Leeds Events and Festivals

(Leeds, West Yorkshire, England, UK)

Leeds has a number of lively festivals and events which take place throughout the year, in and around the city centre. The residents of Leeds like to party and extensive calendar of festivals and events includes lively street fairs, carnivals, parades and numerous sporting events in this part of West Yorkshire. Local newspapers and leading magazines regularly publish the latest cultural events and may also contain up-to-date listings of other happenings in the region.

The helpful tourist information office is always a useful source for current events and festivals in Leeds. Many of the celebrations draw enormous crowds of both participants and spectators, and provide tourists with a wide range of things to see and do whilst staying here.

National Public Holidays

• 1st January - New Year's Day
• Good Friday / Easter Monday - late March or early April
• First and last Monday in May
• Last Monday in August
• 25th December - Christmas Day
• 26th December - Boxing Day

(If Christmas Day, Boxing Day or New Year's Day falls on a Saturday or Sunday, the next weekday becomes a public holiday).

Leeds Calendar of Festivals and Events 2014 / 2015

January

• Ice Cube Outdoor Ice-Skating Rink - mid-January to early February, Millennium Square, Leeds, England

February

• Valentine's Fair - mid-February, Elland Road, Leeds, England

March

• Jazz at the Playhouse - mid-March, West Yorkshire Playhouse, Leeds, England

April

• Harrogate International Youth Music Festival - early April, Harrogate International Centre, Harrogate, nearby Leeds, England
• Harrogate Spring Flower Show - late April / early May, Great Yorkshire Showground, Harrogate, nearby Leeds, England
• Harrogate International Festival - late April / early May, Harrogate, nearby Leeds, England

May

• Briggate Fashion Show - early May, Briggate, Leeds, England
• Leeds to Kirkstall Abbey by Towpath - early May, central Leeds, England
• British Pony Society Show - early May, Temple Newsham, Leeds, England
• Yorkshire Garden Show - mid-May, Lotherton Hall, Leeds, England
• Leeds Hot-Air Balloon Festival - mid-May, Temple Newsham, Leeds, England
• Leeds Half-Marathon - mid-May, central Leeds, England
• Wetherby Races - late May, Wetherby, nearby Leeds, England
• Otley Agricultural Show - late May, Otley, West Yorkshire, nearby Leeds, England
• Gardeners' Weekend - late May, Harewood House, Leeds, England
• Summer Bands in the Park - late May, Horsforth Hall Park, Leeds, England

June

• Mid Yorkshire Riding Club Pony Show - early June, Temple Newsam, Leeds, England
• D-Day Exhibition - early June, Royal Armouries Museum, Leeds, England
• Summer Bands in the Park - early June, various parks throughout Leeds, England
• Bramham Horse Trials - mid-June, Bramham Park, Leeds, England
• Otley Town Centre Bicycle Race - mid-June, Otley, near Leeds, England
• Yorkshire County Cricket Club Matches - late June, Leeds, England
• Otley Carnival Event - late June, Otley, near Leeds, England
• Classic and Vintage Car Rally - late June, Harewood House, Leeds, England
• Historic Bike Ride - late June, Temple Newsam, Leeds, England
• Live Crafts Summer Fair - late June, Harewood House, Leeds, England
• Skill at Arms Championships - late June, Royal Armouries Museum, Leeds, England

July

• Great Yorkshire Show - early July, Great Yorkshire Showground, Harrogate, nearby Leeds, England
• Yorkshire County Cricket Club Matches - early July, Leeds, England
• Teddy Bears Picnic - early July, Harewood House, Leeds, England
• Wetherby Pram Race and Country Fair - early July, Wetherby, near Leeds, England
• Summer Bands in the Park - throughout July, various parks, Leeds, England
• Twenty20 Cricket Cup Match - mid-July,, Leeds, England
• Opera in the Park - mid-July, Temple Newsam, Leeds, England
• National Archeological Days - mid-July, Royal Armouries Museum, Leeds, England
• Leeds Championships Dog Show - late July, Harewood House, Leeds, England
• Party in the Park - late July, Temple Newsam, Leeds, England
• Rhythms of the City - late July, Briggate, Leeds, England

August

• Leeds Mela Festival - early August, Roundhay, Leeds, England
• Rolls Royce Rally - early August, Harewood House, Leeds, England
• Summer Bands in the Park - throughout August, various parks, Leeds, England
• Yorkshire County Cricket Club Matches - early August, Leeds, England
• West Indian Children's Carnival - mid-August, Chapeltown, Leeds, England
• Leeds Festival - late August, Bramham Park Estate, Leeds, England
• Steam Spectacular Event - late August, Harewood House, Leeds, England
• West Indian Carnival - late August, Chapeltown, Leeds, England
• Chapel Allerton Arts Festival - late August / early September, throughout central Leeds city centre, Leeds, England
• Shakespeare Festival - late August / early September, Kirkstall Abbey, Leeds, England
• Leeds Carling Festival - late August, Temple Newsam Park, Leeds, England

September

• International Chamber Music - September to March, Leeds Civic Hall, Leeds, England
• Classic Proms Open Air Concert - early September, Harewood House, Leeds, England
• Leeds Metropolitan District Heritage - mid-September, central Leeds, England
• Tournament of the Kings - mid-September, Harewood House
• Vintage Car Rally - Harewood House, Leeds, England
• Summer Bands in the Park - throughout September, various parks, Leeds, England
• Yorkshire County Cricket Club Matches - mid-September, Leeds, England
• Otley Black Sheep Folk Festival - mid-September, Otley, near Leeds, England
• Antiques Fair - late September, Harewood House, Leeds, England
• Leeds China Week Festival - late September, Millennium Square, Leeds, England

October

• Lunchtime Organ Music - October to March, Leeds Town Hall, Victoria Square, Leeds, England
• Leeds International Film Festival - early to mid-October, central Leeds, England
• Autumn Glory Festival - late October, Harewood House, Leeds, England
• Halloween Train - late October, Middleton Railway Museum, Leeds, England
• Lunchtime Chamber Music - October to February, The Headrow, Leeds, England

November

• Leeds Christmas Lights Switch On - early November, Leeds city centre, Leeds, England
• Bonfire Night / Fireworks at Roundhay Park - early November, Roundhay Park, Leeds, England
• Crafts Fair - late November, Harewood House, Leeds, England
• Christmas Markets - late November / early December, Millennium Square, Leeds, England

December

• Santa's Special Train - throughout December, Middleton Railway Museum, Leeds, England
• Leeds Abbey Dash - mid-December, Leeds, England
• Otley Victorian Christmas Fayre - mid to- late-December, Otley, near Leeds, England
• Totally Tropical Christmas - mid-December, Tropical World, Leeds, England
• New Year's Eve Celebrations - December 31st, venues throughout Leeds, England