The society is made up of members from nearby villages in Wharfdale, from farming folk to solicitors, youngsters to octogenarians. The group was created in 1923 when William Walker held the first meeting and has entertained audiences in the Yorkshire Dales, usually in the main hall or the Octagon of the Devonshire Institute (Town hall) in Grassington. The wide variety of around 200 performances have more recently included: Waiting for Godot, The Cracked Pot, Slim Chance, Lord Arthur Savilles Crime and the ‘world premiere’, amateur performance of the Calendar Girls, to name just a few. The Calendar Girls was difficult for the cast as many knew the real characters giving the play much greater significance to them.

There is also a proud record of success in competition, with outright wins in both local and Welsh Drama Festivals. In recent years, the Grassington Players have gained immense popular appeal nationally with their pre-Christmas Dickensian productions coinciding with the festivities in the village on December Saturdays.

Grassington Players have donated several thousands of pounds to worthy charities over the years. In 1942, £700 had been given to various charities by the Players. By 1947 that had risen to over £1000 and by 2006 at least £30,000, with the Players consistently raising in excess of £1000 per annum; no mean feat for an amateur theatre group in a rural location.

By Cathy Parry

Cathy Parry is the owner of two holiday cottages set alongside the picturesque River Wharfe. You can view them on her website www.riversidegrassington.co.uk and connect via Facebook www.facebook.com/RiversideGrassington.

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September 2013

Have a short break at Riverside or River View and enjoy a weekend to remember in Grassington, as well as a time to rekindle treasured memories.

The weekend starts on Friday evening in the Town Hall with an evening of entertainment provided by Burnsall Empire Players followed by a Lindy Hop with Shack Shakin’ Jack.

On Saturday and Sunday take a stroll around the village and cobbled streets while listening to the sounds of Paul Harper, Jane Francis, Mickey Ramsbottom and the Alka Seltzer Sisters and others.

Sit inside the cockpit of a full size replica MK1 Spitfire, sponsored by Cottages4you. Wander down to the Vintage Market , inspect the Military Displays and Re-enactor Camps.

Look out for the BBMF flypast featuring a Hurricane and a Spitfire.

There is a Tea Dance in the Town Hall on Saturday and Sunday from 2.00 – 4.00pm.

Saturday evening features Echo 42 Big Band, (by popular demand) with supper included.
(Tickets are required for all dance events, book early to avoid disappointment)

This year’s 1940′s weekend is to include:
Royal British Legion Skipton Band
A full size replica Spitfire Mk1 in Grassington Square
West Yorkshire Austin / Classic Car Club parked around the village

Re-enactor camps and displays in YDNP Car Park to include:
A large selection of Vintage Military Vehicles
Fox Commando Royal Navy and Combined Operations Unit
American encampment
German 21st Panzer Div LHG
German 1st Kompanie GD
Russian 13th Guards ‘Poltavaskaya’ Rifle Division
West Riding 28th Battalion Home Guard – ‘C’ Company
Some displays will include pyrotechnics.

Vintage Market Stalls
Paintball and Rifle Ranges

What’s the cost to the public for all this entertainment (excluding the dances & cockpit visit)?
£6 per car for the park & ride in a 1940′s Vintage Bus from Threshfield Quarry
Parking in the Hebden Road YDNP car park is for disabled only.

Contact info@grassington1940sweekend.co.uk for more information.

By Cathy Parry

Cathy Parry is the owner of two holiday cottages set alongside the picturesque River Wharfe. You can view them on her website www.riversidegrassington.co.uk and connect via Facebook www.facebook.com/RiversideGrassington.

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What a fantastic base or stopping point as part of a touring holiday. Exploring The Yorkshire Dales by bicycle gives you the opportunity to either use the network of minor roads or for the more adventurous the ‘green lanes’, byways and bridleways -there are over 800 km (500 miles) with some testing climbs and challenging descents.

This is the ideal way to discover the beauty of the Yorkshire Dales as well as having the opportunity to visit the array of local tea rooms and public houses to savour well-earned homemade cakes and perhaps a pint of locally brewed beer. This is the place for all abilities with the option of riding on the valley bottoms perhaps as a family group or for the more experienced rider that extra challenge of the Yorkshire Dales Cycle Way 210km (130miles). (The National Parks Authority along with North Yorkshire County Council is undertaking the re-signing of the route showing their commitment to encouraging cycling).

The Tour de France 2014

What an exciting time to enjoy cycling at whatever pace you choose, including being a spectator. The first two stages of the world’s awe inspiring road cycling race, the Tour de France, will be visiting the Yorkshire Dales National Park in July 2014. The sponsor vans travel the route ahead of the cyclists handing out a wide variety of freebies and offering miles of entertainment in anticipation of the ‘main event’. The crowds will be buzzing and the atmosphere electric. This will be something very special and an opportunity you don’t want to miss. Securing this event has taken a lot of hard work and commitment by a team of dedicated people led by Welcome to Yorkshire. Showcasing this wonderful part of the country to the rest of the world the Tour goes through Threshfield literally minutes from Grassington village. Consequently, there couldn’t be a better time or place to visit.

By Cathy Parry

Cathy Parry is the owner of two holiday cottages set alongside the picturesque River Wharfe. You can view them on her website www.riversidegrassington.co.uk and connect via Facebook www.facebook.com/RiversideGrassington.

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The Grassington Festival Team are delighted to announce that local brewers, Richard and Carole Eyton-Jones of the Dark Horse Brewery in Wharfedale, have produced a fabulous creamy Yorkshire Ale, especially for Grassington Festival.  FestivAle is 4% ABV.

Housed in an old laithe, Dark Horse Brewery can produce up to 12,000 pints a week.  Distribution of their flagship beer, Hetton Pale Ale, which won the coveted title of Yorkshire’s Perfect Pint in the TV series of the same name, is mainly found within a 20 mile radius of the brewery.

Richard says, “the pure Yorkshire water is drawn from the brewery’s own bore hole and even the waste that’s produced is used in a sustainable way to feed a reed bed system, which in turn is home to a rich variety of plants and animals.”  Only top quality English malts and the finest hops are used to produce their distinctive and popular beers.

FestivAle will go on sale on Saturday 1st June, 2013 and will be available to try in pubs up and down the Dale, including those in Grassington, The Angel at Hetton, The Clarendon at Hebden and The Fountaine at Linton.

So why not sit back and enjoy a well-earned pint after one of our Festival walks?  Or after our Wild Food Foraging Masterclass with celebrity forager Chris Bax, from BBC Countryfile, at Grassington House Hotel? For more information or to book tickets to this fabulous event, click on http://www.grassington-festival.org.uk/events/masterclass-wild-food-foraging-with-chris-bax/

Participating pubs are generously donating proceeds to the Festival.  So you can enjoy a fabulous Yorkshire pint whilst supporting your favourite Yorkshire festival!  If you are one of the many that will experience this new delightful beer, then we’d love to hear your comments.

By Cathy Parry

Cathy Parry is the owner of two holiday cottages set alongside the picturesque River Wharfe.  You can view them on her website www.riversidegrassington.co.uk and connect via Facebook www.facebook.com/RiversideGrassington.

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• ladies and gents fashion shops for all ages and tastes
• a dress agency, which also specialises in hiring evening wear, prom dresses and hats
• outdoor shops stocking a wide range of walking, camping, cycling and running gear
• delightful book shops
• traditional sweet shops
• newsagent which also sell lottery tickets
• an array of linen and gift shops selling an imaginative selection of gifts
• an off licence selling a comprehensive range of beverages
• a mini supermarket
• a delicious deli, which sells amongst other delights fantastic sandwiches
• a bakery with breads and naughty but very nice cakes and confectionary
• a local butcher selling prime cuts, including locally sourced meats
• a hardware shop selling everything you might need from pets foods to oven gloves
• florists to treat yourself and those you love
•  a very friendly post office with a wide selection of greetings cards and gifts as well as a free cash machine
• a range of friendly and welcoming churches
• cafes to suit everyone’s tastes and pockets
• pubs with fine ales and wines
• restaurants serving wonderful food ranging from traditional English meals to the more exotic, as well as one providing cookery courses
• a library and information centre
• a bank with free cash machine
• a garage and petrol station in nearby Threshfield
• leisure facilities including gym and pool 1 mile away at Long Ashes
• This is all on your doorstep as well as:
• a doctors
• dentists
• fire station
• ambulance station
• post depot
• schools and pre-schools
• Of course these are just the basics. There a myriad of social events you can be involved in including:
• weekly pub quiz nights
• meetings of different societies….too many to mention both during the day and evenings
• groups for children and young people
• movie nights in the town hall
• productions starring the Grassington Players
• annual pantomime
• Grassington festival
• Dickensian weekends

You can do as much or as little as you want. It’s all here……..just enjoy.

By Cathy Parry

Cathy Parry is the owner of two holiday cottages set alongside the picturesque River Wharfe. You can view them on her website www.riversidegrassington.co.uk and connect via Facebook www.facebook.com/RiversideGrassington.

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Grassington Festival is a fortnight of exciting events for all the family. It has now been running for 33 years and in that time has provided some outstanding entertainment from high class artists.

Previous artist have included Billy Ocean and Alan Davis. This year they include Jules Holland and Jack Dee. But this isn’t just about bringing performers to Grassington but also about showcasing some of the exceptional local talent, for instance last year Skipton Girls’ High School Chamber Choir and Bradford Grammar School Concert Band entertained crowds. The unique combination of performances, live music and visual arts means no one will leave our beautiful village disappointed.

Every year during the last two weeks of June, Grassington is a cultural haven, which not only provides concerts and a range of performances including, dance, music, street theater and workshops but also walks, talks and creative challenges. Events take place in the large marquee, town hall, local pubs, churches and streets.  This year (2013) the two weeks are themed around the weather with an opening parade of umbrellas and the town hall transformed into a feast of weather. The festival team listen to audiences and in response this year are providing a classical tour with a rich and varied program of classical music as well as the wonderful Black Dyke Brass Band. The local community takes great pride in being involved and endeavors to give everyone a chance to learn something new, enjoy something familiar and be actively involved in a fantastic fortnight. There is something for everyone and to suit every pocket. Don’t miss out on a sensational two weeks of entertainment in one of the most beautiful parts of the country.

By Cathy Parry

Cathy Parry is the owner of two holiday cottages set alongside the picturesque River Wharfe. You can view them on her website www.riversidegrassington.co.uk and connect via Facebook www.facebook.com/RiversideGrassington.

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