On Friday, Ilkley and Bradford will jointly host the official Yorkshire Day civic celebration, marking a historic first for the annual event, with a whole weekend of activities planned in Ilkley to commemorate the occasion.
Every year on 1 August, the Yorkshire Society holds Yorkshire Day to celebrate the county's rich culture and traditions. A different Yorkshire town or city is chosen each year to host the official civic celebration, and in 2025 that honour was awarded to Bradford and Ilkley.
For the past year, Ilkley Town Council, Bradford Council, and Ilkley Business Improvement District (BID) have been working together to bring this special event to life, coinciding with Bradford's designation as UK City of Culture 2025.
Civic dignitaries, including Mayors and Lord Mayors from across Yorkshire, will begin the celebrations at Bradford’s City Hall, with remote participation from the Yorkshire Society of New Zealand.
Attendees will then make their way to Ilkley aboard vintage buses provided by Keighley Transport Museum.
A highlight of the celebrations, the Yorkshire Day civic procession will commence at 10.30am from the Winter Garden and along The Grove in Ilkley. The parade will feature distinguished guests and civic dignitaries from across Yorkshire, with over 160 participants expected to take part in this vibrant showcase of regional pride.
At 12 noon, at Station Plaza, spectators will be able to join in with a rousing rendition of Ilkley’s famous anthem, ‘On Ilkla Moor Baht’at’ which is sung every Yorkshire Day following the Yorkshire Day Proclamation by Ilkley’s Town Crier, Isabel Ashman.
Your Ilkley Radio will be broadcasting from The Grove on Friday 9am until 12noon.
[Photo: Stephen Garnett]
The celebrations will then continue in Ilkley over the weekend with live music, food, drink, family fun, poetry, street art, drama and more.
On Saturday, 2 August there will be live entertainment on The Grove hosted by Nick Hancock between 9.30am – 8pm. 'Groove on The Grove' will offer live entertainment on two stages; the Acoustic Stage at Ilkley Bandstand, sponsored by David Wilson Homes, and the Main Stage on The Grove, sponsored by Booths.
The Grove will be closed to traffic and visitors are invited to bring their own picnic or enjoy delicious offerings from street food vendors on-site or from local businesses. Tables and chairs will be provided for visitors to relax and soak in the atmosphere.
From 10am – 3pm there will be Play in the Park at Ilkley Riverside Park with family activities.
[Photo: Stephen Garnett]
A Yorkshire Day Market has also been organised by Real Markets Ilkley and will focus on Yorkshire based traders and include demonstrations and activities in the centre of town. This will take place on Saturday, 2 August between 11am and 7pm and Sunday, 3 August between 10am and 3pm.
On Sunday, 3 August between 11am – 4pm Ilkley Cycling Club has organised a fun kids cycling/scooting skills circuit at Ilkley Riverside Park, with British Cycling qualified coach Harry Wood.
Across the whole weekend, Ilkley Manor House will be celebrating God's Own Country with family-friendly activities, including making a paper Yorkshire Rose and playing with traditional games and toys in the courtyard.
Visitors can also enjoy the Rombald’s Rocks Keighley’s Sculpture Trail, a collection of playful, characterful sculptures created by artist Leonie Briggs and developed in partnership with Keighley Creative. Plus a new exhibition, Keeping Track, looking at 160 years of railway history in Ilkley opens at the Manor House this weekend.
[Rombald’s Rocks Keighley’s Sculpture Trail at Ilkley Manor House 1 - 10 August (Photo: John Bell)]
Both Saturday and Sunday, ThriddingsFest at St John's in Ben Rhydding features musicians, artists, speakers and much more, all with a Yorkshire theme, further details and tickets are available here.
Ilkley Town Council is a major contributor to the celebration weekend, and commenting on the festivities, Mayor of Ilkley Jane Gibson said:
“We are honoured to co-host Yorkshire Day with Bradford and look forward to welcoming visitors to Ilkley. The programme is packed with free entertainment for all ages throughout the town, and we hope it will leave lasting memories.”
The Lord Mayor of Bradford Cllr Mohammed Shafiq commented:
“We are thrilled to be co-hosting this day alongside Ilkley and we will give everyone a warm Yorkshire welcome. Not only do we have the honour of celebrating our wonderful county, but we do so when the district is celebrating our year as UK City of Culture 2025.”
[Photo: Stephen Garnett]
Thanking those who have brought Yorkshire Day to life in Ilkley, Sarah Brookfield-Almond, Ilkley BID Manager said:
“This weekend marks the exciting culmination of months of dedicated planning by our Project Team, and we’re absolutely thrilled to see everything coming together. Ilkley looks incredible with its Yorkshire Rose lamppost banners, vibrant flags, cheerful bunting, and eye-catching window displays from local businesses.
“Thank you to our sponsors who have helped bring Yorkshire Day to life, including David Wilson Homes and Booths for their generous support of the Yorkshire Day music stages on Saturday 2 August.”
To encourage visitors to celebrate Yorkshire Day in Ilkley and Bradford, Northern Rail is offering a special ticket price of £1.80* between Ilkley and Bradford, when you book in advance this Yorkshire Day.
For the whole schedule of entertainment, visit: www.discoverilkley.co.uk.
*Ilkley-Bradford, T&Cs apply, price based on June 2025 fares data, subject to availability. Visit northernrailway.co.uk/advance for more information
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