Yorkshire Festivals for September & October

As the school holidays end, and the late summer begins to look a little like autumn, there’s still plenty of activity happening across Yorkshire.

Here’s a taste of the type of annual festivals which take place in September (and the first week or two of October) that you may like to have a look at in more detail.

General Cultural Festivals

1. Saltaire Festival: This festival in the UNESCO World Heritage village of Saltaire features music, theatre, dance, and a variety of workshops.
2. Freedom Festival: Held in Hull, this festival celebrates freedom through artistic and cultural expression, featuring international theatre, dance, visual art, and street performances.
3. Heritage Open Days: Various locations in Yorkshire participate in this national event, offering free entry to historical buildings, tours, and cultural experiences.

Music Festivals

1. Otley Folk Festival: This festival has been going strong since 1991, focusing mainly on folk and folk-rock music.
2. Marsden Jazz Festival: Although it usually takes place in October, some years see events beginning in late September.

Food & Drink Festivals

1. York Food & Drink Festival: One of the biggest food festivals in the UK, featuring food stalls, cooking demonstrations, and workshops.
2. Holmfirth Food and Drink Festival: This festival is perfect for foodies interested in sampling local Yorkshire produce.

Literature & Art

1. Ilkley Literature Festival: Generally held from late September to October, this is one of the UK’s foremost literary events.
2. Scalarama Leeds: A celebration of cinema, featuring screenings of under-the-radar films in various venues around Leeds.
3. NiddArt Trail: Local artists in the Nidderdale area often open their studios to the public in late August or early September.

Nature & Agriculture

1. Harrogate Autumn Flower Show: Ideal for gardening enthusiasts, this show features stunning garden designs, flower arrangements, and produce competitions.
2. Penistone Agricultural Show: A traditional Yorkshire agricultural show featuring livestock competitions, crafts, and local food.
3. Stokesley Agricultural Show: One of the largest one-day shows in the UK, featuring a variety of livestock and agricultural machinery.

Niche Interests

1. Whitby Pirate Festival: A fun-filled weekend of pirate-related activities and performances, usually featuring reenactments, games, and music.
2. Skyrack Wapentake: This historical reenactment festival in Leeds brings the Viking era back to life.
3. Steampunk Weekend: Held in Haworth, this festival celebrates steampunk culture with a variety of events including parades, music, and market stalls.
4. Beacons Festival: Though not exclusively a September event, when it does fall in this month, it focuses on a range of underground music genres and also features art installations.

Did we Miss Anything?

Of course we did! Yorkshire is full of activity, all the time. We’re only scraping the surface whenever we post something like this, so please do leave a public comment, below, with your favourite festival.

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