Newby Hall and Gardens will welcome visitors back to the award-winning house and gardens on Saturday 28 March with an exciting new programme of events.
Alongside the return of popular events, 2026 sees a new show celebrating the iconic British motoring marque, the Mini.
Younger visitors will enjoy a fun packed Easter weekend with an Easter Bunny Adventure Trail (Friday 3 – Monday 6 April) and Live Children’s Theatre, staged on Sunday 5 and Saturday 11 April.
The Easter Bunny Woodland Trail will see Enchantia’s performers bring Newby’s woodlands to life. Visitors will enjoy an immersive experience helping the Easter Bunny and Mrs Bunny prepare for the Woodland Easter Party with a joyful sing-along, a meet-and-greet with the Easter Bunnies and making a wish in the giant cauldron. The trail will run from Friday 3 – Monday 6 April from 11.30am with last entry at 2.30pm.
Stuart Gill, commercial director at Newby Hall, said:
Building on last year’s successes, including winning a gold medal at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show which attracted lots of additional visitors, we have put together an exciting and varied programme of activities for this coming season.
We are looking forward to welcoming visitors back to enjoy everything the house and gardens have to offer.
Children are also invited to join the award-winning Story Craft Theatre’s Mother Goose detective agency on a fun filled Easter Bunny hunt over the Easter weekend. Aimed at 2-8 years old, the show brings together puppetry, problem-solving and game playing to encourage everyone to work together to solve the missing bunny dilemma. Live performances will take place on Sunday 5 April at 12noon, 1pm, 2pm and 3pm on the restaurant lawn. Story Craft Theatre will also run a Making Memories performance for younger visitors on Saturday 11 April at 12noon, 1pm, 2pm and 3pm. All performances are free of charge with a gardens ticket.
Newby’s adventure playground, miniature railway and boat trips are also a big draw among families, along with its Bear House and Dollshouses exhibitions.
- Newby will host the Mini National Day for the first time on Sunday 30 August, showcasing all models of Minis, from the classic to contemporary, both standard and customised cars. A variety of family-friendly activities, from craft stalls and fairground rides to children’s driving experiences and a reptile and snake encounter, will make for a great family day out.
- Newby’s church, Christ the Consoler, plays host to a live theatre performance of Jane Eyre (Wednesday 29 April) and is the intimate setting for an Evening of Opera with internationally acclaimed soprano Nicola Mills (Saturday 23 May).
Other attractions include the ever-popular Tractor Fest held over the weekend of 6 and 7 June. The UK’s largest tractor festival attracts more than 1,600 exhibits as well as more than 12,000 visitors and is a popular event with both families and enthusiasts alike. This year, Tractor Fest will showcase tractors and engines made in Scotland and motor rollers.
Other vehicle themed events include Sports Cars in the Park on Sunday 3 May and the Historic Vehicle Rally on Sunday 19 July.
Returning on Sunday 26 July is the Aldborough & Boroughbridge Show, a firm favourite in North Yorkshire’s rural shows calendar. A month later, Newby’s popular open-air theatre returns with Othello, performed by the Lord Chamberlain’s Men (Friday 14 August). Also in August, the Fireworks Championships (Saturday 22 August) will see stunning pyrotechnics illuminate the skies over Newby as visitors enjoy their picnics in the park.
September sees the return of Harrogate Autumn Flower Show (Friday 18– Sunday 20 September). The UK’s premier autumn gardening event attracts thousands of visitors over three days and showcases the best in seasonal horticulture. There will be spectacular displays, competitions, advice and demonstration stages and a stunning series of floral installations throughout Newby Hall.
Across the season, a variety of local choirs will be entertaining visitors with performances on the Restaurant Lawn including Yorkshire Voices in April and Rock Choir and Harrogate Theatre Choir in May.
Closing Newby’s 2026 season on Sunday 27 September will be Apple Day, and the World Jam Festival and Awards. The day will also see the hotly contested apple throwing championships, when contenders battle to win the prestigious Apple Day title and trophy.
