Art in the pen festival in Skipton, Yorkshire Dales

Local events

Year-round there are opportunities to try out new experiences in the Yorkshire Dales through local events. We have selected a few that offer different ways to get involved and discover what is special about the Dales.

At the Dark Skies Festival you could join a Cosmic Adventure Workshop at Stump Cross Caverns or go Star-gazing by canoe at How Stean Gorge.

In spring you can see an authentic lambing time on the farm and enjoy watching the newborn lambs taking their first steps in to the fields surrounding the cottages.

You could join a guided walk at the Ride2Stride Festival to meet new people, learn something new and return with stories from your day.

In the summer there are a fantastic selection of local Fell Races at local shows, offering a great value way to take part in a race, discover new routes and return with a sense of participation and achievement.

Joining a flowerpot-making workshop at Settle's Flowerpot Festival is a fun family activity and for those who love arts and crafts, events held at Skipton Auction Mart are all popular choices – Art in the Pen, Yarndale and Crafts in the Pen.

For book lovers, listening to authors speak at the Ilkley Literature Festival is an inspiring and brilliant way to be introduced to new publications that capture your attention.

Learning something new - and spending time doing more of the things you love - is a great way to give yourself a boost during your holiday in Yorkshire.

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Events calendar

February

Friday 14th February – Sunday 2nd March 2025
Yorkshire Dales Dark Skies Festival

March

Mid-March to mid-April 2025
Lambing time at Newton Grange Farm

April

Tuesday 29th April – Monday 5th May 2025
Ride2stride: Walking & Music Festival

May

Saturday 17th May 2025
Otley Show

June

Sunday 1st June 2025
Skipton Car Show

Saturday 28th June 2025
Yorkshire Dales Mighty Hike for Macmillan Cancer Support

July

Tuesday 8th – Friday 11th July 2025
Great Yorkshire Show, Harrogate

July and August 2025
Settle Flowerpot Festival

August

Friday 1st August 2025
Yorkshire Day Celebrations

Friday 8th – Friday 15th August 2025
Gaping Gill Winch Meet

Saturday 9th – Sunday 17th August 2025
Kettlewell Scarecrow Festival

Saturday 16th August 2025
Gargrave Show

Saturday 16th & Sunday 17th August 2025
Art in the Pen, Skipton

Saturday 23rd August 2025
Malham Show & Sports

Tuesday 26th August 2025
Kilnsey Show

Friday 29th August - Monday 1st September 2025
Guided cycling tour from Newton Grange

September

Saturday 20th & Sunday 21st September 2025
Grassington 1940s Weekend

Saturday 27th & Sunday 28th September 2025
Yarndale Festival

October

Friday 3rd October – Sunday 19th October 2025
Ilkley Literature Festival

Friday 10th to Monday 13th October 2025
Yorkshire Dales Cheese Festival

November

Saturday 15th & Sunday 16th November 2025
Crafts in the Pen, Skipton

December

Sunday 7th & Sunday 14th December 2025
Skipton Christmas Markets

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