Thursday footfall in Ripon has increased by almost a third during a programme of free live music and family entertainment in the city centre.
Early figures released by Ripon City Council show 76,142 visits were recorded across four comparable Thursdays this summer, up from 58,191 on the equivalent dates in 2025.
That represents an increase of 17,951 visits, or 30.8 per cent.
The figures coincide with the council's Market Day Melodies programme, which brings free live music to Ripon Marketplace between 11am and 2pm every Thursday throughout July and August.
Free children's face painting is also being offered during school holiday Thursdays.
Footfall across the two school holiday Thursdays was 41.3 per cent higher than on the comparable dates last year.
Average dwell time on Thursdays also increased from one hour and seven minutes to two hours and 30 minutes – a rise of 124 per cent.
Ripon City Council said overall daily footfall across the week was also up by 14 per cent.
The Mayor of Ripon, Councillor Andrew Williams, said:
“We made this investment for a very clear reason: to give people another reason to choose Ripon on a Thursday, enjoy the market and then spend time exploring the shops, cafés and businesses around it.
“These early results are genuinely encouraging. Footfall across the comparable Thursdays is up by 31%, and the figures indicate that visitors are also staying much longer.
“We cannot say that any one event explains every visit, but the results strongly suggest that creating a welcoming and lively atmosphere in the Marketplace is helping Ripon’s traditional Market Day work harder for the whole city centre.
“The Council would like to thank the musicians, market traders, local businesses and everyone who has supported and enjoyed Market Day Melodies this summer.”
The figures were supplied by Ripon BID's footfall data provider and adjusted to exclude Great Yorkshire Show week from both years to allow a fairer comparison.
The increase comes against a national decline in high street visits, with the British Retail Consortium reporting UK high street footfall fell by 3.8 per cent year-on-year during its July monitoring period.
Market Day Melodies began on Thursday 2nd July and has featured performers including The Cherry Tones, roving jazz musicians, a harpist and local musician Freddy Cleary.
The programme continues today (Thursday 20th August) and Thursday 27th August from 11am until 2pm.
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