Harrogate Convention Centre is preparing for seven major exhibitions set to bring thousands of visitors to the town and generate an estimated £10.5 million for the local economy.
The busy schedule follows another successful Home & Gift Buyers' Festival in July, which welcomed thousands of retail buyers and exhibitors to Harrogate over four days.
The next event on the calendar is Harrogate Fashion Week, which runs from 2nd to 4th August.
Launched in 2018, the twice-yearly trade show has grown significantly and now features more than 300 womenswear, lifestyle, footwear and accessory brands. Organisers say this summer's edition will be the largest yet, following a record February event that attracted 1,700 visitors - a 7.5% increase on the previous year.
Georgia Flynn, Event Director of Harrogate Fashion Week, said:
"We're delighted to be returning to Harrogate this summer. The February edition was a tremendous success and the momentum we've seen since means we're on course to deliver our largest show yet.
"There's something special about bringing exhibitors and buyers together in person, giving them the opportunity to discover new collections, build relationships and do business face to face. Harrogate provides the perfect backdrop, combining a welcoming atmosphere with a destination that our exhibitors, buyers and brands genuinely enjoy returning to season after season."
Harrogate Convention Centre's autumn programme includes a mix of trade and public events:
- Harrogate Fashion Week (2-4 August)
- Bridal Week Harrogate (13-15 September)
- The Flooring Show (20-22 September)
- Harrogate International Nursery Fair (18-20 October)
- Northern Homebuilding and Renovating Show (30 October-1 November)
- Thought Bubble Comic Convention (14-15 November)
- Knit + Stitch (19-22 November)
Together, the exhibitions are expected to attract tens of thousands of exhibitors and visitors from across the UK, providing a significant boost for hotels, restaurants, bars and shops across Harrogate and North Yorkshire.
Simon Cotton, Managing Director of Fat Badger Group, said:
"What we've seen this summer with large-scale events such as Home & Gift is exactly why Harrogate's events calendar matters so much. These aren't just visitors passing through for a few hours.
"They're exhibitors staying multiple nights, buyers booking business lunches, badge-wearing delegates filling coffee shops between meetings, and visitors making a weekend of it while enjoying the town's restaurants, bars and attractions.
"The upcoming exhibitions will continue that momentum beyond the summer holiday season, bringing the kind of consistent footfall and spending that allows hospitality businesses to plan with confidence and benefits far more than the venues themselves.
"When the Convention Centre is busy, the economic impact spreads right across the town, and that's invaluable for the local economy."
Jamila Bray, Head of Venue Sales and Marketing at Harrogate Convention Centre, added:
"From trade fairs to public exhibitions and comic conventions, Harrogate's event calendar offers something for everyone.
"We are delighted to see these exhibitions return to Harrogate each year, launching new programmes, taking up new spaces and attracting ever-growing crowds from all around the UK and beyond.
"We are also grateful to the wonderful local hospitality businesses from hotels to restaurants, bars and independent shops that make Harrogate such a lovely and welcoming destination to visit.
"Event tourism is a crucial part of the visitor economy of Harrogate and North Yorkshire, and we are proud to be part of it."
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