Ripon will go from rock and pop to pomp and circumstance in its final free mass entertainment event of the summer next weekend.
Organised to coincide with the BBC’s Last Night of the Proms at the Royal Albert Hall in London, the city will welcome fans of the more classical style of music to Market Square on Saturday, September 11.
The event, from 7pm until 11pm, features a tribute act singing songs made famous by Welsh mezzo soprano Katherine Jenkins.
Also taking the stage in front of Ripon Town Hall during the evening will be the Dishforth Military Wives Choir.
Live music will be provided by an ensemble of 17 musicians and a fireworks display will provide the finale.
The free weekends of entertainment have been paid for from the Ripon parish precept, which is funded by council tax.
The previous ones brought tribute acts ranging from Queen to the ABBA Forever tribute group.
As well as providing free family entertainment, which has also included fairground rides for children, the intention has been to bring more people to the city centre and drive footfall to benefit local traders.
City council leader Andrew Williams told the Stray Ferret:
“They’ve been enjoyable and trouble-free events that have put smiles on a lot of faces.
“You could see that people are delighted to be finally free of the restrictions that were necessary during the covid lockdowns.”
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More free events in Market Square are scheduled for autumn and winter.
During the October half term holiday there will be further family-focused activities, followed in November with the switch on of the city’s Christmas lights.
Bringing the curtain down on 2021 will be the famous New Year’s Eve entertainment — an alfresco party that normally sees hundreds of revellers rocking around Ripon’s obelisk.
