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 – February 10^th – 12^th 2023 – 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 February 10^th – March 5^th 2023 – 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.

BRSA National Scooter Rally Weekend  – 30^th – 31^st March 2024 (TBC)- 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

April 

Easter Weekend  – 6^th – 9^th April 2022

70’s Festival – 21^st – 22^nd April 2023 – 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.

Whitby Goth Weekend –28^th – 30^th April 2023– 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 – 1^st May, 6^th May (Kings Coronation Day)- 29^th May 2023

Ironstone American Line Dancing Weekend – TBC May 2023 – 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

Whitby Gospel Music Convention – TBC May 2023 – Christian Music event

Fish & Ships Festival – 20^th & 23^rd May 2023 – 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.

June

60’s weekend – 9^th – 11^th June 2023 – 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 – 9^th, 10^th & 11^th June 2023 – 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 – 23^rd & 24^th June 2023 – 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 – 7^th – 9^th July 2023 – 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 – 15^th & 16^th July 2023 – 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 2022 – TBC July 2023 – 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 – 21^st – 23^rd July 2023 – 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 – 27th – 30th July 2023 (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 – TBC August 2023 – 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 –12^th – 14^th August 2023– 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: 17th – 19th August 2024

Whitby Folk Week – 19^th – 26^th August 2023 – 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.

September

Motown Weekender – 8^th – 10^th September 2023 – 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 – TBC September 2023 – 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.

Catch of Comedians –15^th September 2023 – Welcome to the Laughing Lobster Comedy Club, bringing some of the best live stand-ups of the north to Whitby. After a series of successful shows in and around Whitby, we’re hosting our biggest and best night so far: four incredible acts will be performing live at the iconic Coliseum.

60’s weekend – 22^nd – 24^th September 2023 – 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 – 30^th September & 1^st October 2023 – 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

NYMR 1940s Weekend – TBA October 2023 – Over the three-day event families can hop on board steam and heritage diesel trains and relive the amazing spirit and camaraderie of World War II, whilst enjoying various war-themed entertainment and vehicle displays at stations along the iconic North Yorkshire Moors Railway line. Each station will be transformed to create a variety of scenarios and performances including a wartime street, ‘The Sidings’, at Pickering, Home Guard demonstrations at Goathland and RAF themed Grosmont. Levisham station will see a celebration of Victory in Europe which will include 1940s style show bands, music acts, dance troupes and much more. Click the link to see what’s on and when.

Illuminated Abbey – TBC October 2023 – 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.

Whitby Goth Weekend – 27^th – 29^th October 2023 – 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 – TBC November 2023 – 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 – TBC November 2023 – 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 – 3^rd & 4^th December 2022 – 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 2022 – 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/