Not sure where to go this year for the best festival experience? We’ve got it covered in our mini guide to Yorkshire festivals for 2016
12-14 February Coastival Scarborough’s annual arts festival Coastival is hosting giant puppets, live music, comedy, theatre, performance, dance, fine art, films plus procession on the beach. 01723 384545 coastival.com
3-13 March Huddersfield Literature Festival This year’s 10-day book-fest follows the theme of ‘10’ to mark the event’s milestone 10th anniversary. 01484 430228 litfest.org.uk
20-22 May Shepley Spring Festival This three-day event, voted Village Festival of the Year in 2012, features traditional musical acts from across Britain and some from further afield. shepleyspringfestival.co.uk
28 May-11 June Swaledale Festival A two-week festival which attracts some of the finest classical musicians from across the world. Contact best via email at enquiries@swalefest.org swaledale-festival.org.uk
7-19 June Beverley Folk Festival Kate Rusby from Penistone is among the headline acts plus folk-rockers Steeleye Span and rising stars, The Young’uns. 01377 219112 beverleyfolkfestival.com
17 June-2 July Grassington Festival Two weeks of music and arts in the Yorkshire Dales. The festival is now in its 36th year and one of the most successful in Yorkshire. 01756 752691 grassington-festival.org.uk
24 June-3 July Hebden Bridge Arts Festival This year’s programme of events is on the theme of Trouser Town. Hebden Bridge produced thousands of pairs of trousers a week in its heyday and the festival will bring to life the town’s textile history. Email contactus@hbaf.co.uk hebdenbridgeartsfestival.co.uk
12-14 July Great Yorkshire Show Tickets go on sale at the beginning of March for this year’s Great Yorkshire Show. It claims to be England’s biggest and best agricultural show (we think it is too) and features demonstrations, exhibitions and competitions as well as more than 1,200 stands selling everything from farm machinery to stylish clothing. The annual show - this year will be the 158th - attracts crowds of around 130,000. 01423 541000 greatyorkshireshow.co.uk
15-17 July Hull Folk Festival Various locations in the city celebrate music, arts, crafts, dancing, real ales, and good food. 01482 221113 hull-folk.co.uk
2-4 September Freedom Festival As Hull gears up for its year as City of Culture, the Freedom Festival brings arts, events, shows and music to the city. 01482 214036 freedomfestival.co.uk
24-25 September Yarndale Join this annual celebration of all things woolly, with exhibitions, demonstrations and workshops at the Skipton Auction Mart. 01756 770323 yarndale.co.uk.
22-23 October Countryside Live One of the last countryside events of the year that offers a great rural showcase for all the family. 01423 541000 countrysidelive.co.uk
