Please note: Event details can change, so please check with the organiser or venue before travelling. Need help finding something? Email info@harrogateuk.co.uk and we’ll be happy to help.

What’s On This Weekend in Harrogate, Knaresborough & Ripon – Friday 18 – Sunday 20 September 2026

Looking for things to do in Harrogate, Knaresborough, and Ripon this weekend? There’s plenty happening across the district from Friday 18 to Sunday 20 September 2026, with a major flower show, live theatre, Formula One legends, family activities, heritage attractions, arts and crafts, live music and outdoor events.

Whether you’re planning a family day out, an evening at the theatre, a walk around Ripon, a creative workshop in Knaresborough or one of the weekend’s headline events, here are some of the best things happening locally.

⭐ Top Picks This Weekend

🌸 Harrogate Autumn Flower Show

Friday 18 – Sunday 20 September

One of the biggest events of the weekend returns to Newby Hall, with three days of spectacular autumn colour.

Visitors can explore displays from leading plant nurseries, an impressive fruit and vegetable show, live advice stages, floral installations and more than 5,000 autumn blooms. Admission also includes access to Newby’s gardens and the main ground-floor rooms of the house.

Time: 9.30am–5.30pm
Address: Newby Hall, Skelton-on-Ure, Ripon HG4 5AE

Harrogate Autumn Flower Show information and tickets

🏎️ David Coulthard & Mika Häkkinen

Friday 18 September

Formula One fans can see former McLaren teammates David Coulthard and Mika Häkkinen together at Harrogate Convention Centre.

Hosted by Steve Jones, the evening looks back at their careers, their famous rivalry and friendship, and the 2026 Formula One season.

Time: 7.30pm–9.20pm
Tickets: From £33
Address: King’s Road, Harrogate HG1 5LA

🎭 The Highwayman

Friday 18 & Saturday 19 September

John Godber’s The Highwayman continues at Harrogate Theatre as part of the theatre’s Autumn Drama Season.

Set in Yorkshire in 1769, the production combines history, romance and adventure in a fast-moving story from the writer of Bouncers.

Time: 7.30pm–9.30pm
Tickets: From £22
Address: 6 Oxford Street, Harrogate HG1 1QF

📅 FRIDAY 18 SEPTEMBER

Harrogate

🏎️ An Evening with David Coulthard & Mika Häkkinen

One of Friday night’s headline events brings two Formula One greats to Harrogate.

Time: 7.30pm–9.20pm
Venue: Harrogate Convention Centre
Address: King’s Road, Harrogate HG1 5LA
Tickets: From £33

🎭 The Highwayman by John Godber

Catch the penultimate performance of this new historical romantic adventure at Harrogate Theatre.

Time: 7.30pm–9.30pm
Venue: Harrogate Theatre
Address: 6 Oxford Street, Harrogate HG1 1QF
Tickets: From £22

🎨 Ordinary People, Extraordinary Outcomes

An art exhibition is also listed at Harrogate Library on Friday.

Venue: Harrogate Library
Address: Victoria Avenue, Harrogate HG1 1EG

Knaresborough

Friday is comparatively quiet for individually advertised events in Knaresborough.

For visitors looking for a relaxed day out, the town itself still offers plenty to explore, including the riverside, Waterside, Knaresborough Castle area, independent shops and cafés.

Ripon

🌸 Harrogate Autumn Flower Show

The first day of the three-day autumn spectacular at Newby Hall.

Time: 9.30am–5.30pm
Address: Newby Hall, Skelton-on-Ure, Ripon HG4 5AE

🐕 Darlington Championship Dog Show 2026

The championship dog show begins its three-day run at Ripon Race Company Ltd.

Dates: Friday 18 – Sunday 20 September
Address: Ripon Racecourse, Boroughbridge Road, Ripon HG4 1UG

⛪ Heritage Open Days – Holy Trinity Church

Explore this historic Ripon church, including its stained glass and stories connected with generations of local worship.

Time: 10am–4pm
Address: Holy Trinity Church, Kirkby Road, Ripon
Admission: Free

🎤 Karaoke at The South Lodge

Round off Friday with a karaoke night.

Time: 8pm–11pm
Address: The South Lodge, 61 Harrogate Road, Ripon

📅 SATURDAY 19 SEPTEMBER

Harrogate

🧱 Harrogate Library LEGO Club

A good choice for families, with children invited to get creative using the library’s LEGO collection.

Time: 10am
Venue: Harrogate Library
Address: Victoria Avenue, Harrogate HG1 1EG
Admission: Free

🎭 The Highwayman – Final Harrogate Performance

Saturday is the final listed performance of John Godber’s The Highwayman.

Time: 7.30pm–9.30pm
Venue: Harrogate Theatre
Address: 6 Oxford Street, Harrogate HG1 1QF
Tickets: From £22

🎭 Pauline Quirke Academy of Performing Arts Harrogate

A children’s performing arts event is listed at the Sixth Form at Harrogate Grammar School on Saturday.

Knaresborough

🎨 Willow Weave a Bee

A half-day creative workshop at Hopewell Studios teaches traditional willow-weaving techniques, with participants creating their own decorative willow bee.

Time: 10am–2pm
Price: £68
Address: Hopewell Studios, Hopewell House Farm, Knaresborough HG5 0SN
Important: Bookings are now closed.

Hopewell Studios – Willow Weave a Bee

🖼️ Soft Pastel Animals & Pets

Also at Hopewell Studios, artist Jo Lawson leads a day devoted to creating animal and pet pictures using soft pastels.

Time: 10.30am–4pm
Address: Hopewell Studios, Hopewell House Farm, Knaresborough HG5 0SN

Soft Pastel Animals & Pets details

Ripon

🌸 Harrogate Autumn Flower Show

Day two of the weekend’s major gardening event.

Time: 9.30am–5.30pm
Address: Newby Hall, Skelton-on-Ure, Ripon HG4 5AE

📷 Wildlife Photography for Beginners

An early start for photographers at Ripon City Wetlands, with a practical workshop aimed at beginners interested in wildlife photography.

Time: 7am–1pm
Price: £53.58
Address: Ripon City Wetlands, Boroughbridge Road, Ripon

⛪ Heritage Open Days – St Wilfrid’s Catholic Church

Explore Ripon’s Grade II* listed St Wilfrid’s Catholic Church, opened in 1862 and designed by J. A. Hansom.

Time: 10.30am–3.30pm
Address: Coltsgate Hill, Ripon
Admission: Free

🎤 Karaoke Night – The Black Swan

DJ Hirsty hosts Saturday evening karaoke.

Time: 7.30pm–11.30pm
Address: The Black Swan, 21 Westgate, Ripon

📅 SUNDAY 20 SEPTEMBER

Harrogate

Sunday is a good opportunity to enjoy Harrogate at a slower pace, with the town centre, Valley Gardens, RHS Garden Harlow Carr and the wider district providing options for a day out.

For one of the weekend’s biggest organised events, head towards Newby Hall for the final day of the Harrogate Autumn Flower Show.

Knaresborough

🏃 Yorkshire Weekend Saunter Series

Sunday morning brings a choice of 10K-ish and half-marathon routes around Knaresborough.

The event is designed to be welcoming to different abilities, with participants able to run, jog or walk at their own pace.

Half Marathon: Registration 7.30am; start 8.30am
10K-ish: Registration 8am; start 9am
Location: Knaresborough HG5 8DP

The organiser’s published event information also lists on-the-day entry options.

Ripon

🌸 Final Day – Harrogate Autumn Flower Show

Sunday is your last opportunity to visit the 2026 Autumn Flower Show at Newby Hall.

Time: 9.30am–5.30pm
Address: Newby Hall, Skelton-on-Ure, Ripon HG4 5AE

🐕 Darlington Championship Dog Show

The three-day championship show concludes at Ripon Racecourse.

The SCWT Club of GB Open Show North is also listed at the racecourse on Sunday.

Address: Ripon Racecourse, Boroughbridge Road, Ripon HG4 1UG

🚶 Community Walking Group

Enjoy a Sunday morning community walk starting from The Black Swan.

Time: 10am–12 noon
Address: The Black Swan, 21 Westgate, Ripon

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Family Things to Do This Weekend

Families looking for ideas have several options.

Harrogate Library LEGO Club is a particularly useful free Saturday activity, while the Harrogate Autumn Flower Show offers a full day out at Newby Hall. Families can also make a day of Knaresborough, combining the riverside with the town centre and castle area.

For active families, Sunday’s Yorkshire Weekend Saunter Series offers a more energetic option in Knaresborough.

🆓 Free Things to Do

You don’t have to spend a fortune to enjoy the weekend.

Look out for:

• Harrogate Library LEGO Club – Saturday, free.
• Heritage Open Days at Holy Trinity Church, Ripon – Friday, free.
• Heritage Open Days at St Wilfrid’s Catholic Church, Ripon – Saturday, free.
• Exploring Knaresborough riverside and town centre – ideal for a leisurely walk.
• Community Walking Group in Ripon – Sunday morning.

🌟 Make a Weekend of It

With events spread across all three towns, this is a good weekend for exploring more of the Harrogate district.

Friday evening brings Formula One stars and theatre to Harrogate, while Ripon offers heritage attractions and evening entertainment.

Saturday is the busiest day, combining the Autumn Flower Show, family activities, theatre, arts and crafts, wildlife photography and heritage open days.

Sunday offers a more relaxed mix of running, walking, the final day of the Flower Show and the concluding day of the championship dog show.

Whatever you choose, Harrogate, Knaresborough and Ripon have plenty happening from Friday 18 to Sunday 20 September 2026.

Event details can change, and some activities require advance booking. Check with the organiser or venue before travelling