Newsletter: Friday 27th November 2025

It’s one of those perfect Yorkshire weeks when winter properly arrives — the first frost on the fields, Christmas lights switching on across our towns, and families heading out to cut their trees straight from the farms. Markets are opening from Settle to Scampston, the scent of mulled wine is drifting through high streets, and everywhere you look there’s that unmistakable feeling that the festive season has finally begun. As the county gears up for weeks of celebrations — from village fairs to cathedral showcases and lantern-lit trails — we’ve also rounded up a few Black Friday offers you might fancy.

Going Green

The National Trust is restoring fire-damaged Marsden Moor by planting 20,000 sphagnum moss plugs. Timetastic has extended its partnership with the Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust to 2028. Local garden centres and a Wakefield print supplier teamed up with Nurtured Childcare to help children celebrate National Tree Week.

Travel

LNER passengers travelling from 29 Nov–1 Dec should expect diversions, longer journeys and no stops at Durham or Darlington due to major engineering works. Drypool Bridge in Hull will finally reopen to two-way traffic and pedestrians.

Latest news

Henshaws’ Festive Showcase at Ripon Cathedral raised over £6,000. Hull has signed the UK Music Local Music Action Charter to strengthen its bid to become a UNESCO City of Music. The Ernest Cooper Macmillan Ride of Their Lives is a charity horse race which raised over £150k in York this year. Zizzi is celebrating its new fresh-pasta era by giving eight Yorkshire diners the chance to win free pasta for a year.

Christmas in Yorkshire

The Scampston Estate is hosting its free charity Christmas Fair this weekend (29–30 November). Settle launches Settlemas, a new town-wide festive celebration running 29 November–5 January. Castleford’s high street will burst into festive flavour from 4–7 December as the Continental Street Market returns.

New research shows York Christmas Market is the UK’s most popular outside London. Papa Johns’ new Yorkshire pudding pizza has turned out to be a surprisingly tasty festive hit. Aldi’s limited-edition Kevin the Carrot engagement rings were handcrafted in Sheffield. Spirit of Yorkshire has launched its limited-edition festive Filey Bay Sherry Cask Reserve #6.

Sheffield’s museums are hosting free festive events, markets, exhibitions and family activities. Brodie the polar bear is temporarily moving from Highland Wildlife Park to Yorkshire Wildlife Park. The Beverley Arms in East Yorkshire has created a magical festive wardrobe walkthrough. North Yorkshire Water Park is transforming into a festive family hub this December. South Yorkshire’s Tropical Butterfly House is hosting festive woodland grotto visits .

Meadowbeck Care Home in Osbaldwick is inviting elderly locals to join residents for a free, friendly Christmas Day meal. Bradford Cathedral will host the BBC One Christmas Day Service 2025.

Pubs

Pontefract’s Ancient Borough Arms raised £2,316 for Leeds General Infirmary by auctioning a signed Raphinha Leeds United shirt. Ed Miliband visited the newly rebuilt Marr Lodge in Doncaster to celebrate its £1.2m recovery. The Bluebell Inn in Rotherham has reopened after a £309,000 refurbishment.

Awards and Records

Yorkshire’s finalist for the BBC Gardeners’ World People’s Choice Award is Saltaire gardener Kamal Hussain. Hull is calling for nominations for the 2026 Amy Johnson Cup for Courage, recognising a single exceptional act of bravery by a child aged 17 or under. A 12-year-old Leeds entrepreneur named Prince has won GoHenry’s national Dream Big Competition.

Cedarbarn Farm Shop in Pickering has won the Agri-Business Excellence Award. Soanes Poultry, based in Middleton-on-the-Wolds, scooped both Large Business of the Year and the Environmental & Sustainability Award at the Hull & East Yorkshire Business Awards.

Econ Engineering in Ripon has launched the new Grit and Glory Awards to crown the UK’s first-ever Gritter Driver of the Year.

2026+

Applications are now open for Wakefield’s Rhubarb Festival 2026. Leeds launches a two-year City of Maths celebration in 2026.

A new “Wind in the Willows” trail is coming to RHS Harlow Carr from February–December 2026. Bridlington Spa has unveiled the lineup for its two-day indie festival This Feeling By The Sea, showcasing breakthrough guitar bands on 17–18 April 2026. A Freddie Mercury tribute starring Dean Richardson arrives at Silsden Town Hall on 25 April 2026.

Tramlines Festival 2026 has unveiled a huge first wave of artists for its 24–26 July takeover of Sheffield’s Hillsborough Park, with headliners Fatboy Slim, Courteeners and Wolf Alice leading a stacked lineup. Doncaster rising stars Sam Scherdel and Freddie Halkon have also been added.

Dermot Kennedy brings his huge 2026 arena tour to Leeds’ First Direct Arena on 2 June.

The TK Maxx summer concert series brings a huge run of stars to Yorkshire in 2026, including the Sex Pistols with Frank Carter at Halifax’s Piece Hall on 11 July and at Scarborough Open Air Theatre on 2 August. Michael Bublé plays a one-night-only Yorkshire date on 6 July at Scarborough OAT, while Royel Otis headline The Piece Hall on 25 June. Bowling For Soup and Frank Turner bring their ‘Bowl My Bones’ tour to Halifax on 30 June and Scarborough on 2 July. CMAT headlines Halifax on 17 July and Scarborough on 18 July, while Richard Ashcroft performs at Scarborough OAT on 27 June with Tom Meighan and Apollo Junction. Bastille play Scarborough on 11 July and The Piece Hall on 28 August, and Anastacia headlines Scarborough OAT on 21 June with Heather Small.

A bit of history

A brief look at the Old Pasture lime kiln near Conistone reveals how this 150-year-old field kiln once powered Dales farming life. Two former school dining tables made by Yorkshire’s legendary Mouseman craftsman have smashed a world record.

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Black Friday Offers #ads

Ad notice: – We may earn a commission if you buy something from links on this website.

Just Go Holidays is offering 10% off all tours this Black Friday — including the popular Scarborough & York Christmas Market Weekend and a full range of Yorkshire getaways.

English Heritage is offering 25% off new annual and gift memberships until 1 December, giving a whole year of historic days out for less.

Lastminute.com is offering up to £250 off Flight + Hotel packages from 24 November to 2 December, with extra hotel discounts and a £90 deposit option for early holiday planning.

Go Ape is offering 30% off gift cards this Black Friday weekend, giving the perfect chance to gift an unforgettable outdoor adventure at Dalby Forest or Temple Newsam.

Fishing Tackle & Bait is offering a week-long, sitewide 10% Black Friday discount from 24 November to 1 December, giving anglers the chance to upgrade their gear for less.

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What's on in Yorkshire this week?

Yorkshire is buzzing with an exciting line-up of events to suit all tastes. Whether you’re looking for live music, comedy, sports nostalgia, or family-friendly entertainment, there’s something for everyone. Here’s what’s coming up in the next week:

• Fisherman’s Friends at Middlesbrough Town Hall on November 28th, 2025 7:00pm
• Objekt at The Crescent, York on November 29th, 2025 9:00pm
• Mumford & Sons at Leeds First Direct Bank Arena on November 30th, 2025 6:00pm
• Wheatus at Foundry, Sheffield on December 1st, 2025 7:30pm
• Electric Six at O2 Academy Leeds on December 2nd, 2025 7:00pm
• An Evening With The Fast Show at Bradford Live on December 3rd, 2025 7:30pm
• Jesca Hoop at National Centre For Early Music, York on December 4th, 2025 7:00pm
• Jack and the Beanstalk: The Pantomime at Whitby Pavilion Theatre on December 5th, 2025 7:00pm
• All Day Jump Horse Racing at Wetherby Racecourse – Saturday 06 December 2025
• Stereophonics: Hospitality Experiences at Utilita Arena Sheffield on December 7th, 2025 6:00pm

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