The festive season traditionally brings a host of events, and this year will see a wide range of concerts, festivals and markets throughout the Christmas and New Year period.

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

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.

14 December

North Yorkshire County Agriculture Show’s Tractor Parade takes place along the High Street in Northallerton.

After the parade, the tractors will be on display in the Northallerton Auction Mart car park.

There will also be stalls and shops available for those seeking festive gifts, as well as a Santa’s Grotto to visit.

This event is open to the public and helps promote the North Yorkshire County Agriculture Show, with a portion of the proceeds being donated to support mental health initiatives for farmers.

For more details and if you want to enter a tractor, contact angela.addison4@gmail.com. Tractors can also be entered on the night from 5pm.

15 December

Harrogate Choral Society will travel to Leyburn to sing Handel’s Messiah. The 100 members will be conducted by David Lawrence with the National Festival Orchestra accompanying the choir.

The concert starts 4.30pm and will take place in the Garden Rooms at Tennants, Leyburn.

Tickets are priced from £16, with entry £5 for students and under 16s.

For more information and to buy tickets, visit the Harrogate Choral Society website.

Until 15 December

Scarborough North Bay Railway is staging its Santa Specials aboard the Jingle Belle and Flying Snowman.

While waiting to see Santa, inside Mrs Claus' Kitchen adults can enjoy complimentary seasonal refreshments including mince pies, hot chocolate and mulled wine, with juice and biscuits for children.

There will be the chance to have a ride on Santa’s sleigh, write your letter to Father Christmas, make your own reindeer food and much more.

The Santa Special experience will last for about an hour and 10 minutes.

The venue is located at Scarborough North Bay Railway, Station Building, Burniston Road, Scarborough, North Yorkshire YO12 6PF.

For more details, visit the Scarborough North Bay Railway website.

16 and 17 December

Visitors will be given the chance to create a Christmas willow wreath or willow Christmas decoration at a practical workshop in the Castle Howard Garden Centre, led by expert willow artist Leilah Vyner from Dragon Willow.

A complimentary hot drink will also be available, and visitors will be able to take home their creation.

The event does not include access to the House and Gardens, and is suitable for beginners. Where possible, willow is sourced from the Castle Howard estate.

For more details, visit the Castle Howard website.

Until 18 December

Wreath-making workshops are taking place at Harrogate Horticultural Nursery, Harrogate HG2 0FH, until 18 December.

The workshops will provide a guide to the process of making festive wreaths from winter evergreen foliage foraged from the nursery’s pinewoods. To book a place, log on via the Horticultural Nursery website.

20 December

Skipton Town Hall is the venue for a night of comedy featuring Paul Sinha, Dominic Woodward and Paul “Silky” White.

The event begins at 8pm and tickets cost £15.

For more information, visit the Skipton Town Hall website.

21 December

A Reet Yorkshire Brass Do comes to Skipton Town Hall at 2pm playing family festive favourites. Conductor Ben Crick will be accompanied by the Huddersfield University Brass Band. Tickets are £8 and for more details visit the Skipton Town Hall website.

Join one of the world’s greatest brass bands, Carlton Main Frickley Colliery Band, for an evening of festive favourites in the surroundings of Selby Abbey.

The event runs from 7pm to 9.30pm and for tickets, priced at £14, and further information, visit the Selby Abbey website.

21 to 23 December

Winter Warmer Cruises are being run by Ripon Scenic Cruises from 12 Canal Wharf, Bondgate Green, Ripon HG4 1AQ.

The trips involve a half-hour festive cruise with a mulled wine, fruit punch, or luxury hot chocolate.

There is also a choice of brownie or mince pies and gluten free and vegan options will be available. There will be warm blankets for knees and the trips are dog friendly.

Prices are £8.95 and for more details call 01765 609777 or visit the Ripon Scenic Cruises website.

Until 22 December

The second edition of Scarborough Lights features a variety of free and affordable light shows, installations and community activities throughout Scarborough, including both indoor and outdoor works and projections.

A total of 33 art installations and events are being staged at venues across the town throughout the festival, including Scarborough Spa, The Crescent and St Mary’s Church.

For more details, visit the Scarborough Fair website.

22 December

Reeth Brass Band will be playing Christmas classics at The Station, Station Yard, Richmond, North Yorkshire, DL10 4LD, between 10.30am and 12pm.

For more details, visit The Station’s website.

Whitby Pavilion Theatre is the venue for a festive and magical night of entertainment with A Merry Magical Magic Mike Christmas.

Performers from the hit show Magic Mike bring their jaw-dropping dance moves and charming personalities to the Christmas season.

The event starts at 2pm and standard ticket prices are £12.50.

For more details, visit the Discover Yorkshire Coast website.

Live professional wrestling takes place at Settle Victoria Hall between 3pm and 5.30pm. The Fightmare before Christmas is a family friendly event with tickets priced at £5.

For more information, visit the Settle Victoria Hall website.

Selby Abbey will be the venue for a service of nine lessons and carols by candlelight between 6.30pm and 8pm. The event is free and for more details, visit the Selby Abbey website.

The City of Bradford Brass Band Christmas Concert will take place at Grassington Devonshire Institute, Town Hall, Grassington, BD23 5AA.

Led by musical director Matt Ryan, this will be a festive evening of music and singing.

Tickets are priced at £14 and for more details, visit the Grassington Devonshire Institute website.

Until 23 December

Wensleydale Railway’s Polar Express experience attracts thousands of people each year.

The railway normally operates heritage diesel train services between Scruton and Leyburn. For this special event a steam train is hired in.

Visitors will get to meet the characters from the film including the conductor, the singing chefs, the hobo and Father Christmas.

For more details and ticket information, visit the Wensleydale Railway website.

24 December

The eve of Christmas will be marked as Ripon Cathedral celebrates the Journey to Bethlehem. Carols will be performed as children tell the story of Christ’s birth.

Children are invited to dress up as members of the nativity story for the service aimed at youngsters and their families.

The event takes place between 11am and 12pm at the Cathedral on Minster Road, HG4 1QT.

For more details, visit the Ripon Cathedral website.

Knaresborough Outdoor Nativity takes place between 5.15pm and 7pm in the Market Square.

This annual festive event tells the Christmas story and brings together a sense of community and Christmas spirit. Organised by the Knaresborough community, a mixture of readings and drama bring the story to life with a cast of local residents and a real donkey.

The performance will begin with a formal announcement by the Knaresborough Town Cryer at 6pm.

For more details, visit the Visit Harrogate website.

A Christmas Eve puppet show takes place at Richmond Town Hall between 11am and 12pm, featuring Ron Wood’s Jolly Good Productions.

The event is aimed at children aged three to eight, but older children are welcome to attend. Admission is free, but donations to mayoral charities are welcomed.

For more details, visit the Richmond Town Hall website.

Until 24 December

Visitors will be given the chance to meet Father Christmas and Mrs Claus at Castle Howard this Christmas.

There will be festive performances where visitors can sing Christmas songs together, and enjoy the chance to meet with Father Christmas himself. All children take home a Christmas gift.

The event will be at the Castle Howard Estate, York, YO60 7DA.

For more details, visit the Castle Howard website.

A Christmas event at Mother Shipton’s Cave, Knaresborough, will allow visitors the opportunity to wander through a festive village and meet Santa and his elves.

Every child with a Santa Experience Ticket will receive a pack of festive activities.

The venue can be found at Prophecy Lodge, High Bridge, Knaresborough, North Yorkshire, HG5 8DD.

For more details, visit the Mother Shipton’s Cave website.

The North York Moors Railway’s Santa Specials are being held at dates throughout December.

Visitors to Pickering Station will be greeted by twinkling lights, real Christmas trees and music.

Take a Christmas selfie, visit the Christmas tea rooms or browse the Christmas Emporium.

The Santa Special experience offers a blend of nostalgia, tradition and festivities with a chance to meet Santa on board the train. Each child receives an Edmondson railway ticket, a nod to the traditional way to record railway fares, as a keepsake of their journey, along with a limited-edition soft toy and more to remember their special day by.

For details, visit the North York Moors Steam Railway website.

Until 31 December

Festive music comes to the National Trust’s Fountains Abbey.

The grandeur of the abbey will be elevated with a colourful floodlight display that brings a new dimension to the shapes and shadows of the historic Cistercian ruins.

Live music will be performed in the cellarium on selected days, and two special events of Carols by Candlelight will also take place.

For more details, visit the National Trust website.

26 December

Scarborough’s annual Boxing Day charity football match and raft race take place in aid of the Fisherman and Firemen Charity fund.

Each year, crowds gather on Scarborough’s South Bay beach to witness the fishermen versus the firemen football match followed by a fancy dress raft race from the harbour quayside.

For the football match, teams meet next to the Lloyds TSB on Newborough from 10am with tunes from The Comic Band, then walk down to South Bay’s beach for the kick-off signalled by the mayor at 10.30am.

The raft race follows the football match at 12.30pm and is organised by Scarborough Sub Aqua Club. For more details, visit Scarborough Sub Aqua Club website.

Until 28 December

Aladdin is being performed at the Stephen Joseph Theatre, Westborough in Scarborough. The story of a poor boy from a distant land, tricked by a sorcerer into retrieving a remarkable lamp from a magical cave, the performance will bring festive fun for families.

For more information and ticket details, visit the Discover Yorkshire Coast website.

RHS Garden Harlow Carr is staging winter illuminations in Harrogate, Yorkshire.

Visitors will explore a new route packed with installations, and enjoy festive food and Christmas shopping along the way.

The venue can be found at RHS Garden Harlow Carr, Crag Lane, Beckwithshaw, Harrogate, North Yorkshire, HG3 1QB.

Events run until 28 December and for more details and ticket information, visit the Royal Horticultural Society website.

31 December

On New Year’s Eve, the annual Watchnight Service will be held at Ripon Cathedral. The service is followed by a procession to Ripon’s Market Square to see the new year in.

For more details, visit the Ripon Cathedral website.

Until 1 January

This year’s pantomime at the Scarborough Spa theatre is Cinderella, starring Anne ‘The Governess’ Hegerty from ITV's 'The Chase' as the Fairy Godmother.

Tickets are priced from £19 and for more details, visit the Scarborough Spa theatre website.

1 January

Members of the Scarborough Lions Club will be staging their annual New Year's Day Dip.

Last year, more than 150 dippers helped raise thousands of pounds to help those most in need in the community.

Dippers are invited to get sponsorship for a charity of their choice, with 75 per cent of the money collected going to the individual’s charity and 25 per cent being used by the Lions to help those locally.

There will be prizes on the day for the best team fancy dress, best individual fancy dress and the best child under 11 fancy dress.

For more details, visit the Scarborough Lions Club website.

Scarborough Spa Orchestra will be the venue for a Viennese Whirl at the Grand Hall.

There will be tunes from Vienna's Golden Age when Johann Strauss was the Waltz King and many other light music composers found fame.

The show starts at 3pm and tickets are priced from £16.

For more information, visit the Scarborough Spa website.

The Knaresborough duck race is a New Year's Day favourite offering a fun family day out as well as the chance to win a range of prizes and support the local charity, Henshaws.

The duck race begins at High Bridge, next to the entrance to local attraction Mother Shipton's Cave and the Petrifying Well. More than 5,000 rubber ducks will be launched into the River Nidd and will then make their way down to the finish line at Marigolds Cafe.

For more details, visit the Visit Harrogate website.

5 January

The Hammonds Band return to the Stephen Joseph Theatre, Westborough, Scarborough, for an afternoon of the best of brass music.

It was founded in 1855 by Sir Titus Salt and is now one of the country’s premiere brass ensembles, performing in venues across the world.

Tickets for the Hammonds Band concert, which is at 3pm, are available from the Box Office on 01723 370541 and online at the Stephen Joseph Theatre website.

Until 5 January

This year’s pantomime at The Georgian Theatre Royal will transport audiences to a far-off magical island full of swash-buckling escapades, treasure and intrigue.

Treasure Island is the latest production at the historic theatre in Richmond.

Tickets cost from £15 to £25 and are available from the Box Office on 01748 825252 or online at The Georgian Theatre Royal website.

Until 6 January

Bolton Abbey is hosting a 12 Days of Christmas trail where visitors can wander through the woodland to find clues to the popular carol that will help solve a festive mystery.

The event is included in the estate car parking price.

Bolton Abbey can be found at Skipton, North Yorkshire, BD23 6EX.

For more details, visit the Bolton Abbey website.

Until 12 January

The Inspired by... gallery at the Danby Lodge National Park Centre will be showcasing an array of art and crafts over the festive period.

From November until January, the gallery will be showcasing the work from a curated group of artisans and makers.

The gallery is located at Danby, Whitby, YO21 2NB and entry is free.

For more details, visit the North York Moors website

Until 19 January

Beauty and the Beast is being staged at Harrogate Theatre.

Starring Colin Kiyani as Beast and Anna Campkin as Bell, tickets are priced from £20.

For more details, visit the Harrogate Theatre website.