Autumn may have arrived, but there is still a wealth of events and activities being staged across North Yorkshire.

From international touring exhibitions to country shows and charity runs, there is a host of events to keep the whole family entertained at this time of year.

We can’t include everything here, so be sure to keep a look out for local events where you live.

If you are organising a major event in North Yorkshire, please tell us and we’ll do our best to include it in a future issue. Just email yny@northyorks.gov.uk.

From 10 September

The Botanical World of Mary Delany opens runs until March 2025 in the Reddihough Galleries on the first floor of the National Trust’s Beningbrough Hall near York.

Beningbrough Hall is the first UK venue to host this international touring exhibition, celebrating the exceptional creativity and scientific accuracy of the 18^th century artist, Mary Delany, presented in partnership with the British Museum. Layered throughout the galleries will be historic and contemporary artworks honouring creative women, including a specially commissioned sculpture by Rebecca Stevenson.

The Botanical World of Mary Delany is part of the British Museum Unseen touring exhibition series. These displays explore a variety of themes across the British Museum’s collection, comprised primarily of digital photography and focusing on the lesser known, and at times invisible, stories from within the museum.

For more details, visit the National Trust website.

20 September

Kirkby Malzeard's Highside Singers perform ‘Songs from the Shows’ at All Saints' Church, Thirkleby, YO7 2AS. A welcome drink is included in the price and there is a cash bar and raffle on the night.

The event will be supporting All Saints Together, Alzheimer's Research and the My Name's Doddie foundation. Doors open at 6.15pm and tickets are £12.50. For more information, contact 07598 151955 or 07891892 or email gillwalmsley@tiscali.co.uk.

21 September

Scarborough Pride is returning and will once again be held at Scarborough Spa from 12am to 6pm.

Join in and celebrate LGBTQIA+ Pride and History.

Scarborough Pride was established to promote equality and diversity, and in particular the elimination of discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity of those living in Scarborough and the surrounding areas.

The Scarborough Pride Parade will take a central route through the town centre, starting outside the Brunswick Centre at 11am. From there, people will head through the town centre along Newborough and Westborough. They will then be heading along Foreshore Road towards Scarborough Spa where festivities continue for the rest of the day.

For more details, visit the Scarborough Pride website.

22 September

Nidderdale's Big Day Out includes a wide range of events such as sheep dog trials, a dog show, show jumping, livestock classes, cookery demonstrations, trade stands and an exhibition cricket match.

‘Pateley Show’, as the Nidderdale Show is affectionately known, is a traditional Dales agricultural show where visitors can browse displays of the finest livestock, produce and crafts that the Dales have to offer.

Food and drink are also available around the showground.

For more details, visit the Nidderdale Show website.

22 September

Whitby District Lion’s Club is holding its Whitby Rainbow Colour Run, which is supported by Whitby Seafoods.

This year’s run, which is the event’s fifth edition, begins at 12pm.

The family day at Whitby Beach involves the chance to run or walk through a vibrant explosion of colours.

Participants will be doused head-to-toe in different hues as they make your way along the scenic route.

All the money raised will support the work of Whitby District Lion’s Club, which donates to local charities and good causes.

Tickets can be purchased through Eventbrite priced at £15 for adults and over-12s, £10 for under-12s and £30 for a family of two adults and two children.

Children under the age of 16 must be accompanied by a paying adult and supervised at all times.

Tickets are also available from the Whitby Pet Shop, 15 Station Square, Whitby, YO21 1DU.

Tickets can also be purchased on the day at the event registration tent, which opens at 11am until 12pm.

Until 22 September

The Scarborough Old Parcels Office (OPO) annual heritage exhibition has been developed in partnership with Scarborough Maritime Heritage Centre and explores the impact of the Steam Revolution in the mid and late 19th century on the fishing industry in Scarborough.

The story is told on a series of display panels combining words and old photographs. The text has been written by Scarborough historian and author Stewart MacDonald. Most of the illustrations have been selected by Les Shannon from Scarborough Maritime Heritage Centre’s extensive archive.

The focus of the exhibition is on the Steam Revolution in the mid nineteenth century, but it starts in medieval times, when Scarborough fishing first became important, reflected in the Royal Charter granting Scarborough Fair in the reign of King Henry III.

The exhibition takes place at the Old Parcels Office Artspace, Westborough, Scarborough, YO11 1TU,  from 11am to 4pm, from Thursday to Sunday. Admission is free.

Until 22 September

The Ripon Poetry Festival is back with another weekend of poetry readings, performances, workshops and book launches for poetry-lovers of all ages.

Kate Fox and Adisa the Verbaliser are returning to the festival, which also includes readings by Marilyn Longstaff, Khadijah Ibrahim, S.J. Litherland, Joe Williams and Vane Women. In addition, there are poetry workshops for children and adults, an open mic night, the launch of this year’s festival anthologies, the adventures of Reggie from the Hedgie, and book launches by local poets Caroline Matusiak, Ian Clarke and Trevor Vaughan.

To find out more about the festival, to join the mailing list or to become a Friend of the Ripon Poetry Festival, contact Andy Croft on 07721890778, Paul Mill on 01765 603633 or ask at the Little Ripon Bookshop.

Tickets for all events are available to purchase on Eventbrite, in advance from Little Ripon Bookshop, 12-13 Westgate, Ripon HG4 2AT or on the door.

Free events do not require tickets, but entry is on a first-come first-served basis.

Further details on the Ripon Poetry Festival website.

25 September

Facing The Waves, a new musical, helping to celebrate the RNLI’s 200th anniversary with a story based in Whitby, takes place at Selby Abbey, The Crescent, Selby.

Featuring the stories of those who risk everything to help others in danger on the sea, it runs from 7.30pm to 10pm.

Tickets are £12.50 per person.

For more details, visit the Dogwood Productions website.

26 to 29 September

The North Yorkshire Moors Railway is holding a four-day celebration of steam.

Visitors will be able to see up to 10 locomotives in full steam during the event.

Visitors will embark on a journey riding behind both special guest locomotives and home fleet engines. The timetable, with evening running on both Friday and Saturday, allows visitors to hop on and hop off services all day and enjoy the picturesque route with stops at Pickering, Levisham, Newtondale Halt, Goathland, Grosmont, and Whitby stations.

For full details, visit the North Yorkshire Moors Railway website.

27 to 29 September

Scarborough Jazz Festival is back for its 21st year and the first year with Mark Gordon as festival director.

Highlights include performances by Al Morrison’s Blues Experience, Elaine Delmar, James Hudson and the Tom Smith Big Band.

The event takes place at the Scarborough Spa on South Bay and for more details, visit the Discover Yorkshire Coast website.

28 September

St Cecilia Orchestra pays homage to Hollywood’s golden age in a gala concert at Ripon Cathedral featuring songs from hit screen musicals, sung by soprano Henna Mun and tenor Marcus Swietlicki.

The first half of the concert opens with Gershwin’s jazz-influenced ‘American in Paris’ and features St Cecilia’s leader, Richard Fletcher, playing the violin concerto by the leading writer of Hollywood film scores, Erich Korngold.

Reserved tickets are £28 to £35 and unreserved tickets £20 and are available online via Ticketsource.

Unreserved tickets can also be purchased from Harrogate Theatre, the Little Ripon Bookshop and on the door. Under-18s get free admission.

For more information, visit the Visit Harrogate website.

28 September

Opera for the People comes to Skipton Town Hall.

Nicola Mills is Victoria Wood meets Pavarotti in this truly down-to-earth opera crossover show.

Nicola will entertain with her voice and stories of working class life, to singing in some of Europe’s finest Opera houses, to then taking opera to the streets. This is the story of how Opera for the People was born.

Tickets are £15 with concessions for £12 and under-18s for £5.

For ticket information, visit the Skipton Town Hall website.

28 and 29 September

Skipton Auction Market hosts Yarndale 2024, celebrating wool in all its forms. This award-winning festival brings together a range of makers, craft workers, retailers, and artisans in Skipton and attracts yarn enthusiasts from all over the world to enjoy a weekend of events.

The show is designed to encourage everyone to share ideas and creative inspiration and aims to bring together a community of like-minded crafters.

Visitors will find inspiration for new projects and an array of yarns and equipment to browse through and buy.

They are also able to try their hand at a range of skills and techniques in workshops led by experienced practitioners and listen to talks.

For more details and ticket information, visit the Yarndale 2024 website

Until 29 September

The 2024 Richmond Walking and Book Festival runs until 29 September.

Visitors will be able to meet celebrated authors, discover new ones and engage in a full programme of morning and evening book events.

They will also be able to explore the beautiful Northern Dales in autumn - with daily walks for amblers, ramblers and serious walkers led by friendly guides, keen to share their knowledge and enthusiasm for the area.

For more details, visit the Richmond Walking and Book Festival website.

3 October

Do you fancy a spot of Regency cricket? Or is enchanting embroidery more your thing? If so, then a talk, A History of Wardrobe – Ladies of Leisure, could be for you.

Taking place at the Georgian Theatre Royal in Richmond, this new talk explores pleasures and pastimes in Jane Austen’s era, featuring original fashions for sport and dancing and readings from Austen’s novels.

Tickets cost £15 and are available from the Box Office on 01748 825252 or online at the Georgian Theatre Royal website.

Until 4 October

An exhibition entitled Quilt As Folk is being staged at Scarborough Library until 4 October.

Last summer, Crescent Arts asked for people to get involved in creating Scarborough’s very first queer community quilt. The quilt was on the theme of ‘Queer and Coastal’ and asked people to celebrate their identities and imagine how the environment might contribute to this. It was then displayed in the exhibition Always Been Here at Scarborough Art Gallery.

The quilt will be able to be seen in the library’s exhibition section.

4 to 6 October

Bedale Community Beer Festival takes place at Bedale Hall and features beer, food and music.

The festival from 4 to 6 October is in aid of the market town's biggest outdoor event – the Bedale Community Bonfire in November, which regularly attracts up to 4,000 revellers.

The festival opens on Friday at 6pm, while on Saturday it runs from 12pm to 11pm. Entry is £7 for one session or £10 for the weekend.

On Sunday, it opens at 12pm with free entry and a quiz at 2pm. Children and dogs are welcome throughout the weekend.

Advance tickets are available from the Food Weighouse in Bedale and also on the Eventbrite website.

5 and 6 October

The Great Seaside Vintage Fair takes place at the Whitby Pavilion.

Featuring 40 stalls of genuine vintage fashion and homewares from the 1920s to the 1980s, it is spread out within the Northern Lights Suite of the pavilion with spectacular sea views.

Admission is £3 on the door or to buy tickets in advance, visit the Rose and Brown Vintage website. Under-16s will get free admission.

5 to 31 October

5 to 31 October

Humble Bee Farm at Flixton, near Scarborough, is ready to welcome visitors to its pumpkin patch and Halloween trail.

You can pick your own pumpkin and carve it in the undercover barn, take an exciting walk around the Halloween Spooky Trail, meet the Farmyard Gang and enjoy refreshments in the Hive café.

The venue is open to the public on 5, 6, 9, 12, 13 and 16 October and then daily from 23 to 31 October. Pre-booked tickets in advance only.

For more information visit the Humble Bee Farm website.

6 October

Richmond Artisan Fair takes place between 10am and 4pm at Richmond Town Hall.

Situated in the centre of town, the location is surrounded by independent museums, shops, cafes and with the Yorkshire Dales on the doorstep. Visitors are sure of a warm welcome as exhibitors bring their own unique, creative style, and are happy to chat.

For more information, contact RichmondArtisanFairs@hotmail.com.

11 to 14 October

The Yorkshire Dales Cheese Festival celebrates the produce of the Dales with local businesses throughout the National Park hosting their own special events, menus and tastings to mark the occasion.

The Cheese Festival is different to how other festivals are run. It is made up of a huge variety of separate events hosted by businesses in their own locations – rather than being one event, held at one venue.

There will be cheesy bites and themed dishes in local cafes and restaurants, demos using local produce, cookery courses, dining experiences, Yorkshire gin and ales, specially created dairy ice creams and sorbets, jams, jellies and chutneys, locally-reared meat on menus, and the chance to meet the makers.

For more information, visit the Yorkshire Dales website.

12 and 13 October

Bolton Castle, near Leyburn, is hosting a Civil War weekend.

In August 1642, the long-standing dispute between King Charles I and his parliament erupted into open warfare. Seven years later, in January 1649, the king was executed and for the next 11 years Britain became a Republic.

Bolton Castle was held for the king until November 1645 when the castle garrison ran out of food and was forced to surrender.

The castle’s living historians will be on hand to tell visitors more about the war of the Three Kingdoms, with the opportunity to handle the arms and armour of the period.

For ticket information, visit the Bolton Castle website.

12 and 13 and 19 to 31 October

Thornton Hall’s Spooks! is back for 2024 and is bigger and spookier than ever before with the new addition of Mischief Manor.

The family days out will be staged at the venue at Thornton in Craven near Skipton.

The event features rustic pumpkin patch and carving, slime workshops, spooky soft play and animal petting among other activities.

Tickets are priced at £53.50 for a group ticket for four people, £12.95 for adults, £14.95 for children aged two to 16 and under twos £9.95.

For more information, visit the Thornton Hall website.

13 October

As part of the Yorkshire Dales Cheese Festival, How Stean Gorge is celebrating with ‘Cheese and Climb’ sessions at How Stean Gorge, Lofthouse, HG3 5SF.

Visitors will enjoy a Yorkshire Dales cheese board with local cheeses and enjoy the challenge of Yorkshire’s only via ferrata high wire experience.

Visitors will traverse the ravine over beam, ladder and cables. In the final stages, they will conquer the Tyrolean traverse, the postman’s walk, and the Burma bridge. To finish, visitors fly over the gorge with the zip wire.

There are three sessions available, 10am to 12pm, 1pm to 3pm and 4pm to 6pm.

The price is £54 per person. For more details, visit the How Stean Gorge website.

15 October

Music fans will get a rare opportunity to see Billy Mitchell and Bob Fox perform once again as a duo after several years of highly successful individual work when they appear at The Milton Rooms in Malton.

Billy spent eight years as front man of the folk band, Lindisfarne, until 2003, while Bob has twice been nominated as Folk Singer of the Year at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards.

The event starts at 7.30pm and tickets are priced at £18.

For more information, visit The Milton Rooms website.

Until 23 December

A showcase of contemporary lace by the group 98 Lace is on show at Skipton Town Hall.

Artwork displayed will show a range of projects the group have undertaken in recent years. These include pieces inspired by items from the Craven Museum collection and a special collection of pieces created to celebrate 78 Derngate, Northampton, the only house in England designed by famous Scottish architect Charles Rennie Mackintosh.

For more details, visit the Skipton Town Hall website.