Looking for FREE or low cost activities aimed at families over the Easter holidays? Here are some events in Harrogate, Knaresborough, Ripon and a little further afield for those that can travel.
You can also download a listing here (PDF)
Ripon Walled Garden Easter Fun Day – Tuesday 8th April
10am til midday. Get hands-on with biscuit decorating, painting your own Easter decoration, making a bunny seed cup, a colouring table for little artists, Easter storytelling. This is all followed by our Easter Trail Adventure, where you will follow the trail, bring your findings back to us, and head to the shop to collect your prize! (and why not grab a treat from the cafe while you are there?) Book your place at www.riponcommunitylink.org/event/easter-fun-day
Royal Pump Rooms Museum Family FREE Day – Wednesday 9th April
Family Free Day with Make & Take event. Wednesday 9th April, 9.30 – 5pm. Free entry into the museum all day – Step into Harrogate’s Spa History, visit Europe’s strongest sulphur wells and uncover the town’s fascinating spa heritage! Also on all day in our 1842 room: free children’s crafts. Make a Shaker Tube or Castanet for a Percussion Party! https://visitharrogate.co.uk/business-directory/royal-pump-room-museum
FREE Community Cycle Day at Willow Tree – Wednesday 9th April
‘Bike futures’ will be at Willow Tree Primary School providing FREE bike maintenance. This will be on a first come first serve basis – there will be 3 mechanics who will be able to service around 40-50 bikes during the day.
‘I want to ride my bike’ will also be providing FREE learn to cycle sessions. These need to be booked in advance on a first come first serve basis. To request a place, please complete the form attached and return to admin@willowtree.nsat.org.uk by Wednesday 5th April 2025 at the latest. You will receive an email confirming if you have a space by Friday 7th April. Parents need to stay during their child’s session and remain responsible for their children at all times. Please ensure you request the correct session for your child and complete the form below to the best of your knowledge as classes can only run successfully if the child is in the correct class for their ability.
Woodlands Methodist Church Easter in the Garden – Saturday 12th April
Saturday 12 April, 10am til 12 noon at Woodlands Methodist Church Community Garden on Wetherby Road. Follow the family friendly trail telling the Easter story. Collect a foiled mini egg at the end! Refreshments served.
Mercer Gallery – Make & Take FREE children’s Easter crafts – Wednesday 16th April
9.30am – 4pm, FREE drop-in (donations welcome) at Mercer Art Gallery, Swan Road, Harrogate. Free children’s craft throughout the day. Make Easter cards, egg and bunny decorations! Join us and get creative.
H-A-P-P-Y at the Mercer Art Gallery – 15th April to 20th April, 9.30am – 5pm
Join us for free outdoor fun for all ages in Crescent Gardens. Outside, enjoy a large-scale ‘Twister-inspired’ game on the grass. Inside the Mercer Art Gallery, Liz West’s immersive installation features hundreds of vibrant reflective discs, creating a dazzling display of light, space, and colour https://www.northyorks.gov.uk/leisure-tourism-and-culture/museums-and-ga...
Easter Film at The Living Room, Starbeck – Wednesday 16th April
An afternoon film with a tuck shop for snacks including hot dogs and popcorn. From 3.30pm to 6pm at The Living Room in Starbeck. Book your place using the QR code on the poster attached or visit https://lifedestinychurchharrogate.churchsuite.com/events/ukhgce3p
Ripon YMCA Doodle Day for 11+ - Tuesday 15th April
Drop in between 12pm and 3pm to the YMCA Hall on Water Skellgate for this FREE session hosted by the Young Leaders of Ripon YMCA and Open Door Art. They will be making loads of different pieces including some to be displayed at youth sessions and some to take home for yourselves. Snacks and drinks provided www.facebook.com/events/3754358571496216
Ripon YMCA Puppetry Workshop for 11+ - Wednesday 16th April
Puppetry Workshop and building puppets at the YMCA Hall on Water Skellgate with Mark Edwards from Puppet Power North. A fun and playful afternoon to have a go at basic puppetry skills. They will create a simple life size puppet from paper and work in groups to make the puppet come to life. There will also be an opportunity to experiment with using muppet style puppets to develop a voice and do some lip syncing. FREE with no need to book www.facebook.com/events/595033750355401
Easter Fun Day in aid of Starbeck Christmas Lights Appeal – Saturday 19th April
12pm – 4pm at Belmont Park, Starbeck. Free entry with Easter egg hunt, races, competitions, stalls, prizes galore! Book a stall for £10. Call 07969 823753 or email starbeck.lights@gmail.com https://hadca.org.uk/events/easter-fun-day
FREE leisurely guided bike rides – Sunday 20th April
Sunday 20 April 2025, 10am and 1pm, Start and finish from the car park at Bilton Cricket Club, Harrogate. An adult-only ride in the morning and family friendly ride in the afternoon (1pm – 3pm) aimed at new and novice cyclists who would like to build up their cycling confidence and discover local cycle routes. Bikes (including disability cycles) and helmets are free to borrow. For more information and to book visit https://hadca.org.uk/events/free-leisurely-guided-bike-rides-sunday-20-a...
The Kingfisher Kiosk @ Conyngham Hall, Knaresborough
Games, pitch & putt, crazy golf, a tennis court, children’s activities & more, all available for a small donation. Homemade cake, hot and cold sandwiches to buy plus lots of seating and a great area for kids to play. Find it behind Conyngham Hall, along from Henshaws Arts & Crafts Centre. Open 9am to 4pm every day during the Easter holidays and at other times open Thursday to Sunday 9am to 4pm www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100086756349532
Ripon BID Easter Trail and Crafts
Collect your FREE trail map from the Library, Specsavers, Ripon BID office or The Little Ripon Bookshop – find the giant eggs hidden around the city for a chance to win a family ticket to Lightwater Valley. Enjoy some Easter Crafts with Ripon BID and Rascals Entertainment’s Easter bunny at the Claro Lounge on Tuesday 8th and Thursday 17th April, 10am – 2pm. £3.50 per child. Book tickets at www.rascalsentertainment.co.uk/easterevents2025
Great Knaresborough Bunny Hunt – 5th to 21st April
A lovely local, low cost activity to do with the kids over Easter. Pick up your map from the Bunny Hunt HQ on Butter Lane (the lane between Caffe Nero and Thomas the Baker) or at the Kiosk at Conyngham Hall for £5 (cash only). Bunny hunters use the map to find the bunnies all hidden in shop windows, fill in their form and hand them back in to receive a sweet treat, a sticker and entry to a daily prize draw. www.greatknaresboroughbunnyhunt.co.uk
Harrogate, Starbeck, Knaresborough & Ripon Libraries
Your local library is a great place to visit during the school holidays. Joining the library is free and children can borrow books to take home, or just enjoy reading them in the library. Many libraries have colouring activities out all the time and offer fun, low or no-cost activities during the school holidays. To find out what is happening at your local library, follow them on Facebook, pop in and speak to a member of the team or drop them an email. You can find the contact details for your local library here: www.northyorks.gov.uk/leisure-tourism-and-culture/libraries/local-libraries
Henshaws Arts & Crafts Centre
The Café & Gardens will be open throughout the Easter holidays from 9am to 3.30pm.
www.henshaws.org.uk/arts-crafts-centre
Inspire Youth teen activities
This Easter we are offering a full and diverse programme of enriched activities for those 11-16 years old giving opportunities to give something different ago and possibly learn a new skill or give back to our community. Limited places available for all sessions. You can book a limited place by completing this form we suggest a donation of £20.00 per person per session. For non-eligible families we have been very lucky to receive a private donation to offer free places, however if you are in a position to contribute to any of the session we very much welcome your support. https://www.inspireyouth.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Give-it-a-go-2025...
Knaresborough Castle Sallyport tours
Explore the castle’s secret underground tunnel, once used for covert escapes and surprise attacks. Carved from solid rock in the 13th or 14th century, it remains hidden beneath the castle. Tours require stair access and sturdy footwear. Weather-dependent.
Easter Holidays: 6th, 10th, 13th, 17th & 20th April, 10am, 1pm & 3pm. Price: £3pp, children free. Book online www.ticketsource.co.uk/harrogate-knaresborough-museums
Ripon Museums Easter activities
Events and activities throughout the Easter holidays including making Easter cards, craft workshops, baking sessions and code breaking challenges. All FREE with your annual pass to Ripon Museums (with unlimited use), from £10.50 per child. National Trust members enjoy 15% off their ticket price. Take a look at what’s on offer at https://riponmuseums.co.uk/things-to-do/
Children’s Easter Storytime at Kairos Church
Grab a bean bag and get comfy for a fun story all about the first Easter. Drink and hot cross bun included in this FREE event at Westcliffe Hall, off Cold Bath Road on Friday 28th, 4th, 11th April, 2pm-2.30pm. Contact families@kairoschurch.net for more information.
Easter at the Green Howards Museum, Richmond
A bit further afield, the museum’s Easter Pigeon Trail will run from 5th to 20th April. Families can explore Richmond in search of six hidden pigeons in shop windows throughout the town, follow the clues to find the pigeons that are each marked with a letter. Crack the code on your activity sheet and return to the museum to claim a special prize.
www.facebook.com/events/650334564041085
April 2025
