Wow – we’ve just been going over the Visit Otley What’s On calendar and are staggered to see the town again pulling out all the stops this month: from fireworks to fashion shows and café culture to craft beers, there’s an incredible spread of events on offer.
Saturday is set to go off with a bang this week as the Rugby Club host their annual bonfire. Set at the club’s Cross Green ground, there’ll be a choice of food stalls, plus the bonfire itself and a fab fireworks display. The fun starts at 5.30 pm and tickets are £7.50 or £25 for a family of four.
Mayor’s charity shows this month
Town mayor Linda Hoare is hosting two events this month to raise money for her three chosen charities for the year: Open Country, Otley & District Talking Newspaper and Dystonia UK. First of them is a fashion show at M&Co on Friday November 11 at 7pm. Tickets cost £5 from M&Co.
The second event is a special gig featuring local bands Fauns (above) and Graffiti. Held at the Black Horse on Friday November 18, tickets cost 8/£5 concs from Otley Core (Unit 11, Orchard Gate) and the Black Horse.
Ace town choir celebrates anniversary
Otley perennial favourites, the Woolpack Studios Choir celebrate their 10th Anniversary Concert alongside Otley Rock Orchestra at Otley Courthouse, also on Friday November 11.
The performance will feature favourite songs from the nearly 70 arrangements that choir leaders Richard Sabey and Jennifer Pugh have written over the years. Tickets cost £10.
>> See here for details
Coffee and creatives get together
Following the success of Otley’s first ever Coffee Festival earlier in the year, Otley Coffee Culture has partnered with Rounton Coffee for an afternoon of craftspeople, creatives and great quality locally roasted coffee at the Courthouse on Saturday November 12. There’ll be opportunities to sample new blends and check out a range of crafts, treats, prints and curios. Entry is free.
Otley Science Festival to go with a bang
The Otley Science Festival is back from Monday November 14 with a week-long fabulous programme of events including many highlights, one of which is the talk on Tuesday November 15 by leading geologist Professor Chris Jackson (pictured).
>> See here for the full programme
Lights switch on set for November 28
Otley’s traditional Christmas season curtain raiser, the Christmas Lights Switch will take place on Monday November 28 this year. This event will start at 5.45pm with a range of music entertainment provided by local school choirs, the Woolpack Music Studios and Otley Brass Band, plus there will be a range of attractions in the square. The Town Mayor will switch on the Christmas lights at 7pm, followed by a spectacular firework finale.
And there’s more…
Weller/The Jam tribute A Band Called Malice play at Otley Courthouse this Saturday (November 5), and there are three Otley Folk Club sessions at the Black Horse on November 2, 16 and 30. For the kids, Sunday November 16 sees two performances of Jack Frost and the Search for Winter by theatre company Tutti Frutti at the Courthouse.
Don’t forget too, our Farmer’s Market takes place on Sunday November 27 in Market Place from 9am to 1pm. It’s packed with local produce from surrounding farms, so why not pop down?
For these and other events in Otley this month, please see our events guide.