Autumn Activities 2021
15.10.2021
The Autumn equinox has been and gone which means summer has officially come to an end.
Pumpkin spice lattes are back, the nights are creeping in earlier and woolly hats and scarves will be reappearing in our wardrobes very soon!
Given our three showrooms are situated in the heart of three Yorkshire towns we have an abundance of great places to visit right on our doorstep.
Here is just a snippet of what’s coming up over the next few months. All the locations outlined are less than 5 miles from our interior showrooms and design shops.
We are very lucky that Richard Grafton Interiors, Harrogate & Ilkley share the same location as the renowned Betty’s Tearooms and they have just launched all their wonderful Autumn Treats – Sticky and sumptuous Yorkshire Parkin is a tried and true favourite as well as the infamous Fat Rascal. They also have selection of Halloween treats such as the hand-decorated Lebkuchen Witch Biscuit, freshly baked and hand decorated they are a massive hit with the younger ones.
The beautifully cared for Harlow Carr Gardens sits on the outskirts of Harrogate in the beautiful Yorkshire countryside. Harlow Carr is just as special throughout all the seasons and showcases diverse landscapes with an extensive plant collection. The garden has expanded to cover more than 58 acres so there is a lot to explore, whether you’re a keen gardener or just enjoy a scenic walk you will appreciate what they have to offer.
Besides the gardens they also have their very own Betty’s tearoom, a garden centre and an amazing gift shop. Coming up, they have an Autumn Carnival Trail starting Saturday 23rd October – which is the perfect Half Term activity!
Pumpkin picking is always a fun weekend activity no matter what age you are and Stockeld park is one to visit when searching for an autumnal day out. They offer an enchanted forest, Halloween trail, the magical maze and many more exciting activities to take park in. They are also taking bookings for their Christmas Illuminations so get in there before it’s too late!
Stockeld Park is a Grade-I listed country house and estate situated in Spofforth, a stone throw away from our Interior Design hub in Wetherby town and a short drive away from our Harrogate Interiors shop. The estate spans some 2,000 acres and broadly covers the area between Wetherby and the villages of Spofforth and Sicklinghall. If you’re lucky you may even spot a deer or two on your way in, this picturesque setting has such amazing wildlife so keep your eyes peeled!
It’s not long before bonfire night is upon us so we have gathered some great places to enjoy this celebration, one of which being The Stray, Harrogate.
The Stray Bonfire
Bonfire Night, Fireworks Night, or Guy Fawkes Night? Whichever way you say it, the 5th November celebration is one of the best nights out we’ll have this winter! We have poor Guy Fawkes to thank for this uniquely British tradition that guarantees an explosion of fun on a gloomy November night!
The Stray Bonfire is always a highly popular event that’s organised entirely by volunteers from the Harrogate District Round Table.
Their 50th annual stray bonfire was postponed last year due to restrictions, so it’s great to see that it will be going ahead this year. They always ensure a warm family feel where everyone can watch the display safely, you sense a real community spirit and it’s great to see so many families and friends enjoying the display!
Unconfirmed Event Timings
Saturday 6th November 2021
Bonfire Lit – 6:30pm
Fireworks – 7ish pm
(All timings are approximate)
The bonfire is held on the Stray alongside Oatlands Drive, close to St. Aidans School.
There are also great firework and bonfire displays at Bolton Abbey, Walton Village & The Mustard pot just to name a few.
As Christmas is nearly in full swing in our showrooms, it would only be right to include Christmas in our delightful run down of Autumn/Winter events, so here’s a few festive things to do:
The Wetherby – Dickensian Christmas Market and Craft Fayre
The ‘Dickensian Christmas Market and Craft Fayre’, had to be cancelled in 2020 due to restrictions imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Hopefully the market and craft fayre will return as ‘normal’ this year on Sunday 12th December 2021.
The increasingly popular event displays its multiple festive attractions and vast array of produce and crafts on sale. The organisers, Wetherby District Lions Club ensure the Market Place is packed with local food and drink traders, including regulars from the monthly Farmers’ Market as well as a Craft Fayre event in the Town Hall.
The Harrogate Christmas Fayre
Experience the joy of Christmas in the heart of Yorkshire this December. Harrogate town centre will be hosting a new festive market and in addition to this there will be a Ferris wheel and even a festive road train! This is located on Cambridge Street, Market Place, Station Square and Cambridge Crescent all within walking distance from our Harrogate interior design showroom!
Ilkley Christmas Lights
Ilkley’s plans are also underway for their annual event, it’s to be held on Saturday 28th November.
We hope you enjoyed reading our Autumn blog!
Featured image source: https://www.rhs.org.uk/gardens/harlow-carr
