Plan your holiday adventure in Scarborough with our detailed event guide. Locals and travelers alike, dive into Scarborough's holiday fun with our detailed guide.
One festive highlight is the Scarborough Lights, where the town sparkles with a dazzling display that infuses the streets with warmth and cheer. Featuring beautifully illuminated decorations and festive atmospheres, the Scarborough Sparkle and Lantern Parade showcases a parade of enchanting lanterns that delight audiences of all ages. And don't forget, the Harrogate Ice Rink offers a classic winter experience, inviting families to enjoy skating in a picturesque setting. See more details on these and other fun events and activities below!
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Top Holiday Events In and Around Scarborough
- Scarborough Lights
- Harrogate Ice Rink (Harrogate)
- Scarborough Sparkle and Lantern Parade
- Stockeld Park Christmas Adventure (Wetherby)
- Harrogate Christmas Fayre (Harrogate)
- Father Christmas in the Castle
- York Minster Christmas Tree Festival (York)
- Santa’s Grotto at Stockeld Park (Wetherby)
- Ships Ahoy at Scarborough Harbour
- St Nicholas Fair (York)
See these and even more events listed below!
Scarborough Holiday Light Displays
Scarborough Lights
What to Expect:
Spectacular illuminated art installations showcasing international, national, and local artists.
Description:
Scarborough Lights is a festive event featuring a variety of free and affordable light shows, installations, and community activities throughout Scarborough, including indoor and outdoor works and projections.
Where: Scarborough | More Info: Scarborough Lights
Stockeld Park Christmas Adventure
What to Expect:
Interactive Santa's Grotto with immersive dome experience.
Description:
Stockeld Park offers a variety of Christmas activities, including ice skating, Santa's Grotto, and Winter Illuminations. The Snowflake Maze and Grinchilocks Christmas Panto add to the festive atmosphere. Visitors can explore the Enchanted Forest, which transforms into a twinkling light spectacle at dusk.
Where: Wetherby | More Info: Stockeld Park Christmas Adventure
Scarborough Holiday Markets and Shopping
Scarborough Sparkle and Lantern Parade
What to Expect:
Lantern parade and themed shopping.
Description:
Scarborough Sparkle is a three-day Christmas festival in Scarborough, North Yorkshire, featuring a lantern parade, festive food stalls, and themed shopping with local artisans. The event transforms the Scarborough Open Air Theatre into a vibrant winter setting with lights and decorations.
Where: Scarborough | More Info: Scarborough Sparkle and Lantern Parade
Harrogate Christmas Fayre
What to Expect:
Unique gifts and local artisan crafts in a bustling town centre setting.
Description:
Harrogate Christmas Fayre is a vibrant market in Harrogate town centre featuring local traders and European stalls offering arts, crafts, and festive treats. Enjoy a variety of unique gifts, decorations, and mouth-watering food amidst the town's festive atmosphere.
Where: Harrogate | More Info: Harrogate Christmas Fayre
St Nicholas Fair
What to Expect:
Local traders and artisan products in a sustainable and accessible market setting.
Description:
St Nicholas Fair features 75 alpine chalets on Parliament Street and St Sampson’s Square, showcasing local traders and artisan products. The market includes a vintage carousel in King’s Square and prioritizes environmental sustainability and accessibility.
Where: York | More Info: St Nicholas Fair
Scarborough Holiday Shows and Entertainment
Father Christmas in the Castle
What to Expect:
Interactive Christmas performance with Father Christmas and special gifts for children.
Description:
Meet Father Christmas, Mrs. Claus, and jolly WonderPhil at Castle Howard this Christmas. Watch a joyful performance bursting with jingle bells and Christmas spirit, sing Christmas songs together, and enjoy a special individual moment with Father Christmas himself. All children take home a Christmas gift.
Where: Scarborough | More Info: Father Christmas in the Castle
Scarborough Jazz Festival
What to Expect:
World-class jazz performances in a historic venue.
Description:
The Scarborough Jazz Festival is a three-day event featuring top-class jazz performances at the iconic Scarborough Spa venue. Artists and acts will be announced, with early bird weekend tickets available for purchase until 31st December 2024.
Where: Scarborough | More Info: Scarborough Jazz Festival
Northern Soul Weekender
What to Expect:
Unique blend of classic and modern Northern Soul music.
Description:
The Northern Soul Weekender at Scarborough Spa features two rooms with an eclectic mix of Northern Soul, classic oldies, and modern floor fillers. The Ocean Ballroom is kept busy by Stella line DJs, while the downstairs room offers a chill atmosphere with a mezzanine bar. The event showcases sounds from classic record labels like Motown, Philadelphia International, Stax, and Atlantic.
Where: Scarborough | More Info: Northern Soul Weekender
Scarborough Other Holiday Activities
Ships Ahoy at Scarborough Harbour
What to Expect:
Illuminated boats in Scarborough Harbour.
Description:
Witness the glittering, gleaming vessels in Scarborough Harbour, a well-loved annual community activity featuring boats of all sizes, including fishing vessels, yachts, cruisers, and speed boats. The illumination of the Lighthouse adds to the spectacle, organized by the brilliant folk at both Scarborough Yacht Club and the fishing community.
Where: Scarborough | More Info: Ships Ahoy at Scarborough Harbour
Grue by ARCADE at Scarborough Library
What to Expect:
Immersive cardboard labyrinth with live storytelling guides.
Description:
Step into a fantastical world made entirely from recycled and repurposed cardboard, designed by Scarborough artist Steve Wintercroft. Explore enchanting landscapes and discover wonders with live actors as storytelling guides.
Where: Scarborough | More Info: Grue by ARCADE at Scarborough Library
Staxtonbury
What to Expect:
Family-friendly music festival with weekend camping.
Description:
Staxtonbury Family Music Festival is a vibrant weekend celebration in Scarborough, featuring live music, weekend camping, and family-friendly entertainment.
Where: Scarborough | More Info: Staxtonbury
Autumn Daze
What to Expect:
Interactive bushcraft and craft activities for families.
Description:
Autumn Daze is a family-friendly event featuring bushcraft demonstrations, storytelling, marshmallow toasting, primitive fire-starting, craft activities, and a scavenger hunt.
Where: Scarborough | More Info: Autumn Daze
Boxing Day Raft Race & Events
What to Expect:
Colourful raft race with participants in fancy dress.
Description:
The Boxing Day Football Match & Raft Race in Scarborough Harbour features a traditional football match between the Fishermen and Firemen, followed by a hilarious fancy-dress raft race. Participants dress up in costumes and navigate their rafts from the harbour to the sea, competing for bragging rights and the title of champion raft racer.
Where: Scarborough | More Info: Boxing Day Raft Race & Events
Harrogate Ice Rink
What to Expect:
Family-friendly ice skating with additional festive rides and food options.
Description:
Harrogate Ice Rink at Crescent Gardens offers a family-friendly ice skating experience with an enchanting carousel, bungee trampolines, and street food options. The event features a cozy tipi with sheltered seating and a variety of drinks, including vegan and vegetarian Yorkshire Pudding Wraps.
Where: Harrogate | More Info: Harrogate Ice Rink
Santa’s Grotto at Stockeld Park
What to Expect:
Cozy log cabin setting with twinkling lights.
Description:
Meet Father Christmas in a cozy log cabin at Stockeld Park, surrounded by twinkling lights and rustic charm. This is a special experience for both adults and children, creating lasting memories.
Where: Wetherby | More Info: Santa’s Grotto at Stockeld Park
York Minster Christmas Tree Festival
What to Expect:
Unique tree decorations by local communities.
Description:
The York Minster Christmas Tree Festival features 70 elaborately decorated trees, each themed by local businesses, schools, and charities, displayed in the stunning Nave, Chapter House, and Lady Chapel. Visitors can add their own Christmas messages to the festival’s prayer trees.
Where: York | More Info: York Minster Christmas Tree Festival
Festive Fun in Nearby Cities!
Discover Holiday events in hundreds of cities worldwide. Check out these nearby locations for more festive fun!
- Bridlington (16 miles)
- Beverley (30 miles)
- Redcar (35 miles)
- York (35 miles)
- Kingston upon Hull (37 miles)
- Middlesbrough (39 miles)
- Thornaby-on-Tees (40 miles)
- Billingham (42 miles)
- Stockton-on-Tees (42 miles)
- Hartlepool (43 miles)
- Selby (44 miles)
- Goole (44 miles)