What’s on in Whitby

Here’s a list of What’s On in Whitby during the year. Whitby is host to many fantastic events throughout the year, including music, arts, dance and the famous Goth weekends. This What’s On guide will help you book your stay, whether don’t or do want to miss an event!

February

Whitby Steam Punk Weekend – 7^th – 9^th February 2025 – Another action-packed exciting Whitby Steampunk Weekend is in store for us with a number of activities, presentations and demonstrations lined up as well as our Famous Steampunk Emporium for your amusement.

Dark Skies – North York Moors – 9^th – 25^th February 2024 – This is one of the best places in the country to see stars, because of the low light pollution levels and clear horizons. From a town or city you’ll be lucky to spot more than a handful of stars but the further away you get from street lights, the better the view – in the darkest areas of the National Park you can spy up to 2,000 at any one time.

March

BRSA National Scooter Rally Weekend  – 29^th March – 1^st April 2024 – First BSRA National of the year. Friday and Saturday evening entertainment at Whitby Pavilion from 8pm. Custom show and parts fair at Whitby Pavilion Saturday daytime from 10am until 4pm

Easter Weekend  – March 29^th – April 1^st 2024

April 

Whitby Goth Weekend –26^th – 29^th April 2024– The Spring Whitby Goth Weekend with the Bizarre Bazaar, Music Festival and usual activities over the weekend – Including Tomorrow’s Ghosts Festival. Click the link to see what’s on and when.

May

May Bank Holidays – 6^th & 27^th May 2024

70’s Festival – 3^rd – 4^th May 2024 – From Friday night to Saturday night, enjoy a full weekend of 70’s tribute artists, featuring some of the biggest names of the 1970s. ‘Whitby Live’, home of the 1960s Music Weekends, have hosted some of the top 60s Acts from the UK and the USA.

American Line & Western Dance Weekend – 13^th May 2024 – Annual line dancing he Ironstone Line dance weekend is an annual event on the second weekend in May. Live music on three nights plus mornings of instruction from top line dancing choreographers

Fish & Ships Festival – 18^th & 19^th May 2024 – Celebrate Whitby’s Fishing Heritage at this FREE Festival. Explore everything that’s special about the Yorkshire Coast’s magnificent maritime culture, from the building of its boats to its multi award-winning fish restaurants. Click the link to see what’s on and when.

Whitby Gospel Music Convention – 20^th May 2024 – Christian Music event

June

60’s weekend – 7^th – 9^th June 2024 – From Friday night to Sunday night, enjoy a full weekend of sixties music, featuring some of the biggest names of the 1960s. ‘Whitby Live’, home of the 1960s Music Weekends, have hosted some of the top 60s Acts from the UK and the USA. Their weekends include Whitby, Blackpool and Southport. Over the past 15 years many of the 1960s biggest names have appeared including The Manfreds, Marty Wilde, Alvin Stardust, The Searchers and many more. 

Robin Hood’s Bay Folk Weekend – 7^th, 8^th & 9^th June 2024 – A big part of the Bay Folk Weekend is raising funds for charity. Over 50 dancers, drummers, singers and musicians danced their socks off and sung their hearts out throughout the weekend to raise this amazing. 

Flipside Rock & Roll weekender – 21^st & 22^nd June 2024– Our aim is to promote 1950s Rock ‘n’ Roll, booking some of the best bands up and down the country to make sure our guests have a great Rockin Weekend

July

Northern Soul Weekend – 5^th – 7^th July 2024 – The ORIGINAL Yorkshire Soul Weekender Experience in the beautiful town of Whitby. Annually packed and featuring the best in Northern Soul, Motown and Modern Soul with the North’s best loved DJ’s. Since 2002, the fastest selling Northern Soul Weekender. Offering you daytime sessions plus Soul nights spread over three days, we have chosen a different presentation for the weekend from the other ‘Friday through Sunday packages’ which allows for a relaxing weekend break as well as the time-honoured soul experience.

The Great Seaside Vintage Fair – 20^th & 21^st July 2024 – Back again with the vintage fair with a SEA VIEW! Now with more than 50 stalls of genuine vintage from the 20’s to the 80’s in the spacious Northern Lights Suite of the Pavilion with spectacular sea views, in the lovely seaside town of Whitby.

Whitby Rainbow Colour Run – TBC July 2024 – Whitby District Lions is proud to announce that ‘Whitby Rainbow Colour Run’ is back for 2022! This year’s run, which is the event’s fourth edition is being held on Sunday 17th July 2022 at 1PM, it promises to be a fun, exciting and colourful event for all the family! Our non-competitive event along Whitby’s West Cliff beach will see participants of all ages run or walk the course, whilst facing an exciting, colourful shower of powdered paint. Help us turn the beach into a glowing rainbow of fun and laughter with both family members and friends. Click here for more details

Whitby Steam Punk Weekend – 26^th – 28^th July 2024 – Another action-packed exciting Whitby Steampunk Weekend is in store for us with a number of activities, presentations and demonstrations lined up as well as our Famous Steampunk Emporium for your amusement.

Whitby Beer Festival – In Aid of Whitby District Lions Club – TBC July 2024 (12:00 Noon until 22:00 (Thursday – Saturday) & 12:00 Noon until 16:00 (Sunday)) Held at the Whitby Mission & Seafarers Centre, Haggersgate, Whitby. Entry costs £5 which includes 1 beer token and a commemorative glass. Tickets can be purchased at the website or by credit/debit card or by cash on the door.

August

Whitby Traction Engine Weekend – 2^nd – 4^th August 2024 – This spectacular traction engine rally is held next to the iconic ruins of the Abbey in the popular tourist resort of Whitby and is only a 15 minute walk from the town centre and the harbour. Performing in the main arena will be StuntWorld Stunt Show – showcasing a mix of motorcycle stunts, quad stunts, car 2 wheel driving and roll over quad stunts. The Spectacular Saturday Night Firework Display will be one of the highlights over the weekend

Whitby Regatta –17^th – 19^th August 2024– The Whitby Regatta presents to you a full weekend of entertainment, embracing yacht racing, rowing races and various free forms of entertainment as published in the official programme, finishing with a prize presentation and spectacular firework display. Over one hundred and seventy years of aquatic competition and entertainment. The Whitby Regatta is probably the oldest sea Regatta on the northeast coast and has drawn large crowds into Whitby over the years. Click the link to see what’s on and when. Future dates: 9^th – 11^th August 2025, 8th – 10th August 2026 & 14th – 17th August 2027

Whitby Folk Week – 17^th – 24^th August 2024 – Whitby Folk Week is a long-standing celebration of the traditional music, dance and song of the British Isles has taken on the trappings of a tradition in its own right. This year we have over 100 fantastic concert artists ready to entertain you. Click the link to see what’s on and when.

August Bank Holiday – 26^th August 2024

September

Motown Weekender – 13^th – 14^th September 2024 – Already a massive hit with its July Northern soul weekend, this 2nd event at the famous venue, brings 2 nights of glorious music to Whitby. A Lighter Weekender with more Familiar favourites from the World Of Motown and Soul’s Golden Era (60’s-80’s) 

NYMR Steam Gala – 26^th -29^th September 2024 – Annual Steam Gala is back with up to 13 locomotives in steam. Ride behind our guest locomotives and home fleet engines across the four days with services calling at Pickering, Levisham, Newtondale Halt (by request), Goathland, Grosmont and Whitby stations. Also on is a Beer Festival, Stalls and Live Music.

60’s weekend – 22^nd – 24^th September 2024 – From Friday night to Sunday night, enjoy a full weekend of sixties music, featuring some of the biggest names of the 1960s. ‘Whitby Live’, home of the 1960s Music Weekends, have hosted some of the top 60s Acts from the UK and the USA. Their weekends include Whitby, Blackpool and Southport. Over the past 15 years many of the 1960s biggest names have appeared including The Manfreds, Marty Wilde, Alvin Stardust, The Searchers and many more.

The Great Seaside Vintage Fair – 5^th & 6^th October 2024 – Back again with the vintage fair with a SEA VIEW! Now with more than 50 stalls of genuine vintage from the 20’s to the 80’s in the spacious Northern Lights Suite of the Pavilion with spectacular sea views, in the lovely seaside town of Whitby.

October

Illuminated Abbey – TBC October 2024 – Cast light on a dark history this Halloween! See Bram Stoker’s inspiration in a new light as Whitby Abbey is bathed in dramatic illuminations once again. Have your camera at the ready as you explore the gothic splendour of the ruins lit up with all the colours of the rainbow. Join for us an unforgettable evening of Victorian Gothic entertainment beneath the soaring Illuminated remains of Whitby Abbey.

Musicport – 25^th – 27^th October 2024 – The festival starts on Friday evening and runs through until Sunday night. There are three stages, Main Stage, Club stage (perfumed garden) and the Theatre providing an eclectic mix of music acts. There is also DJ hub with an area for dancing, workshops and festival bazaar. For a more intimate session you can visit The Blunderbus a pop-up comedy theatre, which has a bar provides a unique and friendly atmosphere a great place for the open mic sessions. There are food vans right outside the venue, but the town itself is just a 10 minute walk away and has a variety of eateries to suit all tastes.

Whitby Goth Weekend – 31^st October – 3^rd November 2024 – The Autumn Whitby Goth Weekend with the Bizarre Bazaar, Music Festival and usual activities over the weekend – Including Tomorrow’s Ghosts Festival

November

Whitby Blues, Rhythm and Rock – 8^th – 10^th November 2024 – Legendary artists from all over the world have and continue to perform here and in keeping with this tradition they have another great line up for you.

Whitby Christmas Festival – 15^th – 17^th November 2024 – Christmas lights switch on, music and entertainment on the Greatest Hits Radio Stage, an amazing Drone Light Show (Saturday), Street Theatre, late night opening, fringe events around town, Fair Ground and of course Santa will be turning up. 

December

Krampus Run – 7^th & 8^th December 2024 – The Krampus is a fearsome horned creature who accompanies Saint Nicholas on his rounds, with the Saint giving presents to good children in parts of Europe on December 5th, the eve of his feast day; the Krampus punishes the naughty ones…

Boxing Day Dip– 26^th December 2024 – 10am meet, 10.30 Dip – Whitby Lion’s Boxing Day Dip is back for 2022! Are you crazy or brave enough to run into the North Sea on Boxing Day for charity?
It has become somewhat of a tradition in our beautiful little seaside town to enjoy a rather refreshing dip in the North Sea on Boxing Day morning. It’s certainly a unique and memorable experience that will raise lots of money for local charities. Fancy dress is a must, for many dippers, with prizes available for the best! In previous years, we have had some fantastic costumes such as dinosaurs, Batman and Robin, Christmas trees and even a team of traffic cones and a fancy dress wedding proposal! Link for more information – https://whitbylionsclub.org.uk/boxing-day-dip/