Events Happening in the Yorkshire Dales 2026 & 2027

Whilst planning your visit to the Yorkshire Dales, why not take a look at what's happening in the area. Take a look at the Yorkshire Dales Events as seen to the right here. Indeed, there may be one or two forthcoming events that may actually influence the dates you wish to visit. Each event outlines the date, times, location and costs to support the description of what's happening. There's also contact details for further information if you want to find out more! Most of all, enjoy your visit to the Yorkshire Dales.

Dales Festivals, Fairs and Rallies 2026 & 2027

Besides the many attractions, there are a number of key events happening throughout the year, which may influence the time of your visit :

February/March : Dark Skies Festival (5 - 21 February 2027)
March : Living North LIVE Yorkshire 2027 York Racecourse (tbc March 2027)
April : Harrogate Spring Flower Show (22-25 April 2027)
April - May : Ride2Stride - the Settle-Carlisle Walking Festival (27 April to 3 May 2027)
May : Decorative Home & Salvage Show, Ripley Castle (7-9 May 2027)
May - December 'Behind the Scenes' Tennants Auction House Tour, Leyburn (varies dates each month 2026)
May - September : Wensleydale Concert Series, Aysgarth Church, nr Aysgarth Falls (May - September 2027)
May - June : Swaledale Festival Music, Arts & Walking (29 May - 12 June 2027)
June : Wildflower Meadows at Muker Swaledale (all month long)
June : Decorative Home & Salvage Show, Ripley Castle (25-27 June 2027)
June : Great Yorkshire Wine & Fizz Festival, Yorkshire Heart Vineyard, Nun Monkton, nr York (26 June 2027)
July : Great Yorkshire Show, Yorkshire Showground, Harrogate (13-16 July 2027)
July : Masham Steam Rally (17-18 July 2027)
July - September : Settle Flowerpot Festival (mid July - early September 2027)
August : Kettlewell Scarecrow Festival (14-22 August 2027)
August : Wensleydale Agricultural Show (28 August 2027)
August- September : Links to the many other local Agricultural Shows across the Dales (Reeth/Muker/Kilnsey/Malham/Nidderdale)
September : Harrogate Autumn Flower Show at Newby Hall (17-19 September 2027)
September : Decorative Home & Salvage Show Ripley Castle (10-12 September 2027)
September: Richmond Walking and Book Festival (mid to late September 2027)
September : Grassington 1940's Weekend (17-19 September 2027)
September : Masham Sheep Fair (25-26 September 2027)
October : Northern Antiques Fair, Tennants, Leyburn (8-11 October 2026)
October : Yorkshire Dales Cheese Festival (9-18 October 2026)
October : Leyburn Jazz Festival (16-18 October 2026)
October : Dark Skies Fringe Festival 2026 (23 October - 1 November 2026)
October : So many spooky happenings & dark sky events
November : Bonfire & Firework displays (Hawes/Leyburn/Bedale/West Burton)
November - December : See below for an array of festive events happening in the area.

Festive Events 2026

There are so many festive events happening locally in the Yorkshire Dales and across North Yorkshire this year. Whether you are visiting the Yorkshire Dales for Christmas, New Year or a pre-Christmas break, you'll find our cottages will be fully dressed for the festive season. Here is a whole host of Christmas events happening in 2026 to help you plan your festive visit from mid November right up until early January 2026. As more dates for the 2026 events become available, we will update them here too.

All Year Round = Love Christmas shop, Grassington
12 Nov 2026 - 3 Jan 2027 = Castle Howard, Malton - A Dickens of a Christmas
13 Nov - 21 Dec 2026 = York Christmas Market - Wed-Mon 10.30-7pm, closed Tuesdays
13 Nov - 3 Jan 2027 = Yorkshire Winter Wonderland at McArthurGlen Designer Outlet, York
14 Nov 2026 = Christmas Gift Wrapping Workshop Tennants Garden Rooms, Leyburn
19-22 Nov 2026 = Living North Christmas Fair York Racecourse
20-21 Nov 2026 = Ripon Cathedral Christmas Gift & Food Fair
21-22 Nov 2026 = Wensleydale Christmas Craft Fair Market House, Hawes
24 Nov - 23 Dec = Private Festive Christmas Parties Tennants Garden Rooms, Leyburn
24 Nov - 23 Dec = Festive Lunch in the Bistro (Mon-Sat) Tennants Garden Rooms, Leyburn
24 & 25 Nov 2026 = Christmas Wreath Making Workshops Tennants Garden Rooms, Leyburn
29 Nov -28 Dec 2026 = Music & Lights at Fountains Abbey (every Sat & Sun 2-3pm)
26-29 Nov 2026 = The Great Yorkshire Christmas Fair, Harrogate Showground
26 Nov - 30 Dec = GLOW at RHS Harlow Carr Harrogate
27-28 Nov 2026 = Winter Wonderland Christmas Fair Tennants Garden Rooms, Leyburn
28 Nov and 5 Dec 2026 = Grassington Christmas Market (no Dickensian Festival this year)
28 Nov - 27 Dec 2026 = Music & Lights at Fountains Abbey nr Ripon (Sat/Sun 2-3pm)
28 Nov - 3 Jan 2027 = Bah, Humbug! A Christmas Carol at Fountains Hall Fountains Abbey
29 Nov 2026 = Little Bird Made Artisan Christmas Market Fountains Abbey
2-5 Dec 2026 = Christmas Wreath Making Workshops Tennants Garden Rooms, Leyburn
5 Dec 2026 = G4 in Concert Ripon Cathedral
5-6 Dec 2026 = Knaresborough Christmas Market & Christmas Tree Festival
5 & 12 Dec 2026 = Festive Murder Mystery Evenings Tennants Garden Rooms
6, 13, 20 Dec 2026 = Carols around the Christmas Tree Fountains Abbey (11am-12 noon)
6 & 13 Dec 2026 = Skipton Yuletide Festival & Market
7 & 14 Dec 2026 = Fountains Abbey Carols by Candelight Services
11 Dec 2026 = Cheltenham : The Festive Meet, Tennants Garden Rooms, Leyburn
11,12,13 Dec 2026 = Bowes Museum Winter Market Barnard Castle
13 Dec 2026 = Christmas Concertos & Carols Tennants Garden Rooms, Leyburn
16 Dec 2026 = A Christmas Cracker: Music, Song & Celebration Tennants Garden Rooms
21 Dec 2026 = Leyburn Band Christmas Concert Tennants Garden Rooms, Leyburn
26 Dec 2026 = Boxing Day Pilgrimage Ripon Cathedral & Fountains Abbey (start 9.30am)