GRASSINGTON Festival 2016 kicks off tomorrow with an opening night party featuring chart-topping 80s band Hue and Cry.

For the next 15 days, the festival will offer music, mayhem, colour and creativity as artists, musicians and festival goers converge on the village in search of fun and inspiration.

Now in its 36th year, it boasts a wide range of events and activities from family friendly entertainment to walks, talks, workshops and creative challenges – many of which are free.

The second week also boasts the now renowned Festival in the Field which will once again feature some of the biggest names from the worlds of comedy and music.

Seth Lakeman will be first to perform in the marquee on Tuesday, June 28, followed by the first-ever Live at the Marquee comedy night featuring Rich Hall, Rob Beckett, Shappi Khorsandi and Justin Moorhouse.

Next up are the critically acclaimed Bootleg Beatles, followed by 70s and 80s icon The Stranglers. The legendary Marc Almond supported by Toyah Willcox will bring the festival to a close on Saturday, July 2 with what is sure to be a Last Night Party to remember.

Festival director Kate Beard said: “Once again Grassington Festival has a really exciting programme on offer. For those who haven’t had chance to check us out I would urge them to do so – as we really do have something for everyone – and there are tickets still available for some events.

"As usual we are indebted to our sponsors, local volunteers and Festival Friends who secure the future of the festival, enabling the Dales to host this amazing event.”

All events are at Grassington unless stated otherwise:

June 18 to August 28

Wishbone Gallery, Migration exhibition, 10.30am to 5pm

Friday, June 17

The Square, Welcome Waymarkers, all day (opens and runs throughout the festival fortnight)

Ladies Room, The Rainy Day Project, 11am to 5pm

Octagon, Threshold by Schwa, 6pm

Festival Hall, Hue & Cry, 8pm

Saturday, June 18

Burnsall, Drystone Walling (beginners), 10.30am to 3.30pm

The Square, Festival Procession with Dales Jam, Loud Minority Samba Band and others, 10.30am to 4pm

Ladies Room, The Rainy Day Project: De-Clutter Amnesty, 11am to 5pm

Yarnbury, YDNPA walk: Leadmining on Grassington Moor, 2pm to 5pm

Octagon, Paddington (PG), 4.30pm

Festival Hall, Calan and Jess Morgan, 8pm

Sunday, June 19

Festival Hall, Festival Service, 10am to 10.45am

The Square, Food Festival, 9.30am to 3.30pm

Ladies Room, The Rainy Day Project: De-Clutter Amnesty, noon to 4pm

St Wilfrid’s Church, Burnsall, Messiah workshop, 1pm to 5pm; performance 7pm

2.30pm, St Peter’s Church, Hebden, organ recital: Simon Lindley

Octagon, Jonny Absolute and Ray Snape, 8pm

Monday, June 20

Riverbank Teepee, Threshfield, Helen Peyton: Block Printing, 10am to 1pm

Ladies Room, The Rainy Day Project, 2pm to 5pm

The Square, Festival Picnic: A Firm of Poets, 1pm to 2pm

The Octagon, Men of Lead with David Joy, 3pm

Festival Hall, Jessica Walker, Love is a Drag, 8pm

Tuesday, June 21

Ladies Room, Make a Drum Lampshade workshop with Amanda Ackroyd, 10am to 1pm; and The Rainy Day Project, 11am to 5pm

The Square, Festival Picnic: Holly Redford Jones, 1pm to 2pm

Annie & Betty’s Cafe, Afternoon Tea with the Calendar Girls, 3pm

Octagon, Craven College: Performing Arts End of Year show, 7pm

Festival Hall, Ruby Turner and Tom Figgins, 8pm

Black Horse, Anne Cleveland Quartet, 8.30pm

Wednesday, June 22

Ladies Room, The Rainy Day Project, 11am to 5pm

Octagon, Pioneer Projects exhibition, noon to 4.30pm

The Square, Festival Picnic: Baquoun Dance Group, 1pm to 2pm

Games Room, Pioneer Projects: Puppetry workshop, 2.30pm to 4.30pm

Cracoe Village Hall, Roaring Twenties night with The Angel Inn, 7pm

Festival Hall, Will Millard: Travels in Indonesia, 8pm

Burnsall Village Hall, Folk: Moonbeams, 8pm

Thursday, June 23

Ladies Room, The Rainy Day Project: Electrical and Soldering, 11am to 5pm

The Square, Festival Picnic: The Bramble Napskins, 1pm to 2pm

Threshfield Quarry, Snake Davis - Snake in the Wild, 3pm

Craven Arms, Appletreewick, folk: Lowri Evans and Pete Riley, 7.30pm

Festival Hall, 6 Hands: John Williams, John Etheridge and Gary Ryan (world premiere), 8pm

The Foresters, The Scene, 9pm

Friday, June 24

Bolton Abbey Priory, Masterclass: Photography with Stephen Garnett, 10am to 1pm

Fountaine Inn, Linton, guided walk: Glorious Moorland Walk, 10.30am to 3pm (ends with a meal)

Ladies Room, The Rainy Day Project: Sewing Clinic, 11am to 5pm

The Square, Festival Picnic, The Perfect Fourth, 1pm to 2pm

Craven Arms, Appletreewick, Bouncing Bustles and a Smoking Jacket, 7.30pm

Festival Hall, Enigma and Treasure (World Premiere), 8pm

Saturday, June 25

Burnsall, Drystone Walling (intermediate and beginners), 10.30am

The Square, Day of Dance workshops, performance, street theatre & music, 10.30am to 4pm

Ladies Room, The Rainy Day Project: National Day of Doing, 11am to 5pm

YDNPA centre, guided walk: Grassington Heritage Trail, 2pm to 4.30pm

The Square, Smashby and Dennis, 5pm to 7pm

Festival Hall, The Hackney Colliery Band, 8pm

Sunday, June 26

Festival Field, The Grassington Rainbow Challenge, registration at 11am

Ladies Room, The Rainy Day Project: Recycled Sculpture Day, noon to 4pm

St Peter’s, Hebden, organ recital: Thomas Moore, 2.30pm

Priory Church, Bolton Abbey, Skipton Building Society Camerata: The Last Summer, 8pm

Monday, June 27

Ladies Room, The Rainy Day Project: Knit, Darn, Sew, Quilt, 11am to 5pm

Octagon, Yorkshire Film Archive and British Film Institute launch, 6pm

Festival Hall, invitation-only opening of Array of Aprons exhibition, 7.30pm

Tuesday, June 28 to Saturday, July 2

Festival Hall, exhibition: An Array of Aprons, 11am to 4pm

Tuesday, June 28

Ladies Room, The Rainy Day Project: Advice Session, 11am to 5pm

Games Room, Food for Thought: An Array of Aprons, Joan Murray, 1pm

YDNPA Centre, Around Grassington with the Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust and Grassington Festival, 10am - 12.30pm

Marquee, Seth Lakeman and Sound of the Sirens, 8pm

Wednesday, June 29

Ladies Room, The Rainy Day Project: Joinery & Carpentry, 11am to 5pm

Games Room, Food for Thought: Celebrating Charlotte Bronte with Sue Newby, 1pm

Marquee, Live at the Marquee, 8pm

Scargill House, Kettlewell, Gospel Choir Experience with Anna and Andreas Andersson, from 4pm

Thursday, June 30

Ladies Room, The Rainy Day Project: Wish Day, 11am to 5pm

Games Room, Food for Thought: The Big Issue North with Emma Eaton, 1pm

Craven Arms, Appletreewick, folk: Plumhall, 7.30pm

Marquee, The Bootleg Beatles, 8pm

Friday, July 1

Ladies Room, The Rainy Day Project: Amanuensis with Jane Peyton, 11am to 5pm

Bolton Abbey, Roald Dahl’s Danny The Champion of the World, 6pm

Marquee, The Stranglers and The Birdman Rallies, 8pm

Saturday, July 2

The Square, The Buckden Singers, Skipton Ukulele Club, Voices of Craven, Highly Strung, Festival Choir with the Halle Community Choir, Grand Old Uke of York, 10.30am to 4pm

Ladies Room, The Rainy Day Project: Swap Shop, 11am -5pm

YDNPA centre, guided walk: Rivers & Roots, 2pm to 4pm

Congregational Church, Raven, 4.30pm

Marquee, The Last Night Party: Marc Almond and Toyah, 6.30pm

Tickets are still available for some events. To check availability, visit grassington-festival.org.uk or call the box office on 01756 752691