Visitors and residents are being given the chance to explore historical and cultural gems in the Selby area as part of a festival celebrating the town’s heritage.
And the packed programme includes free events and workshops, as well as fantastic discounts on food, drink and activities.
The Selby Residents Festival will be staged on Saturday 20 April and Sunday 21 April and will showcase the history of the area dating back centuries.
You can see all the events below.
Events and activities include behind the scenes tours of Selby Abbey as well as the chance to visit Towton Battlefield, which was the scene of what is thought to have been the bloodiest battle on English soil on Palm Sunday in 1461 during the War of the Roses.
Visitors to Carlton Towers, a stately home to the west of Selby, will also be able to have a free upgrade for high tea at the historic property.
While the festival, which is being staged for the fourth time, is aimed at allowing residents to explore attractions and venues close to home as well as attracting visitors to the area, it also benefits local enterprises by providing opportunities to showcase their businesses to the public and supports the growth of the local economy.
North Yorkshire Council’s corporate director of community development, Nic Harne, said: “We’re delighted to be bringing the Selby Residents Festival back to the area for 2024. The festival is going from strength to strength and provides a boost in business for the tourism and hospitality industry in the area.
“It’s great to show the diversity of the tourism offer in the Selby area. By events such as this festival we can encourage residents to shop and visit local businesses and show how proud people are of their local area.
“In finding new ways to attract visitors and spread footfall across the county, we’re offering new opportunities to our local businesses, along with great deals to our visitors and residents alike.”
Details of offers available during the Selby Residents Festival are below, and also available at the Heart of Yorkshire website and on the Facebook page.
Businesses who want to find out more or to sign up to the Selby Residents Festival, go here.
What’s on
Activities:
- Kinsmen Activity Centre, Skipwith Common – axe throwing for the reduced price of £15 per person, usually £25 per person. Minimum booking of 4 people.
- Stillingfleet Lodge Gardens, Stillingfleet – this year the garden opens for Selby Resident’s Festival on the morning of the Sunday 21st April between 10:00 and 12:00. Admission will be just £3 per person.
- The Barn, Tadcaster – SkateBarn, 20th April between 11am and 5pm.
- The Skylark, Drax – explore a unique ecological setting, see a wealth of wildlife species in their natural environment. Visiting families will receive a pack of nature-based activities to complete including word search, nature scavenger hunt, ‘see, hear smell’, mini beast identification etc. Open Saturday and Sunday.
- The Painting Pot, Selby – receive a 10% discount for Selby residents when you make a booking at the painting studio. Also, offer of ‘Paint Your Heart Out’ – painting hanging ceramic hearts for a discounted rate of £6 each over the course of the weekend.
- History/Heritage walk, Selby – join our knowledgeable guide, David Lewis for a guided walk entitled the ‘Minor Pleasures of Selby’ – a stroll around some of Selby’s less well-known heritage sites, their architectural and heritage value and ‘listed’ buildings. Operating both Saturday 20th and Sunday 21st April.
- Selby Superbowl – Game of bowling for £5 for one person on either the Saturday or Sunday of the festival
- Sherburn and Villages Community Library – On Saturday 20th April between 10am and noon, enjoy a family friendly Saturday morning and make your own postcard from your town/village or add a personalised heart to the community celebration tree!
- Sherburn Heritage Walk – On Sunday 21st April meet at the Old Girls’ School in Sherburn in Elmet for a FREE leisurely circular walking tour of local landmarks and heritage by the Chair of the Sherburn History Society. The walk will last around 2 hours and is primarily on pavements and refreshments will be available at the end of the walk. Although free please book your space on the walk in advance by going here https://www.eventbrite.com/e/sherburn-heritage-walk-tickets-880858440307.
Food and Drink:
- The Drovers Arms, Skipwith – special locally sourced fixed price menu available on Saturday 20th April.
- Harmony House, Garden Room, Stillingfleet – Afternoon Tea for 2 for £38 on Saturday 20th and Sunday 21st April.
- The Greyhound, Ricall – Saturday 20th, any main meal on the Resident menu is 2 for £15. Sunday 21st, try the home-made Sunday lunch and get a free dessert with any regular plate.
- Carlton Towers – book an afternoon tea in our staterooms and be upgraded to a FREE High Tea. High Tea includes traditional English afternoon tea, a selection of savouries and pastries, plus a glass of fizz. Special price of £28.00 per person.
- Burro restaurant, Riccall – special set menu available from 12 noon until 5pm on both Saturday 20th and Sunday 21st April. 2 courses for £22 per person or 3 courses for £26 per person. Also, buy one get one free on the special drinks menu from 3pm to 5pm both days.
- Fairfax Distillers and Chocolatiers – purchase a 70cl bottle of Fairfax Spirit and receive £10 worth of Fairfax Chocolates added to your order free of charge. All orders must be place via www.fairfaxdistillery.co.uk over the weekend of the festival and the words ‘Selby Residents Weekend’ must be written in the message box.
- Downstairs @ River Mills – coffee and cake for £5 per person on Saturday 20th and Sunday 21st April – offer excludes extras such as syrups, cream etc.
Shopping
- Simply Devine hat shop, Tadcaster – Receive a personal hat experience, including advice about how to wear a hat and receive a £10 discount against any hat or hatinator purchase (excluding fascinators).
- The Book Circle, Selby – local author and transport historian Patrick Bennett will be signing copies of his highly popular ‘Railways Around Selby’ and his new book ‘Joint Railways: Scotland and Northern England’ at The Book Circle, 21 Finkle Street from 10.00-12.00.
- RSPCA, Selby – local charity supporting the York Animal Home in caring for animals in the local area. Window display for the weekend focusing on Selby, and raffles for locals to win. One would feature prizes for dogs, one for cats, and one for their human owners. We will also be giving treats to all our doggy visitors and will have leaflets detailing good walks and dog friendly spaces in Selby.
Experiences
- The Dovecote Barns, Kelfield – Sunday 21st April 2024 between 2pm and 5pm. View ‘The Long Hall’, Dovecote Barns’ celebration venue for intimate celebrations
- Selby Abbey – behind the scenes tower towers. Guided Tours of the Central Tower (including ringing room, clock room, bell room and the view from the top – weather permitting) for a reduced price of £5 per person.
- Selby Leisure Centre – 7 days of unlimited access to Swimming, gym, sauna and group exercise classes (All bookable in advance, +14yrs for gym/class access)
- Tadcaster Leisure Centre – 7 days of unlimited access to Swimming, gym, sauna and group exercise classes (All bookable in advance, +14yrs for gym/class access)
- Sherburn Aero Club – Saturday 20th April at 1pm. ‘Operations and History of the airfield’ presentation and tour of the airfield. Followed by 10% discount on refreshments for attendees and 10% discount voucher on experience flight bookings for attendees.
Farmers market – Saturday 20th April ONLY:
- Friendly Bakes – for all purchases over £5 receive a free shortbread star biscuit. For all purchases over £10 receive a free piece of cake. While stocks last!
- House of Plants – Pick your plant, Pick your pot! A locally-owned independent business selling high quality house plants along with a variety of premium pots. Receive free, expert advice on caring for house plants from a Plant Science specialist.
- Melts and More – for all purchases over £10 receive 10% off or a free sample bag of a new scent
- MI Honey – receive a 10% discount on all our beehive products, including Borage Honey, Heather Honey, Summer Honey, Soft set Honey, Beeswax candles
- 23rd Street Food Company – for all purchases over £10 receive a free cookie – while stocks last!
- Caffe Aperitivo – free Cake Pop with all drink purchases (while stocks last) – choose from Pink Chocolate & Berry, White Chocolate & Caramel or Chocolate & Hazelnut
- Neal’s Yard Remedies – sample some of the organic skin and body care from the first beauty brand to be carbon neutral. Anyone making a purchase in April via www.nyrorganic.com/shop/sarahrodgers will save 15% on Lavender Body Lotion and De-Stress essential oil blend. These products are not available on the high street!
- Latin Fusion – receive extra additional items or a takeaway kit when you spend £20
Remember that for some of the attractions, tours and events, you may need to pre-book. Some venues have limited tickets and operate on a first come, first served basis. Please check the details for each offer carefully.