What's On
What's on in the North York Moors
From steam galas and classic-car auctions to clifftop regattas, agricultural shows and some of England's darkest skies, there's always something happening across the Moors and coast. Here's what's coming up, dates are correct at the time of writing, but always check with the organiser before you travel.
Re-enactors gather in Pickering for the annual Railway in Wartime weekend.
This is a living calendar: we update it as organisers confirm their plans. Dates and tickets should always be confirmed with the organiser before you travel, and the 2027 dates for annual events are indicative until they're formally announced.
August 2026
8–10 August
Whitby Regatta
One of the oldest regattas on the north-east coast, with rowing races, parades, an air display and a fireworks finale over the harbour, on Whitby's waterfront.
22–23 August
Mathewsons Live, Pickering
The big in-person live classic-car, motorbike and memorabilia auction hosted by the Mathewson family of TV's Bangers & Cash; public viewing days beforehand on 15, 17 and 18 August.
22–28 August
Whitby Folk Week
A week-long celebration of traditional music, song and dance across the town's venues.
26 August
Egton Show
One of the country's largest village agricultural shows, livestock classes, a farmers' market, crafts and family fun in the Esk Valley.
September 2026
An NYMR steam service winds through the Esk Valley near Grosmont.
11–13 September
Staithes Arts Festival
The pretty fishing village fills with open studios, art trails and music.
16–22 September
Mathewsons auction viewing week, Pickering
Browse hundreds of classic cars and memorabilia before the sale (£5 entry to charity; no under-16s or pets in the showrooms). More on visiting Mathewsons.
24–27 September
NYMR Annual Steam Gala
Four days of heritage steam on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway with visiting guest locomotives, an intensive timetable, a beer festival and a barbecue at Grosmont.
Late September
Trackrod Rally Yorkshire
Forest rally stages run through Dalby and Cropton forests; note that some Dalby walking and cycling trails close on rally days (check dates).
October 2026
23 October – 1 November
Dark Skies Fringe Festival
Stargazing safaris, night walks, astrophotography and family events across the North York Moors and Yorkshire Dales during the peak of stargazing season.
21–27 October
Mathewsons auction viewing week, Pickering
Another chance to walk the Mathewsons showrooms ahead of the sale.
October
NYMR "Railway in Wartime"
A 1940s weekend on the railway with re-enactors, vintage vehicles and live music (returns in October, check dates).
30 October – 1 November
Whitby Goth Weekend
The famous twice-yearly alternative-music festival, with live bands and the Bizarre Bazaar market filling the town. Full details in our Whitby Goth Weekend 2026 guide.
November 2026
6–8 November
Whitby Ska & Mod Weekend
A weekend of live ska and mod bands.
November
NYMR Autumn Diesel Gala
Heritage diesel locomotives in action on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway (check dates).
Autumn
Cropton Beer Festival, near Pickering
Its 30th event in 2026, a CAMRA favourite with more than 80 real ales, live music and homemade food (check dates).
28 & 29 November
Santa Express begins
Festive steam trips from Pickering with Santa, his elves and a gift for every child.
December 2026
The NYMR Santa Special brings Father Christmas and festive steam to Pickering station.
5, 6, 12, 13, 19, 20, 22, 23 & 24 December
Santa Express, NYMR
Festive steam journeys on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway (booking essential).
5 December
Whitby Christmas Festival & Market
Festive stalls, music and lights around the harbour.
Throughout December
Christmas across the villages
Christmas markets, carol services and festive steam across the villages.
2027 highlights
These are annual fixtures, the dates firm up nearer the time.
February 2027
Dark Skies Festival
The flagship two-week stargazing celebration across the North York Moors and Yorkshire Dales (around 5–21 February), talks, guided night walks, astrophotography and family events.
Spring 2027
NYMR spring season
The North Yorkshire Moors Railway spring season, Day Out with Thomas and the Diesel Gala return.
April 2027
Whitby Goth Weekend (spring edition)
The spring half of Whitby's best-known festival; the 2026 spring dates were 1–3 May, see our Goth Weekend guide.
May 2027
Whitby Fish & Ships Festival
Plus food events around Malton, "Yorkshire's food town".
Last Tuesday of July 2027
Ryedale Show
A classic Yorkshire country show near Kirkbymoorside.
August 2027
Regatta, folk week and country shows
Whitby Regatta and Whitby Folk Week; village agricultural shows at Egton and Danby; Mathewsons Live returns; and Starfest, the astronomers' star camp at Dalby Forest.
September 2027
NYMR Annual Steam Gala
The autumn steam gala returns to the railway.
October–November 2027
Dark Skies Fringe & Goth Weekend
The Dark Skies Fringe Festival and the autumn Whitby Goth Weekend.
December 2027
Santa Express and festive events
The Santa Express and festive events return.
Year-round & regular
Roughly monthly
Mathewsons classic-car auctions
Each sale has a public viewing week beforehand: the closest you'll get to Bangers & Cash in person.
October–March
Stargazing at Dalby Forest
The Scarborough & Ryedale Astronomical Society run public stargazing evenings in Dalby on the first Friday of most months.
Spring to autumn
Steam through the season
The North Yorkshire Moors Railway runs from spring to autumn, plus festive specials.
All year
Markets and food festivals
Farmers' markets and food & drink festivals run across Ryedale and the Moors all year.
Not sure when to come? Our guide to the best time to visit the North York Moors sets out the heather bloom, the daffodils, the autumn colour and the dark-sky season, and the North York Moors in autumn covers the colour, wildlife and dark-sky season in detail. Staying nearby lets you build a trip around whatever's on, see where to stay.