Breadcrumbs
2025-07-06 13:30 - 14:15 UTC | Ripon Spa Gardens, Park Street, Ripon, HG4 2AX, United Kingdom
Hansel and Gretel are siblings that just can’t seem to get along. They argue about everything: Who’s the loudest, who’s the fastest, who’s the smartest, who’s Mum’s favourite, and who gets the most Christmas presents?!
So when they wake up lost and confused in the heart of the enchanted forest one day, it’s no surprise they even disagree about how they came to be there! But with only a trail of breadcrumbs to guide them home, they’ll have to put aside their differences once and for all to solve the mystery of how they got there and make it home in time for tea!
This family show packed full of music, magic and puppetry from Wrongsemble celebrates how even the simplest story can become the wildest fairytale in the hands of the right storyteller!
Age guide 3+
FREE EVENT
11.30am -12.15pm Ripon Spa Gardens
1.30-2.15pm Ripon Spa Gardens

Circus Skills with Tit for Tat
2025-07-06 13:30 - 15:00 | Ripon Spa Gardens, Park Street, Ripon, HG4 2AX, United Kingdom
Ripon Theatre Festival 2024
Have a go with juggling balls and clubs, poi and ribbon twirling, staff spinning, Chinese yoyo, diabolo, balancing props and handstand tuition. Take time out from seeing shows to have some fun with the experts.
Tit for Tat are an eccentric Circus Theatre company that believes in celebrating the ordinary. They create high-octane entertainment for public spaces, arts events and theatres. Catch them on Saturday too in the Market Place with their acrobatic fire-juggling show – Books!
Ripon Spa Gardens
11am – 12.30pm & 1.30pm – 3pm
FREE drop-in session

Medusa
2025-07-06 14:00 - 14:30 | Ripon Marketplace, Market Place, Ripon, HG41BP, United Kingdom
Medusa Gothic Morris are a small Knaresborough-based dance team bringing elegance and Gothic mystery to the art of Morris dancing, with black kit and purple hankies, and tunes in a minor key. They would welcome new dancers (no experience necessary) and musicians. To join us, contact Sally on 01423 868753 or email spolem@hotmail.com
FREE EVENT
2-2.30pm Ripon Market Place (Little Bird Artisan Market)

Punch and Judy
2025-07-06 14:15 - 14:35 | Ripon Spa Gardens, Park Street, Ripon, HG4 2AX, United Kingdom
Beautiful, hand-carved wooden puppets come to life in a fast-moving and funny show that has lots of good old-fashioned knock-about fun, with loads of audience participation.
Each show lasts 20 minutes
FREE EVENT
Ripon Spa Gardens
11.00am
12.15pm
1.15pm
2.15pm

The Pied Piper
2025-07-06 14:15 - 14:45 | Ripon Spa Gardens, Park Street, Ripon, HG4 2AX, United Kingdom
Notice this Notice are proud to present their brand new adaptation of Pied Piper of Hamelin! Based on Robert Browning’s much loved poem, the mischievous Piper outwits the greedy townsfolk and their plague of pesky rats.
Expect a RAT-ical performance with music, witty wordplay, and plenty of audience participation as we bring this classic tale to Ripon. Grab your walking shoes and prepare for a laugh-out-loud theatrical treat!
FREE EVENT
11-11.30am Ripon Spa Gardens
12.30-1pm Ripon Market Place
2.15-2.45 Ripon Spa Gardens

Ripon Dance Academy
2025-07-06 14:30 - 15:00 | Ripon Marketplace, Market Place, Ripon, HG41BP, United Kingdom
Ripon Dance Academy offers high quality dance training in Ballet, Modern Jazz, Tap, Contemporary and Acro. Classes are offered from pre school to 18 and pupils have the opportunity to take part in IDTA examinations, full school shows and dance festivals.
RDA will also be performing on Sunday at Ripon Spa Gardens from 10-10.30am and on Saturday at Minster Gardens from 1.15-1.45pm
FREE EVENT
2.30-3pm Ripon Market Place (Little Bird Artisan Market)

Slubbing Billy's
2025-07-06 14:45 - 15:15 | Ripon Spa Gardens, Park Street, Ripon, HG4 2AX, United Kingdom
“We are The Slubbing Billy’s, a mixed Morris side dancing in the North West style. We dance in clogs , and bowler hats decorated with fresh flowers. Our large bass drum keeps us in time and our musicians play traditional folk dance tunes. In purple kit , sticks and bells we put on a colourful energetic display.”
The Slubbing Billy’s will also be dancing on Saturday on the Cathedral Forecourt and in Ripon Market Place.
FREE EVENT
11-11.30am Ripon Market Place (Little Bird Artisan Market)
2.45-3.15pm Ripon Spa Gardens

The Puppet Petting Farm
2025-07-06 14:45 - 15:15 | Ripon Spa Gardens, Park Street, Ripon, HG4 2AX, United Kingdom
Come join us down on the farm for this brand-new puppet show from HandMade Theatre. Featuring a wonderful collection of loveable animals from the cheeky goat to the giant highland cow. Playfully interact with these wonderful puppets and enjoy original music and songs.
The puppets are handcrafted from recycled materials and come to life in this fun filled show suitable for the whole family.

FREE EVENT
10.30-11am Ripon Spa Gardens
12.15-12.45pm Ripon Spa Gardens
2.45-3.15pm Ripon Spa Gardens

Bee Cart
2025-07-06 15:15 - 16:00 | Ripon Spa Gardens, Park Street, Ripon, HG4 2AX, United Kingdom
Bee guides Bombus and Borage have left the hive with the Bee Cart – their mobile world of interaction, bee wisdom and surreal fun. Delve into the world of bees, learn the pollen packing dance, the waggle dance, try out their buzz pollinator, and maybe even get your nose pollinated! Presented by Pif Paf.
FREE EVENT
10.15am Ripon Market Place (Little Bird Artisan Market)
12.30pm Ripon Spa Gardens
3.15pm Ripon Spa Gardens

A Midsummer Night's Dream
2025-07-06 19:00 - 21:30 | The Old Deanery, Minster Road,, Ripon, HG4 1QS, United Kingdom
It’s Midsummer’s eve and deep in an enchanted forest mischief is stirring. The Fairy King and Queen are feuding, four runaway lovers are tying themselves in knots, and a troupe of quite appalling actors are preparing a theatrical extravaganza destined to impress. With shapeshifting trouble-maker Puck at the helm, the course of true love never did run smooth.
One of the UK’s leading open-air touring companies, Three Inch Fools, bring their fresh and lively style of music, history, and hilarity to Shakespeare’s most iconic comedy.
Staged in the gardens of Ripon’s most exclusive venue, The Old Deanery – this finale event is a guaranteed highlight of the 2025 festival.
Suitable for ages 7+
Gates open 6.15pm
Please bring your own rug or folding chairs (but no umbrellas!).
Picnics welcome but please respect our hosts by purchasing all drinks at the bar.
Dogs are NOT allowed at the performance.
Performance continues regardless of weather.
Running time approx 120 mins including 20 minute interval
Sunday 6 July, 7pm
Tickets: £20

Walking and Writing City and Country
2025-10-04 11:00 - 15:00 | Ripon Marketplace, Market Place, Ripon, HG41BP, United Kingdom
‘Ripon…has not only an agreeable situation on a rising ground between two rivers, but the marketplace is the finest and most beautiful square that is to be seen of its kind in England’ Daniel Defoe 1724-6
Wetlands and rivers, canals and monasteries, monuments and follies; the city of Ripon is an inspirational landscape that has attracted creatives such as Daniel Defoe, poet Wilfred Owen and produced writers such as the suffragette, Naomi Jacobs.
Join acclaimed writer Mary-Jane Holmes on this four-hour walk-and-create writing workshop in and around Ripon. As we stroll its snickets and paths, we will reflect on how our experience of environments shapes us and how by harnessing our powers of deep observation in relation to our surroundings, we can develop a more active way of seeing the world we inhabit.
This workshop will combine ‘attentive’ walking, a performance of poetic works and fun writing exercises. It is open to everyone whether you are a seasoned writer of any genre be that playwriting or poetry, fiction or memoir or simply curious about the creative writing process.
Mary-Jane Holmes has garnered many awards including winning the Bridport Poetry prize, the Writer’s Digest poetry competition, the Live Canon Pamphlet Prize, Bath Novella-in-Flash Prize, Mslexia Flash prize.
A Ripon Poetry Festival event.
Walk begins at the obelisk in Ripon Market Place
Notepads and pencils are provided but do bring a pack lunch and dress appropriately for the weather!
Dogs are NOT allowed at this activity.
Age guide 14+
Tickets: £20

Fixing: Launch Event 2026
2026-03-27 19:30 - 22:00 | Ripon Arts Hub, 49 Allhallowgate, Ripon, HG4 1LQ, United Kingdom
When Matt was little, their dad bought a classic car. A 1952 Sunbeam Talbot Mark II. Dad had ideas that he and Matt would do it up, repair, rebuild together. They never did, and the car festered in a garage.
I mean, Dad had just been through a divorce.
Now in their 30’s, Matt would like to learn how to fix a car engine. They’d like to learn a bit more about Dad, and that time, when Dad and Mum split up. The time when Matt and Dad were closest.
Matt can’t do this alone, which is tricky for a solo show. That’s where Matt’s drag alter-ego Natalie Spanner comes in. She knows all about things that girls like Natalie know about. Like how to build an engine. About maintenance, care and repair.
Together, Matt and Natalie will try to ask, in an increasingly broken world, how might we repair ourselves, together?
A drag show about family break ups, car breakdowns, and how to get over them.
“Delightful . . . a novel collision between queer culture and mechanics” – The Guardian
“Charming and often very funny look at fractured family life” – The Stage
Presented to launch the 2026 Ripon Theatre Festival. Tickets include a glass of bubbly, information about forthcoming festival events and refreshments courtesy of Valentino’s.
Friday 27 March. Doors and refreshments from 7pm, event starts 7.30pm.
Tickets £17
