know what is.

Taking place at Uredale Mill in the picturesque Dales village of Askrigg, channel your inner Happy Gilmore and get competitive with friends and family on this 18-hole course that’s themed around films.

Dance the can-can at the Moulin Rouge or get a miserly score that would make The Grinch proud. This fun activity is one to pop on the weekend list – or as it runs for two weeks, it could be one for the Easter holidays too. 

Children under 12 £8, adults £10, discounts for group bookings are available – email tickets@incredibleartists.uk, various time slots, March 23 – April 7, Uredale Mill (ex Carrs Billington Yard), Station Road, Askrigg, DL8 3HZ.

 Listen to the soundtracks of the silver screen performed by a live orchestra

(Image: London Concertante)

This week’s ‘5 things to do in and around Harrogate’ has a slight film feel (Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire is also being released on 22 March, 40 years after the original – book your tickets at The Everyman or The Odeon), while Ripon Cathedral is also hosting a Music from the Movies by Candlelight, performed by London Concertante.

Be mesmerised by the orchestra who will play some of the most iconic film scores of all time, including the suave sophistication of James Bond, the ethereal sounds of ET and the dark allure of The Godfather, to name but a few.

From £19, March 23, Ripon Cathedral, Liberty Court House, Minster Road, Ripon HG4 1QT.

Visit Knaresborough Wellness Festival

(Image: Pixaby)

Think about your mind, body and soul at Knaresborough Wellness Festival, which is being held for the fourth year running. Featuring something for everyone including treatments such as reflexology, aromatherapy, reiki, and Indian head massage, to live music, aura photography and tarot card reading, you’ll be sure to find your inner zen here.

There will also be activities such as yoga, workshops and talks so you can learn more about a wide variety of wellness practices, and there will also be plenty of crystals too.

Free, March 24, 10am-4pm, Knaresborough Wellness Festival, Henshaws Arts & Crafts Centre, 50 Bond End, Knaresborough, HG5 9AL.

 Go to Springtime Live at the Great Yorkshire Showground

(Image: Springtime Live)

The event for all the family is back. This year attendees won’t be disappointed as there will be a spaniel dog show, a crazy climbing wall, Mini Land Rover rides, tractor trailer rides and a sheep show. That’s not to mention all farm animals you could possibly imagine, as well as hands-on workshops and demonstrations, which are just some of this year’s highlights.

And once you’re inside the event, all of the attractions are free. Bonus. Be quick though as some of the tickets have already sold out.

Pre-booking is necessary, children £8, adults £12, March 23, Great Yorkshire Showground, Harrogate, HG2 8NZ.

Meet the extreme artist and explorer Philip Gray

(Image: Philip Gray)

Irish artist Philip Gray combines his love of painting with his passion for exploration and discovery. He often embarks on challenging expeditions for his art and paints these scenes from across the world, whether it’s tropical rainforests or icy mountain peaks.

Join him at Clarendon Fine Art Gallery where he will launch his Harrogate exhibition and tell the tales of some of the adventures he’s been on. It’s sure to make for an awe-inspiring evening.

Free, 6-8pm, March 23, Clarendon Fine Art, 1a James Street, Harrogate, HG1 1QS.

Do you have an event that you’d like us to potentially feature in the future? Drop me an email at francesca@thestrayferret.co.uk

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5 things to do in and around Harrogate this weekend

Stuck for ideas of what to do in and around Harrogate at the weekend? As well as the Knaresborough Tractor Run – see times here – and a showcase of supercars, here’s what else is happening from March 15-17.

Discover BEAM Light Festival

James Bawn, photography, Richard Maude

Lighting up the town is BEAM, a brand-new event for 2024 by Harrogate International Festivals.

Enjoy spectacular light installations and soundscapes in both the expected and unexpected places as you wander through town; think everything from dancing twinkling lights in Valley Gardens’ trees to searchlights beaming patterns up across the sky.

There will be 10 illuminations in total – see if you can spot them all. To read our interview with the artist, click here.

Free, from dusk until 10pm, March 15-16, venues across town, for more information, click here.

Tap along to live music at Roosters

Chris Helme, Rooster’s Unplugged

There aren’t many watering holes near Hornbeam Park – there’s certainly a gap in the market for a few more – but Roosters is where it’s at for a weekend pint without the schlep into town.

And it’s not just a brewery – it regularly holds events upstairs in its taproom – and on Friday night it’s hosting a gig by solo artist Chris Helme, frontman of The Seahorses (formed by Stone Roses’ John Squire) as part of its Rooster’s Unplugged series.

As well as new music, expect to hear Chris’ blend of honesty and anecdotes from a 30-plus year career in the music industry. He will also be supported by singer-songwriter Gary Stewart and an opening set by regular Mick P Kerr.

£16.95, doors 7pm, March 15, Roosters, Unit H5, Fifth Avenue, Hornbeam Park, Harrogate HG2 8QT, for tickets, click here.

Let your creativity bloom at a floral workshop

Pixaby

If you’ve ever wanted to create your own wow-factor floral centrepiece, now is the opportune occasion as renowned Harrogate florist Helen James is running a course this Saturday.

Taking place at Coach & Horses Harrogate, you’ll learn some top flower arranging tips while sipping a glass of prosecco and making a stunning floral table arrangement to take home with you.

What’s more, attendees can also receive 20 per cent off the Coach & Horses’ menu when booking a table in advance.

£65 per person, from 11.30am, March 16, Coach & Horses, 16 West Park, Harrogate, HG1 1BJ.

Conjure up some answers at a Harry Potter-themed quiz

Pixaby

Test your Hogwarts knowledge with a Harry Potter quiz that’s taking place on Saturday night at Waterstones, Harrogate.

Gather a team of up to six Muggles and magic up a group name – there will even be a prize given for the best one before the event has even started – then bring your A-game as you try to guess the answers to questions all themed around Voldemort and the Death Eaters.

Free but tickets must be reserved in advance, 6.15pm, March 16, Waterstones Harrogate, 15 James Street, Harrogate, HG1 1QS.

Watch Fat Chance by Rachel Stockdale at Harrogate Theatre

Rachel Stockdale, Harrogate Theatre

Taking place at Harrogate Studio Theatre, this one-woman play explores the topic of fatphobia and some of Rachel’s lived experiences of going from a size 8 to a size 18.

Inspired by an encounter she had on honeymoon in a restaurant where a waiter assumed she was pregnant, the show covers dark comedy, songs and dancing, and highlights the pressure many women put on themselves to look a certain way and be accepted.

£14, 7.45pm, March 15, Harrogate Studio Theatre, Oxford Street, Harrogate, HG1 1QF.

Do you have an event that you’d like us to potentially feature in the future? Drop me an email at francesca@thestrayferret.co.uk

 

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