The iconic Swaledale Festival officially launched its highly anticipated two-week run yesterday, Saturday, May 23. A packed opening schedule saw families gather at the Reeth Evangelical Congregational Church for “Our Trip to Marske”—a unique musical adventure recreating a historic 1914 Sunday School outing from Muker. Simultaneously, the Reeth Memorial Hall hosted a series of localised snapshot talks highlighting the inner workings of the Swaledale and Arkengarthdale Archaeology Group, upland land management partnerships, and a vital public introduction to the Swaledale Mountain Rescue Team. The festival will stage 75 distinct events across the fells through to June 6.
Swaledale Festival Explodes into Life Across Key Dales Hubs
24 May 2026
The spectacular 2026 Swaledale Festival is officially underway this weekend, bringing a massive wave of music, history, and art to our northern valleys