37th Grassington Festival boasts an array of artists, events and activities

For the next 15 days, the festival will offer an programme of art, theatre, music, comedy, talks, exhibitions, guided walks, literature and creative workshops, all focusing on the central concept of Explore.

Now in its 37th year, the festival boasts an array of artists, events and activities for all ages, many of which are free.

On Saturday in Grassington Square, there will be the opening procession involving children from the local schools and residents.

During the weekend, everyone within the community and beyond is encouraged to come together in the square to celebrate The Great Get Together in honour of Jo Cox.

Musical highlights the first week include Skerryvore with Edwina Hayes, Snake Davis and The Suspicions with Jess Gillam, The Bramble Napskins and Maia, as well as Ruby Benson from Grassington and 14-year-old Niamh Mirfield from Glusburn.

There will be a range of talks, including an evening with Derek Eland, a former captain in the British Army’s Paras and official war artist on the front line in Afghanistan, who became the first ever artist in residence at Everest Base Camp, as well as Sunny Ormonde who plays the “outrageous and raunchy Lilian Bellamy” in Radio 4’s The Archers.

Studs and Crooks will aim to bring to life Kilnsey Show, this year marking its 120th anniversary, and local author, David Joy, will share his knowledge about the Yorkshire Dales’ railways in his talk, Rails in the Dales.

The second week will host some of the biggest names from the world of music in its Festival in the Field Marquee, kicking off with national icon, Jools Holland and his Rhythm and Blues Orchestra.

The award-winning jazz singer and BBC Radio 2 broadcaster, Clare Teal, performing with her 17-piece Hollywood Orchestra led by Guy Barker, celebrates Ella Fitzgerald’s centenary year and the global sensation, The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain, will provide entertainment, dead-pan British humour and irresistible foot-tapping music.

The festival is looking forward to welcoming singer/songwriter Newton Faulkner with support from Holy Moly and the Crackers and the whole festival fortnight comes to a spectacular finale with a headline performance by Bananarama, supported by The Opera Comic and Back Chat Brass.

Festival director Kate Beard said: “As an arts charity, none of this would be possible without the support of our sponsors, local volunteers and Festival Friends. Their contribution to the Festival secures its future, enabling this amazing event to continue in the Dales.”

Tickets are still available for some events, including Festival in the Field Marquee events. To check availability and to book tickets, visit the Grassington Festival website at grassington-festival.org.uk or call the box office on 01756 752691.

All the festival events are as follows. They are in Grassington unless stated otherwise:

June 17 to July 1

The Ladies Room - The Exploratorium, 11am to 4pm

Bank Lathe - Within These Walls Print Installation, noon to 4pm

Prospect House, Arncliffe – Marmaduke Miller and Stephen Garnett Exhibition, noon to 4pm

Wishbone Gallery – Sturnidae, 10.30am to 5pm

Friday, June 16

The Octagon – STUFF, Sean Kempton, 6pm

Festival Hall – Blazin’ Fiddles, 8pm

Saturday, June 17

Burnsall, Dry Stone Walling (Beginners), 10am to 3.30pm

Festival in the Square, 11am to 4pm

Yarnbury, Lead Mining Archaeology Guided Walk, 2pm to 5pm

The Octagon – Finding Dory, 2pm

The Octagon – Meghann Clancy, 6.30pm

Festival Hall – Grassington Festival Introducing: The Bramble Napskins, Maia and Ruby Benson, 8.30pm

Sunday, June 18

Food Festival, 10am to 3.30pm

Festival Hall – Morgan and West’s Magic Show for Kids and Childish Grown-Ups!, 2pm

Priory Church Bolton Abbey – Gala Concert, 8pm

Monday, June 19

Annie and Betty’s Vintage Tea Room – Ray Snape, 11am

The Octagon – Studs and Crooks, 3pm

Tuesday, June 20

The Square, Festival Picnic with A Firm of Poets, 1pm

Grassington Heritage Trail, Guided Walk, 2pm to 4.30pm

Festival Hall – Derek Eland, 8pm

Wednesday, June 21

The Square, Festival Picnic with Red Hippo, 1pm

Festival Hall, An Evening with Sunny Ormonde, 8pm

Thursday, June 22

The Square, Festival Picnic with , 1pm

Festival Hall, Snake Davis and The Suspicions with Jess Gillam, 8pm

Friday, June 23

Linton, Explore The Dales Guided Walk, 10.30am

The Square, Festival Picnic with Jake Keating, 1pm

The Octagon, Rails in the Dales, 3pm

Festival Hall, The Last Supper – Reckless Sleepers, 8pm

Saturday, June 24

Burnsall, Dry Stone Walling (Intermediates), 10am to 3.30pm

Festival Hall, Family Drop-in Workshop – A Sea Exhibition, noon to 4pm

Festival in the Square, 11am to 7pm

Festival Hall, Skerryvore and Edwina Hayes, 8pm

Sunday, June 25

Festival in the Square, A Day of Stories, 11am to 4pm

The Octagon, Wrongsemble, 2pm

Threshfield Quarry, Guided Walk, 10.30am to 1.30pm

Scargill House, The Heath Quartet, 3.30pm

Festival Hall, Stand-Up Comedy Live at the Festival Hall, 8pm

Tuesday, June 27

Festival Hall, Humans of the Dales, noon to 4pm (until July 1)

Games Room, Festival Hall, Lecture “The K Walk” with Patrick Baddeley, 1pm

Festival in the Field Marquee, Jools Holland and his Rhythm and Blues Orchestra, 8pm

Wednesday, June 28

Games Room, Festival Hall, Lecture “The Beautiful Universe” with Richard Darn, 1pm

The Octagon, Otello ROH Live Broadcast, 7.15pm

Festival in the Field Marquee, The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain, 8pm

Thursday, June 29

Games Room, Festival Hall, Lecture “Climate Change: Friend or Foe?” with Richard Darn, 1pm

Festival in the Field Marquee, Clare Teal and her Hollywood Orchestra led by Guy Barker, 8pm

Friday, June 30

The Cavendish Pavilion Grounds, Bolton Abbey, Illyria The Emperor’s New Clothes, 6pm

Festival in the Field Marquee, Newton Faulkner with Holy Moly and The Crackers, 8pm

Saturday, July 1

Festival in the Square, 11am – 4pm

Festival in the Field Marquee, Bananarama with The Opera Comic and Back Chat Brass, 7pm