Children can once again send their letters to Father Christmas this year, thanks to the return of the North Pole Post Office in Harrogate.

The seasonal initiative, which is back for its fourth year, is produced by Harrogate International Festivals and funded by Harrogate BID.

Located at the Harrogate International Festivals office on Cheltenham Parade, the North Pole Post Office – Harrogate branch – has been a key festive feature in the town since 2020, with bright lights, snow flurries, Christmas music and the all-important postbox, which receives thousands of letters every year.

Visitors can download a special letter and message from Father Christmas via the Harrogate International Festivals website or by scanning the QR code located next to the post box.

Matthew Chapman, Harrogate BID manager, said:

“Harrogate BID are thrilled to be sponsoring the North Pole Post Office again in 2023.

“It is a superb attraction that adds to the Christmas offer in Harrogate. It brings so many families into the town during the festive season and has become an annual tradition for many.

“Harrogate is sure set for another great Christmas period with so many great things to do and see, thanks to a host of different organisations all working together.”

The North Pole Post Office is one of the key features in the town’s Christmas campaign this year, alongside the Christmas lights, the Christmas Fayre, the Candy Cane Express, the ice-skating rink, the Father Christmas Experience, and the open-top bus, which is a new addition this year.

Sharon Canavar, chief executive of Harrogate International Festivals, said:

“Originally conceived during lockdown, the North Pole Post Office continues to be one of our favourite community events. A free-for-all-the-family opportunity, and perfect for the festive pictures, the lights, snow and festive music all surrounding this very special post office bring lots of footfall to this side of town at all times of day.”

Read more:

• Father Christmas postal service returns, thanks to hospital charity
• Christmas Markets: a guide to the Harrogate district
• Stray Ferret Christmas Appeal 2023: ‘They make you smile despite what they’re dealing with’

A well-known figure in Harrogate’s cultural life has set herself a new challenge to support a cause close to her heart.

Sharon Canavar, chief executive of Harrogate International Festivals, is aiming to complete the Great North Run to raise money for the Stroke Association.

She has chosen the charity after leading Harrogate businessman David Simister suffered a life-changing stroke in early March.

Having set a target of £1,500, she is already more than a third of the way there, just 24 hours after setting up her fundraising page – and said she hopes to raise even more before the event in September.

Sharon said:

“David is so well-loved. He was involved in so much and really cared about everything he worked on. Particularly over the pandemic, he was great with keeping the show on the road.

“I don’t think I’ve met anyone with a bad word to say about him.”

After growing up in Harrogate and attending Ashville College, Mr Simister trained as a journalist before founding Different PR with former schoolmate Richard Chew.

As well as working with a number of high-profile clients, he was heavily involved with Harrogate District Chamber of Commerce and became its chief executive in 2021. He has stepped back from his current roles as a result of his illness.

Sharon Canavar in green next to David Simister and the HIF team

Having done the Great North Run three times previously, Sharon said it will be emotional running for a close business connection and personal friend.

She has not run regularly since suffering an injury during the covid pandemic, and credits the Harrogate Town Running Group with getting her back to training to be ready for the Great North Run.

However, she has the small matter of HIF’s busiest few weeks of the year to get through first.

The summer season was launched at the weekend, with the flagship Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival scheduled for two weeks’ time.

This year’s events also include a children’s festival on July 15 and 16, and the Harrogate Carnival on July 30, which falls just six weeks before the run.

Sharon said:

“Running is quite good for stress relief. It’s good to get out and go for a stomp and work things through in my mind.

“David has been such a key part of my personal and festivals life, it’s really giving me the motivation to keep going and raise as much as possible to support him and other people affected by strokes.”

To support Sharon’s fundraising for the Stroke Association, click here.

Historical novelist Robert Harris, SAS hero Chris Ryan and broadcaster and political commentator, Iain Dale, have added their names to the line up of speakers at this year’s Raworths Harrogate Literature Festival.

They are the latest headline names that have agreed to appear at the celebration of books, which is being held between October 20 and October 23, at the Harrogate’s Crown Hotel.

Other names already announced include the 8th Earl of Harewood David Lascelles, Antiques Roadshow expert Ronnie Archer-Morgan, broadcaster Sarfraz Manzoor, The Great British Dig co-presenter Dr Chloë Duckworth, and broadcaster and TV presenter Nihal Arthanayake.

Commencing with a literary lunch staring Countdown’s Susie Dent, this year will see 23 names appearing on the Raworths stage.

Bringing the curtain down at the end of the four-day event is Fatherland author, Robert Harris, who has had many of his novels adapted for TV or film, including Enigma, which starred Kate Winslet, and Archangel featuring Daniel Craig.

He will be talking about his latest thrilling novel, Act of Oblivion – set in 1660 after the restoration of the monarchy — with BBC Radio Four’s Mark Lawson.

Read more:

• Countdown’s Susie Dent among speakers at Harrogate literary festival
• New music festival to mark composer’s link to Nidderdale village

Iain Dale’s latest book, On This Day in History, charts the main events of the last few hundred years, with one event per page, per day.

He will be joined on stage by former LBC stablemate and festival regular, Matt Stadlen, as the pair take a journey through Britain’s political history, told in 365 events.

Former SAS corporal, Chris Ryan will talk about how his own experiences have influenced his writing.

Sharon Canavar, chief executive of Harrogate International Festivals, which produces and curates the event, said:

“The latest names added to this year’s roll call, Robert Harris, Chris Ryan and Iain Dale, are all best sellers in their own right and need no introduction, and the
quality of speakers is a testament to the ever-rising prominence of this annual literature festival.”

Further information about the festival is available here.

Countdown’s Susie Dent, the 8th Earl of Harewood David Lascelles, Antiques Roadshow expert Ronnie Archer-Morgan, veteran broadcaster Peter Snow and former president of the Supreme Court, Lady Hale, are amongst the guest speakers headlining at the 10th anniversary year of Raworths Harrogate Literature Festival 2022.

They will be joined over the course of the four days by British philosopher and author Prof AC Grayling, The Great British Dig’s Dr Chloe Duckworth, writer and theatre maker Stella Duffy, political journalist Otto English, and novelist and playwright Stephen May.

Produced by Harrogate International Festivals, the literary event is being held between Thursday, October 20 and Sunday, October 23 at the town’s Crown Hotel.

This is the tenth year that Harrogate law firm Raworths has been the headline sponsor.

Beginning with a literary lunch starring lexicographer Susie Dent, best known for her role in Dictionary Corner on Channel 4’s Countdown and 8 Out of 10 Cat Does Countdown, the festival continues with a programme of author interviews, panel discussions, book signings, a yoga workshop and a pop-up Waterstones bookshop.

Other speakers adding their name to the line up include political news correspondent Carole Walker and BBC Radio 4 producer and journalist Phil Tinline, who will join a panel to discuss what’s next for British politics.

Read more:

• Harrogate man ‘running the date’ of the month each day for mental health fund
• New music festival to mark composer’s link to Nidderdale village

One of the country’s leading psychotherapists and author of Sunday Times Best Seller Ten to Zen, Owen O’Kane will be joined by psychiatrist and psychotherapist Penelope Campling to examine how covid has affected our mental health.

Harrogate International Festivals chief executive Sharon Canavar said:

“Over the years, this four-day event has grown in stature and importance, and has rightly claimed its place as one of the country’s leading literature festivals. As ever, we are incredibly grateful to our sponsors, Raworths solicitors, who have been our partner in this event for a decade.”

Simon Morris, from Raworths solicitors, said:

“This is one of the premier literary festivals in the UK, and we are delighted once again to have our name associated with this wonderful four-day celebration of books and writing.”

Further information about the festival is available here.

Harrogate’s skies have been ablaze with long-awaited sunshine this week.

And the heat is set to continue when the ‘The Fire and Light Experience – a trail of blaze and brilliance through the Valley Gardens’ begins its three-day run tonight.

Sharon Canavar, chief executive of event organisers Harrogate International Festivals, told the Stray Ferret:

“We are so excited to be back to running events, especially something on this scale.

“It has been tremendously difficult for the last two years due to the many restrictions, but as we approach this weekend with the sun shining and flowers in bloom, to be producing something so special in the Vallely Gardens is really exciting!”

Here is a brief guide to the trail to help you enjoy Harrogate International Festivals’ first big event of the year.

Who is organising the event?

Harrogate International Festivals has teamed up with outdoor events company Culture Creative for the event, which is being part-funded by Harrogate Borough Council and Harrogate Business Improvement District.

What can I expect to see?

Visitors will be able to see “mythical creatures, fire performers and captivating displays of fire and light”, according to HIF. Harrogate — a destination famed for water — will bring “all the elements of nature alive; earth, air, water and fire in a spectacle of brilliance and blaze”.

Will it be similar to Cie Carabosse Fire Garden event in Valley Gardens in 2016? 

Ms Canavar said:

“Carabosse was an event in 2016 especially produced to celebrate our 50^th Anniversary.

“Whilst this event does have some fiery spectacles, this is very much about celebrating nature around us with lights and flame and we’re thrilled to be working with a fantastic company called Culture Creative who create amazing arts installations from Blenheim and Kew to locations around the world.”

Read More: 

• Harrogate’s Valley Gardens to host spectacular fire and light show
• Malcolm Neesam History: The Sun Pavilion and Colonnade, Valley Gardens

When does it take place?

The event starts tonight and takes place over three evenings until Saturday, from 6.30pm until 10.30pm.

Where does it take place?

It takes place at the lower end of Harrogate’s Valley Gardens, with entrance to the event via the main access to the gardens, located by the Royal Pump Room Museum.

Will I still be able to access the Valley Gardens during the day?

HIF has taken a license of the Valley Gardens, so whilst people can wander through and see the build process throughout the day, each evening the lower area of Valley Gardens will be turned into a ticketed event space.

Are there still tickets available?

Most of the earlier time slots have gone, however there are tickets left for most of the later times.

How much are tickets? 

Tickets for the event are priced at £12 for adults, £6 for 5 to 16-year-olds, and under-fives go free. You can buy tickets here.

What type of footwear is suitable?

Visitors are advised to wear sturdy shoes, as the trail takes place on natural paths covering areas of uneven ground and variable terrain.

Can I take photographs?

Photographs are allowed and visitors are encouraged to share images on social media using the hashtag #HIFfireandlight.

Will there be refreshments available to purchase?

There is no food and drink available on site as it is hoped people will use the event as an opportunity to experience “the great food and drink” offer available across Harrogate.

The chief executive of Harrogate International Festivals has vented her frustration after banners promoting a major event were promptly removed by North Yorkshire County Council.

Yesterday was the first day of the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival, which attracts hundreds of crime writing fans to Harrogate.

The four-day festival, which is attended this year by the likes of Ian Rankin and Richard Osman, is one of the first events since the pandemic that the arts charity has been able to full stage.

So Sharon Canavar was less than impressed by what she regarded as a lack of support from the county council after numerous banners put up across town on Wednesday were removed by midday yesterday,

Ms Canavar tweeted:

“When you put your banners up welcoming guests to Harrogate last night and North Yorkshire County Council are snipping them down before midday this am. How come everyone else gets away with it for weeks?

“Don’t have time to follow him round to get them back for use this weekend. So £s wasted. Great, like this gig isn’t hard enough at the moment.”

The events industry has been hit hard during the pandemic. Large events are only just beginning to go ahead as lockdown restrictions ease.

Ms Canavar said last month it was nerve wracking making decisions on events due to the uncertainty of the roadmap out of lockdown.

Read more:

• The Prime Minister has welcomed the news that the Convention Centre has hosted it first events post-pandemic
• Harrogate town centre mural takes shape

The county council said it supported local events, especially after the pandemic, but road safety was paramount.

Melisa Burnham, highways area manager, said:

“Banners attached to barriers or fencing beside the highway can create a safety hazard. At such locations, banners can distract drivers and other road users or obstruct visibility.

“We assess the risks before taking action to remove such banners, and high-risk areas such as those mentioned are prioritised.

“If event organisers contact the highways office, we will always be happy to advise them.”