Esk Valley's ‘small arts festival with a big heart’ expanded to run the whole of May half-term

With feedback like “the community spirit was palpable” and “a terrific mixture of music, dance, drama and poetry which truly celebrated the benefits of getting involved with the arts”, organisers of the Mini Arts Festival, a community-led participative arts event open to all, knew they had to do it again.

This year, a vibrant Festival Fringe Week (May 23 to 29) offers a wide range of accessible, family-friendly workshops across the North York Moors, Coast

& Cleveland, leading up to a lively Festival Weekend in Glaisdale (May 30-31).

Many events are free entry with donations, or low cost. Booking is advised due to limited space.

Here are some highlights:

♦ Festival Fringe workshops (during week of May 23 to 29) - a chance to try something new at different locations.

Fabulous instruction in drumming, circus skills and trapeze, tai chi, clog dancing, photography, creative writing, capoeira and painting/drawing – the last will be at the new Studio, Glaisdale with a visiting artist.

Visit https://3-minutearts.uk/mini-arts-festival to book, limited spaces.

♦ Another Fringe event features a magical Family Folklore and Nature Afternoon at Bow Bridge Community Meadows, Castleton, on May 23 – celebrating local folklore and the launch of a new nature project run by Community Earth Project.

Expect a Green Man and May Queen Pageant, fairy boat crafting, sprites, maypole dancing, guided nature and history tours, plus songs, poetry and storytelling.

Visit https://3-minutearts.uk/maf-fringe for more.

♦ 3-Minute Arts’ 2026 writing competition (plays, stories, songs) has drawn an impressive response and competition winning work will be performed on

Festival Performance Day – Saturday May 30 – along with bands, youth musicians, a communal art workshop, poetry and more at Glaisdale’s Robinson Institute.

♦ Following the success of last year’s Lore of t’ Moor, a brand-new community play premieres during the Performance Day (Saturday May 30), at

around 4pm – Around the Moors in 80 Hours.

Join Phileas Fogg and Passepartout as they race against time through a land of danger and adventure – will they win their wager?

Created and performed by community players from stories uncovered in a museums archive project led by 3-Minute Arts, with research from Whitby Museum, Staithes Museum and Ryedale Folk Museum.

This lively production is directed by Everwitch Theatre and brings the rich heritage and folklore of the coast and moors vividly to life.

♦ A stellar line-up of bands follows this for the Evening Concert on May 30 – Fast Katz, Mandy Woods, Indigo, The Classix.

♦ New this year is a Sunday Festival Arts, Crafts and Books Fair (May 31, 10am to 3pm) at the Robinson Institute, Glaisdale, along with programmed 20-

minute art/craft demos (local artists) and book talks (hosted by Book Corner of Saltburn) on the festival ‘stage’ – a chance to meet and be inspired by makers, artists and authors.

♦ Sunday May 31 - Open Mic in the gazebo – please reserve your slot now to share poetry, music, storytelling, short drama, dance.

Email [email protected] or call 07802 175854, or turn up on the day.

♦ Sunday 31 May: a free drop-in clay-poetry art workshop with REConnect, Fylingdales Folk Choir at 1pm, Downe & Outs jazz at 2pm, a self-guided group walk along the ironstone railway line at 3pm, arriving at Glaisdale Head Church for our Farewell Concert at 4.15pm – a short performance about Glaisdale’s old ironstone mining, followed by The Marigolds harmony singers and tea (donations).

Visit https://3-minutearts.uk/mini-arts-festival for the programme and booking form.