Updated February 2024
Our Top 10 Easter Events
1. Hebden Bridge Duck Race has to be our number 1 Easter event! It’s great fun and a terrific charity fund raiser. Hebden Bridge Duck Race
Hebden’s famous Easter Duck Race is a hugely popular event and you can pre-buy a duck to support the event. The real purpose of the event is to raise money to help others. All profits go to the Rotary Club of Hebden Bridge Trust Fund (registered charity number 513898) which gives grants to local, national and international good causes.
2. On 1st March the historical home of Gentleman Jack’s Anne Lister Shibden Hall and Park will re-open for the summer. We advise you book ahead for guaranteed visit of Shibden Hall. Shibden Hall
Heptonstall Pace Egg
3. Heptonstall just down the road from us is the home of the Easter event The Pace Egg performance is usually Good Friday
Heptonstall Pace Egg Play is a traditional Mumming Play performed in Heptonstall’s Weavers Square on Good Fridays, attracting hundreds of visitors to the village. The Pace Egg play is not unique to Heptonstall but it is one of only a few still performed today. In the play St George takes on contenders such as Bold Slasher, the Black Prince of Paradine and Hector. The costumes, in particular the strange headgear comprising a towering edifice garlanded with flowers, peculiar to the Calder Valley; are as much a part of the fun as the action. Violent sword fights predominate but, as ever, good triumphs over evil. We recommend you get the bus from Blackshawhead as parking in the village is very restricted.
More info Visit Calderdale Events
4. Further afield is the Royal Armouries in Leeds Well you don’t usually think of Yorkshire and jousting together but go to the Medieval Easter at the Royal Armouries at Leeds and experience a full day of activities. We recommend you go on the train and it’s not a dog friendly activity so day care could be essential. A lot of the day is free of charge but you need tickets for the jousting event check out their site Royal Armouries Leeds
Activities:
Have-a-go Archery – can you hit the gold?
Hands on History – your chance to handle weapons from our replica collection
Combat demonstrations:
Medieval poll axe combat – See the knights demonstrate the challenges of using these formidable medieval staff weapons.
Two-handed sword fighting – Enjoy live demonstrations of the skills needed to wield these enormous swords.
Armoured longsword – Watch their expert men-at-arms battle in full armour with these mighty weapons.
5. Over the border in Lancashire nearby Burnley’s historic Towneley Hall the surrounding land is fantastic and a real favourite for dog walking with a couple of cafes to treat yourselves on route. The hall site has a fantastic free downloadable bird maker you could do this at Rough Top and use some of our garden and field birds for inspiration. Towneley Hall Birds download
6. Burnley’s panopticon The Singing Ringing Tree is always worth a walk it has a nearby car park so a short walk or you can extend it and get in a longer walk with the dogs. The ‘Singing Ringing Tree’, is a unique musical sculpture which overlooks Burnley from its position high above the town on Crown Point. Constructed from pipes of galvanised steel stacked in layers, this Panopticon takes the form of a tree bending to the winds and harnesses the energy of those winds to produce a low, tuneful song. In June 2007, Singing Ringing Tree was named winner of a National Award for architectural excellence by the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA).
7. HAPPA is our local horse and pony rescue centre and well worth a visit any day. It is dog friendly and has a great café on site. Over Easter they are running an Easter Dinosaur trail and a café Easter Afternoon Tea – this will sell out quickly so make sure you book early HAPPA
8. East Riddlesden Hall at Keighley, is a fantastic National Trust property that’s great to visit at any time of year. It has activities on over the Easter break from barrow racing to building a giant nest: East Riddlesden Hall
9. Whistlestop Easter Wonderland at Whistlestop Valley, at Huddersfield, will tick everyone’s box with steam trains and bunnies what more could you ask for? It looks like an action packed day of activities no matter what age you are but especially aimed at the children of course! Make sure you book early for this one Whistlestop Valley
10. Hardcastle Crags. Perfect to visit anytime of the year especially with your dogs as there’s 15 miles of pawfect dog friendly walking. Easter time will be particularly pretty . Make time to visit the cafe of course and make sure you pay to park if going by car. Our tip is drive to Blackshawhead and get the bus getting off enroute to Hebden Bridge and walk from there. Hardcastle Crags
These are our top 10 Easter events but do let me know if you come across something that we should add to our list.
Until next time
Best wishes
Sandra + Brian and the pooches xx