June Events & Activities

Review what's on in June in the Yorkshire Dales and North Yorkshire:

If you would like to include your 2012, 2013 or 2014 event here, please email details to info@stayin.net.

The Great Knaresborough Bed Race 9th June 2012 - is an annual community event run entirely by volunteers and made world famous by its riot of colour and pageantry, the courage and endurance of its teams, and the glorious eccentricity of its entrants. For many years TV coverage has boosted this with the BBC's Songs of Praise programme choosing Bed Race as the theme of its broadcast. Nippon TV, Transworld Sport and others aired fragments of the fancy dress parade and gruelling race. In past years, Blue Peter, Channel Four and many others have featured the race, sparking coverage right around the world.

Duncombe Park Country Fair, 4th June 2012 - a fantastic day out for all the family. Established in 1982 - the original country fair of North Yorkshire in the beautiful grounds of Duncombe Park

Embsay & Bolton Abbey, Thomas The Tank Engine Specials, 2nd - 5th June 2012 - Yorkshire's Friendly Line welcomes back its favourite visitor to host 'Day Out with Thomas' Bank Holiday weekend events. Thomas, along with Sir Topham Hatt, The Fat Controller, will be hosting the event that always proves so popular. Thomas and his friends are looking forward to visiting the line. Refreshments are available at the station buffet at Embsay or Mrs Kyndley's Tea Rooms at Bolton Abbey Station. There are gift and book shops at either station together with toilets and substantial car parking and facilities for the disabled at Bolton Abbey Station.

Yarm Gala 4th & 5th June 2012 - Yarm High street will host annual Gala on the cobbles and river of the picturesque historic town. Last years wonderful weather saw nearly 3000 people attend the fun packed family fun day. To mark the Queens Diamond Jubilee celebrations why not bring your deckchairs, a blanket and a picnic basket and make yourself comfortable on the High Street.

Appleby Horse Fair 7th - 13th June 2012 - Appleby Fair is unique in Europe and, as well as attracting around 10,000 Gypsies and Travellers, over 30,000 other visitors attend the Fair, with Sunday being the traditional main visitors’ day. It transforms the town of Appleby for the week, as it normally has a population of around 2,500. Appleby Fair has been held for certain since 1750, and probably for very much longer than that. It is held for one week every year from the first Thursday in June until the second Wednesday and is world famous, the largest Fair of its kind in Europe. It is an annual event attended by Romany and Irish families travelling to meet up with old friends, celebrate their music, history and folklore and conduct business - particularly buying and selling horses.

Grassington Festival 15th June - 30th June 2012 - The Grassington Festival of Music and Arts is a veritable medley of the best music, performance and visual arts to be found in the country. This ‘grand dame’ of the festival circuit has an unbeatable reputation for putting on fantastic music, street theatre, poetry readings, magic and comedy acts. Last year’s festival goers enjoyed over 60 different acts around Grassington. This year sees the appointment of the first visual artist in residence who will have spent four months working with the community to put on a new body of work for exhibition at the Festival. Check the web site for programme information.

The Willowman Festival, 21 to 24 June 2012 - 4 DAYS OF AMAZING MUSIC IN THE HEART OF NORTH YORKSHIRE. The Willowman Festival is situated at Lenthor Farm just off the edge of the North Yorkshire Moors near the beautiful village of Osmotherley. Lenthor Farm is full of magic and earthly atmosphere. The custodian of the land, "Mad Farmer" Derek Plews has constructed his own Pagan Stone Circle at the top of the site. It is called "Sentry Circle" and is used by local and visiting Pagans from far and wide. This also brings a great calming effect to The Willowman Festival. The site boasts some fantastic panoramic views and on a clear day from the Stones, you can see as far as Ingleton at the head of The Yorkshire Dales and across The Yorkshire Moors taking in such landmarks as far as Rosebury Topping. With Derek's kind permission we are able to utilise the weekend preceding Summer Solstice to hold The Willowman Festival. Our Main Stage features some of the most popular festival bands with all styles of music catered for. There's an Acoustic Stage in the Beer Tent, the Reggae Sound System Tent, a Healing Area, Spiritualists, Workshops, plus other attractions. There is camping available with lots of quality trade stands, a bar and a wide variety of food stalls to suit even the worldliest of tastes.