Families are being reminded there is still time to book a place at Ripon's annual Summer FunFest, which returns next week.
The free event will take place on Wednesday 19th August from 10am until 4pm, moving to a new venue at Ripon Cricket Club on Studley Road for 2026.
Children and young people up to the age of 18 are invited to take part, with around 280 places already booked.
David Ingham, a director of Ripon Together, which organises the event, said:
“So far 280 have booked their place and we still have room for more, but they must book in advance.
“Children under the age of 11 must be accompanied by a parent or carer.”
Activities will include messy play, drawing and crafts provided by The Imagination Centre, alongside circus skills, face painting, volleyball, football, table tennis and rounders.
There will also be a large inflatable obstacle course, while Beckie Winter from Yorkshire Cricket Foundation will lead cricket coaching.
Volunteers from organisations including Rotary Club Ripon Rowels, Ripon Community House, Holy Trinity Church, Ripon's Migrant Families and Ripon Grammar School will help supervise activities throughout the day.
Ripon musician Matt Pritchard is organising live music, while wood-fired pizzas and Brymoor ice cream will be available to buy. Families are also welcome to bring their own picnics.
The event began as the Summer of Play in 2021 in response to the impact of the Covid pandemic on children and young people.
David said:
“With the backing of the Ripon Together board, Simon Hewitt and I started the Summer of Play in 2021, as a response to Covid restrictions the previous year, as we recognised that many children had missed out on socialising with their friends, being outside, playing games and sports.
“The Summer FunFest, as it is now known, has continued every year since and involved many local sports clubs, who have all given their time and the use of their facilities free of charge.
“Ripon Together provides as much as it can and we rely on local funding, donations and volunteers.”
This year's event has been funded by Ripon Together and the locality budgets of North Yorkshire councillors Andrew Williams and Barbara Brodigan.
Support and donations have also come from Ripon Cricket Club, The Imagination Centre, Morrisons, M&S Food, Tesco and Matt Pritchard Music.
Ripon BID manager Lilla Bathurst said:
“Events of this nature, including the St Wilfrid’s Procession, Ripon Theatre Festival, Poppy Project displays throughout the year and the Pig Cup charity football tournament organised by the Portly Pig, are made possible because our child-friendly city, has community-minded businesses and individuals, who work together and make the Cathedral City of the Dales a very special place to live, work in and visit.”
Places at Summer FunFest are free but must be booked in advance here.
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