Ripon rejoices in a summer of fun, sun and increased footfall

☀️🎪 Ripon’s summer season of family fun events comes to a close on Market Square on Saturday (August 29th) with seven hours of family-focused activities.

Running from 10am until 5pm, the event being organised by Ripon City Council, will include free fairground rides for children of all ages 🎠, a football shoot out ⚽, balloon modelling 🎈, fun with bubbles 🫧 and face painting 🎨.

Though light rain is forecast 🌦️, another large attendance is anticipated, adding to the thousands of additional people, both local residents and visitors, who have been drawn to the city centre by a series of fun-filled and sun-filled activities 🌞.

Increased footfall 📈 Ripon BID manager Lilla Bathurst told Tim Flanagan of the Rejoicing in Ripon Blog: “Our figures show that in the period from July 1st to August 16th overall footfall rose by 13.31% compared with the same period in 2025 and 18.14% when compared with 2024.”

“From the landmark fifth Theatre Festival in early July brilliantly curated by director Katie Scott 🎭, to the historic Saint Wilfrid procession and Yorkshire Day celebrations on August 1st headed by Antony Prince, who marshalled an army of volunteers 🙌, the BID is delighted to support events and activities that bring additional visitors to the city centre.”

Lilla added: “In addition to the mass participation events, July saw the reopening of the Workhouse Museum following renovation of the residential block and the reception building 🏛️, which was completed in time for the start of the school summer holidays. The BID also held a series of Saturday events on the Market Square in August including a climbing wall 🧗 and face painting 🎨. This was complimented by Ripon City Councils music, crafting and magic shows 🎶✨.”

She pointed out: ”On the sporting front, Ripon’s biggest race day of the year on August 15th, when the Great St Wilfrid handicap was held 🏇, saw an estimated 10,000 racegoers through the gates – many of whom visited the city centre for something to eat and drink before and after the racing 🍽️🍻.”