Welcome to the 2023 Swaledale Festival - an annual celebration of world-class music and arts in the beautiful Yorkshire Dales!  

This year there is a special focus on our place and our community. As well as concerts by our local choirs, bands and soloists, there are poetry walks in the landscape, puppet shows for children and families, late night astronomy sessions, workshops, comedy, film screenings and exhibitions by local artists.  

There are plenty of top international performers too - from Australia, the Middle East, India, Africa, Canada, the Americas, Japan, China and all over the UK and Europe. 

Our Wandering Minstrels programme of work with young people and the not so young is more extensive than ever. There are three times as many free performances in schools, and plenty of out-of-school activities, as well as five concerts for the residents of local care homes, all of which will be given by world-class musicians.

Apart from a few small tweaks, we have resisted the temptation to increase ticket prices this year, despite significant increases in our costs. Under 25s can still get a ticket to almost every event for only £3! Huge thanks to all the generous individuals, organisations, staff members and volunteers who contribute so much. Without them the Festival simply couldn’t exist. 

Please have a look at this year’s programme. Tickets go on sale on Monday 13 March. Alternatively, you can become a Festival Friend and gain a two-week priority booking period starting on Monday 27 February – along with the warm, fuzzy feeling that you are helping the Festival to thrive! 

Interested in volunteering for the Festival? The Volunteers' Briefing is taking place on Wed 15 February from 14:30 to 15:45 at Reeth Memorial Hall. Come along to register your interest, meet our friendly Volunteers Coordinator and have a chance to sign up as Event Stewards.

We look forward to seeing you.
Malcolm Creese, Artistic Director