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On the 50th Anniversary of his death, Shostakovich’s music still blazes with defiance and beauty, and Airedale Symphony Orchestra will take to the King’s Hall stage on Sunday afternoon to perform three pieces. Britten: Four Sea Interludes, Wallen: Mighty River and Shostakovich 5th Symphony. A spokesperson for Airedale Symphony Orchestra said: “Experience an afternoon of musical drama, exploring music that inspired Shostakovich - Britten’s Four Sea Interludes and music inspire

Ilkley Moornotes have announced their winter concert date, Saturday 6 th  December, taking place in the ancient parish church of All Saints, Ilkley at 7.30pm.       As well as songs from the choir there will also be poetry readings and carol singing too.    Kate Stevens, Musical Director, Ilkley Moornotes says:   “The choir always looks forward to our festive concert in December as it allows us to sing such a wide variety of songs, old and new as well as joining with the audi

WTA brings The Nutcracker and the Music Box to Ilkley 20th-22nd November The enchanting story of The Nutcracker and the Music Box will be brought to The Kings Hall this November by Wright Theatre Arts (WTA).  You are cordially invited to a dazzling 1920’s Christmas party, where the story starts. This reimagining of the traditional ballet, combining the well-loved Nutcracker with the traditional folk tale of the enchanted music box, premieres new choreography by Lynne Wright,

Ilkley Musical Theatre Society presents Little Shop of Horrors 12-15 November With a week to go until opening night, Ilkley Musical Theatre Society [IMTS] is bursting with excitement as their latest production, Little Shop of Horrors, prepares to take over the King’s Hall in Ilkley. Months of rehearsals, creativity and hard work have led to this moment, and the cast and crew are more than ready to wow audiences from 12 to 15 November 2025. Every number has been polished to pe

Lindy Garner Ceramics will be at the Christmas Makers' Fair The much-loved Ilkley Manor House Christmas Makers’ Fair is back on Saturday 22 and Sunday 23 November, open from 10am to 5pm each day. The medieval Manor House will be beautifully dressed for the festive season and filled with stalls offering unique, hand-crafted gifts. Visitors can expect a broad array of items including scarves, homeware, glass statement pieces, home décor, jewellery, prints, knitwear, Christmas d

Ilkley Christmas Tree Festival returns on 5 and 6 December Ilkley’s much-loved Christmas Tree Festival is back at St Margaret’s Church, lighting up your pre-Christmas celebrations on Friday 5 and Saturday 6 December, from 10am.   St Margaret’s on Queens Road will host 30 beautifully decorated Nordmann Christmas trees, supplied by Moss and Moor, each representing a local charity, community group or school. Regular favourites and new participants include Ilkley Community Networ

The Ilkley Food & Drink Festival 2025 [Photo: Stephen Midgely Breakpoint Media] The Ilkley Food & Drink Festival will return for its seventh annual celebration on Saturday 13th and Sunday 14th June 2026, set against the riverside backdrop of Ilkley and the iconic Cow & Calf Rocks.   Now a staple of the Yorkshire summer calendar, the festival continues to evolve, growing each year in scale, production, and ambition. Attendees can expect a weekend filled with live music, chef d

Beer and Blues Festival runs Friday to Sunday, 7-9 November Wharfedale’s only Brewpub, the Flying Duck in Ilkley hosts its annual Beer and Blues Festival this weekend (7-9 November), in support of Ilkley Live, the town’s Community Music Festival. The popular venue, which incorporates sister company Wharfedale Brewery within its grounds on Church Street, will be donating 10 pence per pint sold towards next year’s music extravaganza where over 100 acts provide free performances

Ashlands Bonfire & Fireworks event is on 8th November With just over a week to go, excitement is building across Ilkley as the town prepares for one of its most anticipated autumn traditions - the Ashlands Bonfire & Fireworks Night. Taking place on the school field on Saturday 8 th  November, the bonfire night has become a firm favourite in the local calendar, drawing hundreds of families, friends, and neighbours together for an evening of community celebration and entertainm

Real Market will be on The Grove on Sunday Yorkshire's finest makers, bakers and creators will return to Ilkley on Sunday for Real Markets Yorkshire on The Grove. The free to attend market is open 10am until 3pm. A spokesperson for the market said: "We’re back in Ilkley this Sunday with another vibrant market bursting with fantastic independent stalls, delicious street food, and that unbeatable community spirit — the perfect Sunday outing! "Come along to browse unique treasur

The Unfriend runs from 30th Oct to 7th Nov The Unfriend opens this week in the Wharfeside Theatre at Ilkley Playhouse. Running from Thursday 30th October until Saturday 7th November, The Unfriend is written by Steven Moffat. The Scottish writer and producer is the creator of many TV hit shows, such as Sherlock, Dracula, The Time Traveler’s Wife, Coupling, Douglas is Cancelled and many of the best and most loved episodes of Doctor Who. The Unfriend centres on suburban couple P

The Winter Swing Band Dance is on 22nd November at Clarke Foley Community Hub Ilkley-based Two Rivers Swing Band are staging their ever-popular Winter Swing Band Dance on Saturday 22nd November in a new venue, the Clarke Foley Community Hub. The band will entertain you with a selection of Big Band classics, including both instrumental and sparkling vocal favourites. A spokesperson for the swing band said: “We’ll bring you a musical assortment from the era of classic swing thr

The Jigsaw Festival returns to Christchurch in November Hundreds of completed jigsaw puzzles are emerging from storage at Christchurch in Ilkley ready to be sold at the 11th annual Jigsaw Festival being held between the 6th and 8th of November. The puzzles have been worked on by dissect ologists (jigsaw enthusiasts) far and wide. Organisers say because the puzzles are displayed in completed form, customers can see all the pieces are there; so none of the frustration of realis

Demian Dorelli will perform at Ilkley Manor House next month Visit Ilkley Manor House for an intimate solo piano performance from pianist & composer Demian Dorelli on 14 November. He will be playing pieces from his Nick Drake Reimagined projects & his David Hockney-inspired original album, My Window. Demian Dorelli, born in London to an Italian fashion photographer and an English ballet dancer, grew up in an artistic environment. He chose music and, more particularly, the pia

As the nights draw in and the clocks go back, Ilkley Live has announced a host of exciting community music events for everyone to look forward to. First up on Saturday 1 November , Natural Voice Leader Keely Hodgson is offering a ‘ free singing workshop ’ to anyone who fancies coming along and having a go. Keely says: “Absolutely no previous singing experience is needed and people don’t need to be able to read music - all the songs are learnt by ear. "The natural voice is the

Christopher Rathbone, Director of Music at St Margaret's Ilkley Christopher Rathbone, Director of Music at St Margaret’s in Ilkley, will perform his 150th organ recital as part of the Ilkley Arts Festival.   The landmark occasion will take place on Friday 7 November at 12.30 pm, This extraordinary achievement marks Christopher’s dedication, artistry, and service to the musical life of the church and wider community.   The celebratory programme will feature works by Kenneth Le

Ilkley Playhouse opens its doors to anyone curious about improvisation with two new monthly workshops designed to be welcoming, reflective and playful. The sessions, led by professional facilitator and embodiment coach Chris Kenworthy, take place on Tuesday 11 November and Tuesday 9 December, both running from 11:00am to 1:00pm. Improvisation is the art of accepting and building on ‘what is,’ with playful curiosity in the here-and-now. These two-hour workshops offer a gentle

Entries for the 2026 Ilkley Half Marathon and Ilkley 5K open next week Entries for the 2026 Ilkley Half Marathon and Ilkley 5K will open next Monday [20th October], promising another unforgettable weekend of sport, community spirit, and scenic running in the heart of Wharfedale. Organised by the Ilkley & District Round Table, the event has become one of the region’s most anticipated races since its launch, attracting runners from across the UK to experience Ilkley’s warm hosp

The first afternoon concert will feature James Carrick-Buchanan and Glen Piano Trio Ilkley Concert Club has announced its fifth series of afternoon concerts show-casing talented students from the Royal Northern College of Music [RNCM]. These one-hour concerts are full of interest and variety, open to everyone and an afternoon treat for those who prefer not to go out on dark November evenings all taking place between 2.30pm and 3.30pm at the King’s Hall on Station Road in Ilkl

Opening on Thursday 30th October in the Wharfeside Theatre at Ilkley Playhouse is The Unfriend by Steven Moffat.  The play is a darkly comic and sharply witty exploration of British manners, social obligation and the unintended consequences of politeness. Peter and Debbie, a seemingly typical middle-class British couple, befriend Elsa, an eccentric American woman, during a holiday. In the spirit of polite conversation, they exchange contact details, expecting never to hear fr