The wait is almost over! This Saturday and Sunday, Ilkley will come alive as thousands of people head to the town for the Yorkshire Day Celebration Weekend!
The Grove will be transformed for a two-day celebration of Yorkshire, with free live music and family entertainment, Yorkshire food and drink, and community celebrations set to make this the biggest event yet.
Following on from last year's award winning event, visitors can enjoy more than 20 hours of live entertainment, browse a bustling Yorkshire market featuring local traders and makers, discover delicious street food, sample the very best of Yorkshire's breweries, and soak up an atmosphere that celebrates everything people love about God's Own County.
Saturday morning at 11.30am, the traditional Yorkshire Day Proclamation will take place at the Station Plaza, with a rousing rendition of Ilkley’s famous anthem, On Ilkla Moor Baht ‘at, and the Yorkshire Day Proclamation read by Ilkley’s Town Crier, Isabel Ashman.
This year's live music programme has been carefully curated by the team behind Ilkley Live, bringing together an exciting mix of talented local artists and performers across the Main Stage, Acoustic Stage and the historic Bandstand.
The music line-up [subject to change] is:
Dan Hammond, one of Ilkley Live’s trustees said:
“Ilkley Live is incredibly proud to be curating the music programme for Ilkley’s Yorkshire Day Celebration for the second consecutive year. Across two stages on Saturday, and the bandstand on Sunday, visitors can enjoy an outstanding line-up, with performances continuing right through until 10pm. From choirs and spoken word to jazz, folk and rock, there really is something for everyone.”
Beer lovers are in for a special treat as, for the first time, all three of Ilkley's breweries will be serving throughout the celebrations on Saturday. Bini Brew Co, Ilkley Brewery and Wharfedale Brewery will each be showcasing their fantastic local beers, making this a true celebration of the town's thriving brewing heritage.
Both days, visitors will be able to browse the Yorkshire Market and discover artisan food and drink, handmade crafts, gifts, homeware, artwork, jewellery, clothing and much more. Organised by the Real Markets team, the market will be open 10am until 9pm on Saturday and larger Sunday market open 10am until 3pm.
Families can enjoy the new children's area at Canker Wells on Saturday open 10am until 4pm, and will be packed with activities and entertainment to keep younger visitors entertained, while street performers and walkabout acts will add to the festival atmosphere across the town centre. The organisers have expressed their thanks to Ilkley Town Council for the grant to cover the costs of the free entertainment for young people.
Cllr Damian Kearns, Mayor of Ilkley said:
“Yorkshire Day is always a wonderful opportunity to celebrate everything that makes our town and county so special. The Yorkshire Day Celebration Weekend brings our community together to showcase the very best of Ilkley from our talented musicians and local businesses to our fantastic independent traders, breweries and volunteers. I would encourage everyone to come along, soak up the atmosphere and join us for what promises to be a memorable weekend of Yorkshire pride."
The celebrations extend well beyond The Grove, with community organisations across Ilkley joining in the Yorkshire Day festivities. Runners are invited to take part in a special Yorkshire-themed edition of East Holmes parkrun, starting at 10am on Saturday morning, while Ilkley Manor House will be hosting traditional maypole dancing alongside family activities celebrating Yorkshire's rich heritage and culture.
Lucy Allen, one of the directors of Olicana Events CIC said:
"It's hard to believe the weekend is finally here. Our small but mighty team have been working behind the scenes over many months to bring this event together, and we genuinely believe this is going to be our biggest and best Yorkshire Day celebration yet" .
Tom Harris, another of the events organisers, added:
"Whether you're coming for the music, the food and drink, the Yorkshire market, the family activities or simply to enjoy the atmosphere, we'd encourage everyone to come along, spend the day in Ilkley and celebrate Yorkshire with us. Best of all, it's completely free to attend."
The Yorkshire Day Celebration Weekend has been made possible thanks to the generous support of headline sponsor Greenholme House Care Home, Bandstand sponsor Silverspring Sales & Lettings, Ilkley Town Council, Bradford Council, local businesses and the hundreds of volunteers whose dedication makes the event possible.
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