There is always plenty going on in North Yorkshire and, with Easter on the horizon, this month is no exception.

We cannot include every event 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 will do our best to include it in a future issue. Just email yny@northyorks.gov.uk.

March to September

An archive of artefacts built up over decades by Harrogate historian Malcolm Neesam before his death is being unveiled to the public for the first time. The Mercer Art Gallery is presenting an exhibition of the items relating to Harrogate life and landmarks from Mr Neesam’s collection as work gets under way to catalogue this significant historical archive. Called Harrogate’s Historian: A First Look at the Walker Neesam Archive, the exhibition will also give visitors an insight into how he arranged his work until his death in June 2022. The exhibition is running until 29 September at the Mercer Art Gallery and admission is free. Details are at Exhibitions at the Mercer Art Gallery | North Yorkshire Council

Tuesday 26 and Thursday 28 March

Join the Easter Bunny at the Workhouse Museum Allhallowgate in Ripon for a free children’s crafting session. Organised by Ripon BID, the event runs from 10am to 2pm on both days.

Wednesday 27 March

Giggleswick Railway Circle (GRC) is a voluntary group that holds regular meetings for anyone interested in railways. It will be holding a talk at Settle Victoria Hall titled DW Castle Show No.3 from Manchester Victoria on L and Y Lines. Tickets are £5 and the event starts at 7.30pm.

Friday 29 March to Sunday 7 April

Ten giant Easter Bunnies have been hidden around Skipton town centre. All the bunnies have been lovingly decorated by schools and youth groups in the area. Collect the trail from the special leaflet dispensers in the Town Hall foyer and Craven Court. Follow the trail on the map, find the names of all the bunnies then post your completed forms in the special boxes which can be found in Craven Court, the Town Hall and Teddy Boutique. The winner will receive an Easter hamper full of goodies. Prizes include a voucher for Bizzie Lizzies, cuddly toys and a variety of chocolates and sweets, and for adults, a voucher for Holistic House and some chocolates.

Friday 29 March

Visit Bolton Castle, near Leyburn for a Living History Medieval weekend between 10am and 5pm. On Palm Sunday, 29 March, 1461, arguably the largest and bloodiest battle on English soil took place, fought by an estimated 50,000 men continuing throughout the day and into the night. Among the combatants was Lord John Scrope from Bolton Castle, and a contingent of men at arms and archers from Wensleydale. The castle’s living historians will talk about the battle and its significance in the Wars of the Roses and the future of England’s monarchy. Try on some of the arms and armour and have a go at archery.

Friday 29 March to Saturday 6 April

Ripon Scenic Cruises are holding Easter cruises on Ripon Canal. Bunnies will be available to spot and a quiz to complete. This is an Easter cruise to suit all ages. Tickets cost £6.

Friday 29 March

The ARC Middleham Open Day takes place on Good Friday. Lower Wensleydale is famous for horseracing, and the area is the leading training centre in the North of England. The open day attracts thousands of racing enthusiasts from all over the country. Tickets are £12.50 for adults, £8.50 for concessions and free for under-16s.

Friday 29 to Sunday 31 March

The Easter National Scooter Rally 2024 takes place at Whitby Pavilion, Whitby, North Yorkshire YO21 3EN all weekend. The Whitby rally is the first national of 2024 and will be based at Whitby Pavilion Complex with three nights of entertainment plus an indoor parts fair and custom show. On Sunday, the Whitby Scooter Club is organising another scenic ride out around the surrounding moors. Weekend tickets cost £18.

Saturday 30 March

To mark the end of the Skipton Heritage Action Zone project, a day of cultural activity is taking place at Skipton Town Hall. From 1pm to 4pm, there will be a variety of stalls and free drop-in creative sessions, suitable for all of the family. This will be a cultural celebration of all the different aspects of the HAZ project. From 6.30pm, there will be a cinema showcase from local filmmakers who were commissioned to create videos in and around Skipton and Craven. Finally, from 8.30pm, there will be the Craven Music Match concert, where local musicians perform their original songs created through the HAZ scheme. For more information visit the Skipton Town Hall website.

Saturday 30 March

Malton’s monthly arts and crafts market takes place today between 9am and 3pm at Market Place, Malton, England, YO17 7LX. It promises a great range of locally created arts and crafts.

Saturday 30 March

Bunny hop, skip and jump through the clues throughout Tennants Garden Rooms in Leyburn to find Easter treasure. Admission anytime between 11am and 2.30pm. The treasure trail takes approximately 30 minutes to complete. Complete the trail and then visit the café to get a free piece of chocolate brownie for your child.

Sunday 31 March

Humble Bee Farm at Flixton near Scarborough is holding lambing events on 31 March and 7 April. Tickets are £8 per person and must be booked in advance.  Ticket price includes a 90-minute session in the lambing barn, to meet and feed a lamb and a talk from Farmer Percy about his flock.

Saturday 30 and Sunday 31 March and 1 April

Humpty Dumpty, an Easter pantomime comes to the Forum in Northallerton. Once upon a time in Storybrooke all was going well until the evil Queen of Hearts caused misery and corrupted all the nursery rhymes in the land. An Easter-themed pantomime will be staged at The Forum in Northallerton. Tickets are priced £11 for adults and children.

Wednesday 3 April

At Danby Lodge National Park Centre you can escape to the woodland and learn how to make the best shelters and how to light a fire at their Family Bushcraft Day. You can also make a charcoal pencil to take home. Booking is essential and the event is wheelchair accessible. It is recommended that children be aged between seven and 11. Children must be accompanied by an adult and the cost is £7 per child.

Wednesday 3 April

Richmond Civic Society will be hosting a talk on the Henge Monuments of Yorkshire in the light of recent research Dr Alex Gibson. This talk will be a journey from Scotland to Wessex and will look at new dating evidence, recent excavations, the reinterpretation of antiquarian records and to what extent the Yorkshire henges fit the emerging national trends. The talk begins at 7.30pm and members are free, visitors £6. Email richmondcivicsociety@gmail.com for more details.

Thursday 4 April

Join Dales volunteers at the Countryside Museum, Station Yard, Hawes between 11am and 3pm as they showcase the traditional craft of drystone walling. They will explain the construction of this famous feature of the Yorkshire Dales National Park’s landscape. Entry is included in museum admission.

Saturday 6 April

Try stand up paddleboarding along the Ripon Canal Basin between 10am and 4.30pm with How Stean Gorge. Led by a team of experienced and friendly instructors, you will receive expert guidance. All safety equipment is provided, including paddleboards, paddles, wetsuits, and buoyancy aids. Whether you are a seasoned paddler or a first-timer, the three-hour adventure caters to all skill levels. Tickets cost £65. Book online or call the adventure team on 01423 755666.

Sunday 7 April

Richmond Artisan Fair takes place from 10am to 4pm. An established, well attended fair, it will be held in the 18th century Richmond Town Hall. You are sure of a warm welcome as all exhibitors bring their own unique, creative style, and will be very happy to chat with you. As you browse the many different stalls, you can be sure to find that perfect gift. Entry is free and dogs are welcome. There is lift access for those who need it. For more details email RichmondArtisanFairs@hotmail.com.

Monday 8 April

Leslie Primo gives a talk on Joseph Wright of Derby and The Men and Art of the Lunar Society at Helmsley Arts Centre. Using the paintings of Sir Joshua Reynolds and others, Leslie will guide the audience through the lives and achievements, the common interests and connections of members and guests  of The Lunar Society such as James Watt, Josiah Wedgwood, Joseph Wright of Derby and other ‘natural philosophers’. The event starts at 7.30pm (doors 7pm). There is a £30 joining fee and then a charge of £10 per lecture. For more information, contact fionajlovell@gmail.com

Friday 12 April

An Evening with Matt Jackson-Smith, one of the stars of television’s The Yorkshire Vet, takes place at the Galtres Centre in Easingwold. Matt, 34, trained as a vet at the University of Glasgow, the same place that the world’s most famous vet Alf Wight trained at, and he now works at Donaldson’s Vets in Huddersfield as a vet treating farm animals and small animals. He is well-known on the show for his love of exotic species, having snakes and a Bearded Dragon called Dennis as pets, as well as his beloved dog, Harry. Tickets are priced at £20 and the event starts at 7.30pm.

Saturday 13 April

Get ready to indulge in a delightful celebration of all things spring at Ripon Cathedral from 10am to 4pm at the spring food, home and garden show. The day will be filled with food, inspiring home furnishings, and stunning garden plants and accessories. Tickets are £5 plus a booking fee and the event runs from 10am to 4pm.

Saturday 13 April

In a first-time collaboration, Steeton Male Voice Choir joins forces with Bradford Concert Band to present an evening of music and song that promises something for everyone at Skipton Town Hall. Formed in 1908, Steeton Male Voice Choir has been a fixture of Craven’s musical life for well over a century. Combining woodwind, brass and percussion, Bradford Concert Band has been entertaining audiences since 1975. As well as performing their own sets, the choir and band plan to join forces for a couple of not-to-be-missed musical items. Tickets are £15 with under-eights and £10, and the event begins at 7.30pm.

Saturday 13 April

Put your walking shoes on for a Wensleydale Wander. Organised by the Rotary Club of Wensleydale, participants choose one of two walks which meander through Leyburn and Lower Wensleydale. From 9am to 5pm, the walk is in support of the Yorkshire Air Ambulance. There are liquid refreshments at various checkpoints in both walks, while food is provided at the halfway point on the longer walk. All walkers receive soup and a roll plus tea or coffee and cake at the finish at Wensleydale School. Entrance is £15 per walker, if paid by 11 April. On the day entry is £17.50. All proceeds go to charities.

Saturday 13 April

Hear local musicians perform at a social evening in the Helmsley Arts Centre’s studio bar from 7.30pm. The bar will be open to serve beer from Helmsley Brewery and Brass Castle Brewery, an assortment of gin and wine from Helmsley Wines and more. No need to book to listen or perform, just turn up and enjoy the evening.

Friday 19 April

Leveret play Reeth Memorial Hall. A unique collaboration between three of England's finest folk musicians, Andy Cutting, Sam Sweeney and Rob Harbron are each regarded as exceptional performers and masters of their instruments. Tickets are £18 in advance or £20 on the door.

Saturday 20 and Sunday 21 April

Comedy vs Climate Change is bringing climate comedy workshops to Helmsley Arts Centre. Partnering with the Ryevitalise Landscape Partnership scheme, there are two interactive workshops that use humour to explore environmental issues based around our local rivers. The first is an introduction to stand-up and writing on April 20 between 2pm and 5pm and the second on April 21 is an introduction to improvisation and character comedy between 10am and 1pm. The events are for those aged 18 to 30 and cost £5. For any questions about the day, or accessibility, contact events@comedyvsclimatechange.org.

Saturday 20 and Sunday 21 April

Discover what is on your doorstep as the Selby Residents’ Festival returns this weekend. The event offers people in the Selby, Sherburn in Elmet and Tadcaster area the chance to celebrate, discover and explore the many gems on their doorsteps. From magnificent historic houses and beautiful gardens to quirky tea rooms, dog friendly pubs and fabulous walks, the area has it all.

Sunday 28 April

The Harrogate Tri Club is hosting its annual triathlon in the spa town.  Hundreds of people are due to take part in the event, which will be based at Ashville College and combines swimming, cycling and running. The event caters for all levels of competitors as there are three options. There is also a junior aquathlon for ages eight to 16, which involves swimming and running elements of variable distances depending on age. The event will begin and end at Ashville College, with the routes taking participants around parts of Harrogate. More information is available at The Harrogate Triathlon 2024 — Harrogate Triathlon Club