Please check listings with the venue before leaving the house!
What’s On? Harrogate, Knaresborough, Ripon & Yorkshire Dales
6 May - Ripon Cathedral
Beer Festival
Annual Beer Festival in the grounds of Ripon Cathedral on May Day Bank Holiday. Award winning beers, live music, wine, Pimm’s and plenty for the children to do – it’s a great day out for all of the family!
Until 12 May - Prison & Police Museum
Secrets in the Cellar
Deep underground below Ripon Town Hall, Ripon Museum staff & volunteers work to catalogue, pack & research the museum’s objects & stories. Secrets in the Cellar reveals what happens behind the scenes at the museum & how we care for and preserve centuries of law & order history.
25 May – 2 Jun - RHS Harlow Carr
Get Set, Grow
Children are being encouraged to get, set, grow at RHS Garden Harlow Carr during May Half term. Enjoy a daily garden trail, storytelling with the garden detectives, indoor crafts and outdoor workshops.
25 May – 2 Jun - Mother Shipton’s Cave
Unicorns and Dinosaurs
The park will be transformed in engaging and interactive Half Term event suitable for all the family. Every day from Sat 25th May - Sun 2nd Jun, Open 10am to 5.30pm. For discounted tickets book online now at www. mothershipton.co.uk
25 May – 2 Jun - Knaresborough Castle
Medieval entertainment
Join in our activities all about medieval entertainment this May ½ term. Bring a picnic to enjoy the grounds and don’t forget to explore the King’s Chamber, the dungeon and secret underground tunnel! Dress up & play games to discover what life was like in a castle.
25 May – 2 Jun - Mercer Art Gallery
May ½ term fun
Join in our well dressing crafts, celebrating this old English tradition and Harrogate’s 80+ mineral wells. Enjoy the art on show in Views of Harrogate. Meet our new pet cat (toy!) & discover her favourite paintings on show in the gallery. FREE admission.
9 Jun - Newby Hall
Tractor Fest
Vintage tractor, engines, commercial vehicles, cars & motorcycles from around the UK and Europe. Fun for all of the family.
15-16 & 22-23 Jun - Fountains Abbey
Food festival
New food and drink festival taking place beside Fountains Mill, the monastic home of beer and bread at Fountains Abbey. Featuring local street food, breweries and bakeries as well as family games in the orchard. A chance to learn about the history of the Mill, take a tour of the monastic Brewhouse and Bakehouse, and have a go with dough. familiesonline.co.uk
YOrk & NORTH YORKS MOORS
4 – 5 May - Castle Howard
Festival of Dogs
With plenty to entertain all the family, and of course our canine visitors too, join us for a packed programme of dog themed events. Ryedale Dog Rescue will be running a Family Dog Show, with prizes being awarded for categories including Best in Show, and Most Handsome Hound. ‘Hounds With Hannah’ will be performing a gun dog display during the day, and also running a drop in Dog Clinic to advise on any of your dog related queries.
25 May - Malton
Food Lovers Festival
A celebration of the finest Yorkshire produce and cooking. Expect heaving stalls, delicious street food, talks, tasting, celebrity chef demos, cookery lessons and much more! Enjoy top family entertainment, live music, kids’ cookery, vintage fairground and more. www. visitmalton.com
Until 30 Jun - Dalby Forest
Zog Activity trail
Step in Zog’s claw-prints at the forest classroom, learn how animals fly, what sounds they make and how they catch their prey. As well as winning gold stars along the trail, there will be panels with a hidden image that children can find using a coloured lens in their activity pack. Just £3, activity pack, Zog mask, activity sheets & stickers.
2 Jun - Yorkshire Air Museum
Giants of the Sky
May-Hem Circus at Piglets Adventure Farm
Roll up, roll up! Piglets crazy May-Hem Circus is back this May half term! With death defying stunts, upside down juggling and amazing acrobatics, all in the big top tent, it’s unmissable fun for the entire family, from 25th May to 2nd June. Step right up as the fun just keeps getting better! Take a tractor ride to the amazing Bale Play Baaarn where you can whizz down brandnew giant slides! Plus explore the straw bale mountain, junior tractor drivers’ area, rope swing and dig’n’play. If you’re feeling peckish, there’s even a heated seating area with delicious food from the Piggy Pizza Parlour or try a tasty treat in Truffle’s Trough. You can also enjoy a refreshing drink and delicious snacks in the Piglets Coffee House with small soft play are or try a piggy poo ice-cream in the Ice-Cream Parlour! Plus, don’t miss all the usual adventure farm fun, including Truffles Farmhouse & Barn, giant sandpit, bouncing pillows, crazy golf, barrel rides, magical fairy tale trail and go karts too. And that’s all before you see the cute animals! You’ll find lots out in the paddocks and in the animal barn. See adorable rabbits, goats and ponies plus get up close to little piglets in the Piglet Maternity Ward and if you are lucky see piglets being born, such a memorable experience. Tumble on down to Piglets Adventure Farm this May Half Term and enjoy an amazing family day out. Get your discounted tickets online today. Piglets Adventure Farm is located 15 minutes from the centre of York, on Towthorpe Moor Lane, between Strensall Road & the A64, North of York.
The museum’s collection of Cold War Jets is probably one of the most varied in Europe. Join us as we let them take centre stage and take a close look at these incredibly powerful aircrafts from an era when world peace hung in the balance. Enjoy guided tours around the museum’s jet fleet.
22 Jun – 24 Aug (various dates) Dame Judi Dench Walk, York
4 – 16 Jun - York Citywide
Award winning summer time Art and Design market. Come and have a stroll beside the river and purchase unique art works.
York Festival of Idea: A World of Wonder Over 150 FREE events with plenty aimed at families with young children. Spark children’s imaginations with crafty, puzzling, scientific and interactive fun. Join us and see where your imagination takes you. Find out more including dates and times of events at: www. yorkfestivalofideas.com
16 Jun - Castle Howard
Father’s Day Car Show
Set within the grounds of Castle Howard, the Father’s Day Classic Car & Motor Show offers a spectacular day of motoring heritage ideal for enthusiasts, day trippers and families.
22 – 23 Jun - Deans Park, York
Bloom! Flower & Produce Show
A fun floral festival celebrating 250 years of the Ancient Society of York Florists. It will bring a rainbow of colour and beauty to the ancient city of York and is sure to inspire you with workshops, magnificent installations and everything inbetween. www.bloomyork.com
York River Art Market
Dos Palmeras - Chub Perkins
11th - 12th & 18th - 19th May Artists around Wetherby OPEN STUDIOS This annual event takes place in villages in a 6-7mile radius of Wetherby, over two weekends, 11th & 12th, 18th & 19th May. 23 artists, using a broad range of mediums will be on showing their work by opening their studios. The event is open between 10am and 5pm. All artists will be serving refreshments in lieu of a donation to St Gemma’s Hospice. Demonstrations at many studios. For more information and a brochure please visit www.artistsaroundwetherby.com or follow the group on Facebook at https://engb.facebook.com/artistsaroundwetherby Families Vale of York 15
