Ryedale Festival Breaks Records with Highest Ticket Sales and Expands Reach Across North Yorkshire

This summer, the Ryedale Festival continued to cement North Yorkshire’s reputation as one of Europe’s best destinations for classical music lovers. Celebrating both vision and adventure, the festival’s 2024 edition saw an incredible 60 events held across 35 stunning locations, with audiences flocking to enjoy performances by world-renowned artists in the county’s most beautiful and historic settings.

The festival recorded its highest-ever ticket sales, marking a 15% increase from its previous record in 2023. A number of concerts sold out, but this record-breaking success is also attributed to the festival’s expansion into new areas like Selby and Scarborough. Backed by North Yorkshire Council and Arts Council England, the festival’s wider reach was made possible with support from a £90,000 grant from the UK Government’s Shared Prosperity Fund, administered by North Yorkshire Council.

One of the festival’s goals is to introduce more people to the joy of classical music, and this year, 15% of attendees were first-time visitors. A newly commissioned independent survey and economic impact assessment by MKA Economics revealed that the festival delivered a total net economic impact of £1,483,557, supporting 20 local tourism-related jobs. It also helped retain £1.27 million within the local economy and generated £354,000 in local investment, further highlighting the festival’s value to the region.

Marian Consort at Selby Abbey. Photography by Nicola Corbishley

A resounding 96% of attendees expressed they would return for future events, and 91% rated their overall experience as “very good” or “excellent.” The festival scored an impressive 4.4 out of 5 across all categories, with half of those surveyed considering it to be ‘better’ or ‘much better’ than other classical music festivals in the UK. Many visitors also shared how much they enjoyed visiting local cafes, pubs, and attractions during their time at the festival.

Dame Sheila Hancock. Credit: Nicola Corbishley

This year’s festival was an ambitious endeavour, featuring over 700 performers, 162 volunteers, 362 Patrons, Members and Friends, and 300 amateur participants. The programme included six world premieres, several BBC Radio 3 broadcasts, and unforgettable performances by headline artists such as Sheku Kanneh-Mason, Angela Hewitt, Dame Sheila Hancock, and the renowned choir Tenebrae. A highlight was the Community Song Cycle Across the Whinny Moor, which brought hundreds of local people together for an inspiring and creative performance.

Festival Artistic Director, Christopher Glynn, reflected on the success: “The impact of the festival feels very real and immediate when we are surrounded by the hundreds of enthusiastic people who together make it happen. But it’s also important we capture evidence of this impact in a way that can be shared with funders, partners and sponsors, to demonstrate the wider benefits of their support.”

North Yorkshire Council leader, Cllr Carl Les, echoed these sentiments, highlighting the festival’s continued growth and economic contributions. “Its success grows year on year with ticket sales higher than ever in 2024, and many of those people first-time visitors to the festival. We look forward to seeing what the 2025 events bring to the county,” he said.

With the Ryedale Festival becoming an integral part of North Yorkshire’s cultural and economic landscape, its future looks brighter than ever. The festival will return with a series of Spring concerts soon to be announced, before next year’s Summer Festival runs from 11–27 July 2025 across the region. Keep an eye out for further details, and get ready to enjoy more unforgettable musical experiences in 2025!

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