From Bandstand to Hatstand
Our hardworking and creative hatmakers finally got to see their gorgeous work on display.
It’s a wrap! After an exhausting and invigorating Festival week, we can now gather feedback, put together our photos and impact report, and then start planning for next year!
We already know that we’ve had a record number of events and an increase in total attendances. Our diverse and popular programme included puppet shows in care homes, powerful drama at the cathedral, storytelling in the tiny Leper Chapel, sell-out shows in Ripon Arts Hub and open-air family theatre at Ripon Races. Not to mention two full days of free family-friendly activities throughout the city.
If you would like to give us feedback about your experience, you can do so here.
Check back to this site to see photos from this RTF2025, and updates about next year.
And do join our mailing list so you don’t miss any important announcements!
Best wishes
The Festival Team
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Open GuideOur hardworking and creative hatmakers finally got to see their gorgeous work on display.
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RTF is run by a small team of volunteers. We work together with our funders, venues and community partners to bring colour and culture to all the communities of the city, contributing to Ripon’s development as a vibrant place to live, work and visit.
RTF is the primary project of longstanding local charity, The Ripon City Festival Trust (charity number 514981).
Find out more about us here.
The festival welcomes professional performers onto our city streets and venues, but it’s the people of Ripon who will really make the festival fly!
We rely on volunteers for:
Whether you want to check tickets, look after our visiting performers or sing your heart out on a street corner, please do get in touch.
It costs around £50,000 each year to stage the festival and run our Community Outreach Programme. We are very grateful to all those who have supported us in our journey so far, but of course we constantly need to find new sources of funding. As a registered charity, all the funding we raise goes directly towards making the festival happen.
Ways you might like to help us: