Towns and villages across North Yorkshire will come together when the county hosts the official Yorkshire Day civic celebration in 2029.
The announcement was made today (February 13) by the chairman of North Yorkshire Council, Cllr George Jabbour, at a full council meeting at County Hall in Northallerton.
Cllr Jabbour said the opportunity to host the Yorkshire Day civic celebration, granted by the Yorkshire Society, would serve as a catalyst to develop economic and cultural ambitions and would be a moment for communities to unite.
Cllr Jabbour said:
We want to celebrate Yorkshire – to shout about our fantastic businesses, our scenic landscapes, our stunning coastline, our unique heritage, and our beautiful towns and villages.
We want a public celebration that’s open to everyone, one that attracts visitors from across the county and from further afield – a moment for communities right across the region to come together.
Yorkshire Day was established in 1975, with formal celebrations taking place on August 1 every year since 1985. Previous hosts have included Skipton, Richmond, Filey and Malton. The last time it was awarded to a location in North Yorkshire was Whitby in 2019, when the date coincided with Captain Cook’s first arrival in New Zealand 250 years previously.
Hosts must organise a breakfast gathering, thanksgiving service, flag handover, street parade and formal civic lunch alongside public celebrations across the chosen area.
A focal point for the event will be chosen nearer to the date, but it is being stressed that this will be a celebration of every place in the county. The host town will enjoy the honour of serving as the official Yorkshire Day location for a full calendar year.
North Yorkshire Council’s destination management and marketing service, Visit North Yorkshire, will help coordinate the celebrations.
Tourism is worth £4bn to the county annually and helps support more than 38,000 full-time jobs. In 2024, more than 32 million people visited the county, almost four per cent up on the previous year.
The leader of North Yorkshire Council, Cllr Carl Les, said:
Hosting Yorkshire Day in 2029 will be a tremendous opportunity for North Yorkshire.
It will bring a real boost to our local economy, with visitors supporting our shops, cafés, pubs and attractions, while also shining a national spotlight on everything that makes our county so special.
From coast to countryside, every town and village will have an opportunity to play its part, and I am confident the event will be a major success.
The chief executive of The Yorkshire Society, Philip Bell, said Yorkshire Day was far more than a date on the calendar.
Philip Bell said:
It’s a day that captures our shared identity and shines a light on the rich history and heritage that bind us together.
On Yorkshire Day, every mayor from every corner of the county stands together under the one name we all share: Yorkshire.
It’s a powerful reminder that we are one region with a unique character.
