Welcome to Yorkshire
News • May 19th, 2025
|If you're the kind of person who loves a bit of live music and watching lemurs leap about in between sets, you're in luck. Yorkshire Wildlife Park in Doncaster is bringing back its Wild Live Concerts this summer, and the line-up just got even bigger. Whether you're a fan of Eurovision stars or you’re just after a proper day out with the kids that doesn’t feel like a chore, there’s something here for everyone.
Let’s be honest—finding stuff that keeps both adults and kids happy can be a nightmare. But chuck a full day of animals, food trucks, and live tunes into the mix, and suddenly, things start looking up. Here's what’s on the cards.
Big names and family favourites hit the stage
The park recently confirmed that Sam Ryder—yes, the Space Man from Eurovision 2022—is headlining on Saturday, 30 August 2025. That’s the same Sam with the big hair and even bigger voice. He’s the sort of act that’ll have mums, dads, and tweens all nodding along for once.
Backing him up are The Wanted 2.0, a reformed version of the boy band that took over teen bedrooms about a decade ago, and Aston Merrygold, who you might remember from JLS. Between them, they’ve clocked up enough chart hits to keep everyone singing along, even if it’s just in your head while queuing for ice cream.
What makes this different from any old gig?
Well, for starters, it’s at a wildlife park. Not just any wildlife park either—Yorkshire Wildlife Park has won awards for how it looks after animals and how it welcomes guests. It’s not every day you get to see lions and leopards and then bop to live music in the evening.
Your concert ticket includes entry to the park during the day, so you can make a whole day of it. Think giraffes in the morning, giraffes again in the afternoon (because let’s be honest, they’re cool), and then live music into the evening.
John Minion, who’s the park’s CEO, summed it up well when he said:
“We’ve got a fantastic summer ahead of us. The line-up is looking great and we’re ready to welcome all ages to the park to enjoy the Wild Live experience.”
Here’s what to expect from the Wild Live Concerts
If you didn’t make it to the 2024 Wild Live series, you missed what they’re calling their busiest bank holiday weekend ever. That’s no small feat, considering British bank holidays are normally a mix of traffic jams and soggy picnics.
The event’s got a bit of everything:
- Live performances from chart-topping acts
- On-site food and drink (think more street food than soggy burger vans)
- Access to the full Wildlife Park experience all day
- Kid-friendly vibes with space to dance, run about, and generally wear themselves out
And here’s the best bit—no mud. Unlike your standard music festival, you won’t need wellies, glitter, or to sleep in a tent. You can rock up, enjoy the show, and be home in time for a brew (or bedtime if you’ve got little ones).
The Yorkshire Wildlife Park experience
The park itself is a big draw. Set in Doncaster, it’s home to over 70 different species, from polar bears and rhinos to tigers and wallabies. It’s properly geared for families too—think picnic spots, play areas, and wide paths that are actually pushchair-friendly.
Even without the concerts, it’s the kind of place people travel to for a day out. But throw in live music, and suddenly it turns into a bit of a summer highlight.
Who’s this really for?
- Parents who want to do something fun with the kids that doesn’t involve soft play or spending a fortune on petrol to the coast
- Music fans who like their gigs a bit more chilled and family-friendly
- Grandparents, aunties, uncles—basically anyone looking for a solid way to spend a summer Saturday with the family without losing the will to live
A quick look at the details
Confirmed acts so far:
- Sam Ryder – Headliner on Saturday, 30 August 2025
- The Wanted 2.0
- Aston Merrygold
What’s included with tickets:
- Full-day access to Yorkshire Wildlife Park
- Entry to the Wild Live Concert
- Family-friendly entertainment
- Food and drink options on-site
How to get tickets
Tickets are already on sale and tend to go quickly, especially for days when the sun might shine (we’re talking British summer, after all). You can grab them from the Yorkshire Wildlife Park website.
Final thoughts
These aren’t just any gigs—they’re part day out, part festival, part animal adventure. If you’re tired of the same old summer routine or just want to see your kids dance like nobody’s watching (while you sip something cold nearby), this could be one for the calendar.
And who knows? Maybe you’ll even catch a selfie with a lemur. Stranger things have happened in Doncaster.
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