We are into May already and it feels as those the first real shoots of Spring may finally be here after what has seemed like an elongated winter! What a great coincidence then that we have a packed month of events to take advantage of the milder weather.

That starts with the May Day celebrations this afternoon featuring the Buttercross Belles at the Maypole hosting a traditional dance from 2.30-4pm. All are welcome to go along and join in. 

The next big event this month is the Coronation of King Charles III next Saturday May 6th. While there are no official large Otley events, the Otley Bellman Terry Ford will be issuing a proclamation in Market Place at 2pm. Then on Monday May 8th, it’s the Big Help Out Volunteer Day and the town mayor Linda Hoare is hosting a litter pick up. Meet at the Buttercross at 10am to join up. 

The following weekend, some 13,000 runners will be taking to the streets of Otley as part of the very first Rob Burrow Leeds Marathon. We’ve compiled all the information you need for this in one handy article you can read on the link below.

 👉 You can read the article here

Family and farming fun at the Otley Show

Saturday May 20th sees the 2023 Otley Show held at the Fairground from 9am onwards. As well as the usual showing of prize farm animals, there will be ferret racing, motorcycle stunt displays, live bands, terrier racing and more. 

👉 See here for details

Terri Shaltiel at Tapas & Tunes

Terri Shaltiel will be bringing her unique brand of deep soul, jazz, funk, rare-groove and reggae to one of the weekly TNT Jazz sets on Friday nights. The show is free for those dining upstairs at the venue but there are limited seats, so it’s worth ringing to book as soon as possible.

👉  See here for more details.

Two classical concerts this month

On Saturday March 20th, Otley Choral Society will be performing Goodall’s Eternal Light and Gounod’s St Cecilia Mass at Otley Parish Church, while the next day, the Otley Choral Society are performing their Spring Concert at Otley Courthouse. The performance will feature Debussy’s Petite Suite, Delibes’ Extracts from Coppelia and Dvorak’s Symphony No 6.

👉  See here for more details.

And there’s more… 

Thursday May 4th sees a lunchtime recital by pianist Chris Sansum at Otley Courthouse, while award-winning vocal trio Lady Maisery are at the same venue on Friday May 12th. Also at the Courthouse, local folk-rock favourites the Jon Palmer Band return for their annual show on Saturday May 13th. 

On Sunday May 14th, those looking for help with their goal-setting can take part in a Vision Workshop at the Otley Studio, and on Friday May 26th, Folk at the Farrier will feature Tom Bliss and the Burning Bridges in what promises to be a great show. 

For details of all these and more, see our 👉👉 events calendar

This month’s Farmers’ Market

Our next Farmer’s Market takes place on Sunday May 28th 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.