Find out about some of Yorkshire's quirkier events.
Annual festival in February
Enjoy two days of mouth watering local produce as well as a wonderful programme of delicious treats. From cookery demonstrations through to tasting sessions, a farmers' market and a wide range of food-based stalls, there is something for everyone. Visitors can also discover more about the Yorkshire Rhubarb Triangle by visiting the local rhubarb sheds and getting involved in a variety of cultural events associated with the festival.
New in 2010: Yorkshire Rhubarb received EU Protected Designation of Origin status from the European Commission's Protected Food Name scheme alongside other household names such as Champagne and Parma Ham.
Biennial festival - next one is February 2011
In around 1802 when the Slaithwaite Canal was built it is said that some of the bargees used to smuggle all sorts of things up the canal. The Moonraking story begins on a dark, windy and cloudy evening late in 1802.
A group of men were collecting rum that had been secretly placed in the reed bed in the canal by a bargee. They had just started to rake it out, when a shaft of moonlight pierced the clouds and illuminated the scene. Unknown to the men, some customs men were secretly keeping watch, having been tipped off. When the moonlight lit up the scene, one of the customs men shouted, "What are you lot doing?" One of the men was a quick thinker and as he noticed the moon reflected on the water, he replied, "Are you blind? Can't you see that the Moon has fallen into the water and we're trying to rake her out before she drowns?" The customs men looked at each other and burst out laughing, "Moon fallen in the water! A right lot of Moonrakers you are!".
The men quickly gathered up their smuggled goods and returned home.
So in February this strange tale is celebrated by the villagers of Slaithwaite, with lanterns, moonlight procession, storytelling, bands, music and dancing.
Annual event on Shrove Tuesday
Scarborough has a tradition established since at least 1903, and possibly before, of a mass long-rope skipping event on the South Foreshore on Shrove Tuesday - which was once a holiday for servants and workers. It is believed that its origins lie in the local fishermen sorting their ropes and nets, and giving those not fit for fishing to children.
Scarborough's skipping event seems to be a continuation of another custom - Ball Day, when stalls sold children's toys such as tops, balls, and skipping ropes, which were purchased by and for adults as well. Since at least 1853 a dignitary or celebrity has rung a special bell at noon on Shrove Tuesday, supposedly to signal to housewives that they should begin pancake making. Nowadays the mayor or deputy mayor rings the bell to signal the start of the skipping. The numbers of people taking part have been known to reach thousands
Annual event in March
In the early 1980s a newly opened health club attracted a number of men who decided to improve their fitness. After late Saturday afternoon workouts half a dozen or so of the members would retire to the Old Bridge Inn, Ripponden.
One of the regular attendees would bring himself a pork pie provided by his wife. The rest of the group would look on with envy, whilst eating crisps and nuts. What followed was a shared contribution by the members to bring their favourite pork pies to the pub each Saturday - these were allocated marks out of ten - and so the Pork Pie Club began.
The Pork Pie Appreciation Society now holds an annual contest for butchers and bakers from all over the country in March. This competition attracts over 50 entrants. All proceeds from this event go to a named charity.
Annual event on Good Friday
Although there are a few Pace Egg Plays (said to derive from "paschal," the old name for Easter) in Yorkshire this particular one is played out every Easter Good Friday in Heptonstall.
The Pace Egg Play is a mixture of a pagan rebirth ceremony with the later influences of Christianity and the Crusades. The play is said to be the world's oldest drama and can be traced back through English and European Mummers' plays to ancient Egypt and Syria.
The performance in Heptonstall was revived by the Heptonstall Pace Eggers in 1979 and is a traditional Pennine variant of the play, the text of which has been passed down orally over the years.
www.hebdenbridge.co.uk/features/pace-egg.html#2
Annual event on Easter Monday
The World Coal Carrying contest is a test of stamina and muscle. The race involves men carrying 50kg of coal over an uphill course close to a mile long, while the ladies race sees women carry 20kg of coal. The competition dates back to 1963 when a local coal merchant and the president of the Maypole Committee were enjoying a pint of beer together. A friend is said to have burst into the pub and bet that he could race the two with a bag of coal on their backs. Not wanting to let a good idea go to waste, the secretary of the Maypole Committee who was listening to the challenge, decided to set the race for Easter Monday.
www.gawthorpe.ndo.co.uk/coal.htm
18 April 2010
This annual event has been running since 1971 (although there was a short break at one point in its history). Dock Pudding is a distinctive West Yorkshire dish, only found in the Calder Valley, which is said to cleanse the blood. It is made from sweet dock leaves, nettles, oatmeal, onions, butter and seasoning. The dock pudding is then heated through to form part of a 'traditional' Yorkshire breakfast. The dock leaves used are from Polygonum Bistorta, a sweet variety and not common cow dock leaves.
During the competition the dock pudding is fried up and served in front of spectators. The proof is in the pudding, as four judges get to work at Mytholmroyd Community & Leisure Centre's Dock Pudding Championship. In previous years the event has been featured by Robbie Coltraine on TV and in a book plus Bernard Ingram (Margaret Thatcher's former PR) was brought up on it and often judges the competition.
22 -25 April 2010 / 28 -31 October 2010
Whitby Goth Weekend is a twice-yearly event held in April and October which has grown into one of the most popular gothic events in the world, attracting all generations from across the UK and around the world. Although referred to as a weekend it features events from Thursday to Monday. These events include additional club nights, markets and a charity football match. There are often unofficial day events taking place around the town too.
28 April 2010
2010 will see the sixth World Water Bombing Championships take place at Ponds Forge International Sports Centre. 20 teams of 4 - any weight, gender or size and no necessary experience will take their turn to bomb into the pool in the attempt to become World Champion. Teams can represent a department, club or business in what promises to be an exciting, fun event which will raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support. All teams have to be aged over 18 and wear fancy dress.
www.ponds-forge.co.uk/events/wwbc280410
12 June 2010
The Great Knaresborough Bed Race is an annual event made world famous by its riot of colour and pageantry, the endurance of its teams, and the eccentricity of its entrants.
A bumper day is keenly anticipated for the 2010 Bed Race with thousands of spectators turning out to watch what is expected to be a record entry field of 90 teams.
As last year, decorated beds and teams will gather in designated spots at the Knaresborough Castle Grounds, where scrutineering will be conducted to ensure all beds and teams comply with race rules. The theme of this year's event is 'Occupations'. Judging of the 'Best Dressed', 'Most Entertaining' and other categories will be followed by the traditional parade through Knaresborough's medieval streets.
www.knaresborough.co.uk/bedrace
4 July 2010
For a true Yorkshire day out for all the family drop by the Skipton Sheep Day, Skipton High Street. Visitors can tie themselves up in knots at the hands-on rope making demonstration, tractor down to the farmers market to pick out a bargain or simply enjoy the famous 'lookalike' sheep competition.
17 July 2010
One day and night of the best in contemporary music and art set in beautiful North Yorkshire parkland. Music on the main stage from midday until 11pm will entertain audiences with new music in many genres offering a tantalizing line-up offering something for everyone.
On the arts side there'll be some amazing creations evolving throughout the day; starting with a blank canvas (or chunk of wood, sheet of metal, piece of cloth) the aim is to get even the most artistically reluctant to have a go and make lasting reminders of the day.
3 August 2010
Egton Bridge, eight miles from Whitby in the North York Moors National Park, is the setting for the oldest surviving gooseberry show in the country, established in 1800. The show is held on the first Tuesday in August each year by the Egton Bridge Old Gooseberry Society.
Competition in still upholding the 19th Century tradition of finding the heaviest gooseberry has always been of utmost priority - last year's winner also beat a new world record.
www.egtongooseberryshow.org.uk
14 - 22 August 2010
Visitors are encouraged to explore by walking the "Scarecrow Trail", identifying the selected scarecrows, and solving associated clues which, each year, are based on a different theme. Many other scarecrows can be found, often in some of the more unusual and unexpected nooks and crannies of this idyllic location.
www.kettlewellscarecrowfestival.co.uk
4 - 5 September 2010
Rushbearing dates back several centuries to the time when rushes provided floor covering in the churches. Each year, the old, rotten rushes were thrown out and new ones were taken to the churches in carts. This gradually turned into a celebration and holiday involving revelry, music and morris dancing.
The modern festival is the only one of its kind in Yorkshire. The focal point of the event is the sixteen feet high, two-wheeled, handsomely decorated and thatched Rushcart, which is pulled by sixty local men dressed in Panama hats, white shirts, black trousers and clogs. They are accompanied by music and five or six teams of Morris dancers.
A team of women take turns to ride on top of the cart. The colourful procession is an unforgettable spectacle as it winds its way through local villages over the course of the weekend.
25 - 26 September 2010
On the last weekend in September the large market square in Masham is full of sheep for the annual sheep fair. In days gone by this was the major sale of breeding stock - sheep bred on the uplands were bought by farmers across the country. Today the sheep fair is more about showing sheep than selling, although some are still sold at the end of the weekend. There are also sheep races and a host of stalls and other amusements at this rural gathering.
29 - 31 October 2010
York based PSI (Paranormal & Spectral Investigations) will be celebrating the city's haunted heritage in all its glory (or should that be gory!?) with a packed agenda of ghostly goings-on including the opportunity to take part in a real paranormal overnight investigation.
Annual festival in November
The Festival of Angels is a magical weekend of ice sculptures, outdoor entertainment and a guaranteed sprinkling of snow. Visitors to the City can sip hot mulled wine whilst marvelling at stunning ice sculptures before taking some time to sample the chic bars and restaurants situated in The Quarter district of York.
