As well as a six-acre site and over 20 heritage buildings to explore, we have a varied and creative programme of events and activities throughout the year.
We put details of all events on this page and it is added to regularly.
Making a Meal of it
OPEN NOW until Sunday 30 November 2025
From the humblest cottage bakers, to the farmers and growers, how our ancestors fed themselves is a story of hard graft. Join us on a tantalising journey through the resilience, innovation and culinary creativity of the people of the past. Behind every bite and morsel, there is a story.
Discover… the story of the Sonley bakers from Kirkbymoorside, baking recipes of Museum founder Hannah Crosland, old beer brewers and bottlers of Ryedale, pig, poultry and beekeeping of the past and ways to cook and eat your Yorkshire Pudding – plus more!
This exhibition is included with admission to the Museum. Open Saturday to Thursday from 10am to 5pm (4pm in March), closed Fridays.
Farm / Mill / Bake by Tessa Bunney
Across the country, a growing movement of farmers, millers, and bakers has been reshaping breadmaking for the better, for both people and the planet. Documentary photographer Tessa Bunney travelled across Yorkshire to capture just some of their stories. See a selection of Tessa’s photographs in the Museum’s threshing barn, on display until 30 November.
Please note the threshing barn is within the paid area of the Museum. Open Saturday to Thursday from 10am to 5pm (4pm in Oct and Nov), closed Fridays.
This work has been part-funded by the Farming in Protected Landscapes Fund (administered by the North York Moors National Park Authority) as part of a wider project to raise awareness about grain production and consumption among the farming community as well as the general public.
Hutton-to-Do
Available NOW
There’s a bit of a To Do around Hutton-le-Hole. We’ve created an exciting family-friendly game for you to play around the village.
Pick up your free ‘Bingo’ cards from the Museum, then have fun exploring. Just ask a member of our friendly museum team at reception for ‘Hutton-to-do’.
Can you hug a walnut tree, find a house with a date or say ‘Now then!’ to a shopkeeper?
Who will get the first row? Or all four corners?
Although you can take part around our site if you’d like to, there’s no requirement to visit the Museum as you can complete this free activity around the village too.
(Please note, the Museum is closed on Fridays.)
Hobtastic Hob Trail
From Saturday 5 July until Wednesday 10 September
The hobs are back! By popular demand (and after a lot of coaxing), we have managed to persuade these mysterious moorland creatures to join us again this summer.
Will they be causing chaos in the chemist or making mischief in the Manor House? We wait with bated breath.
Join us throughout the summer to count the hobs.
From harbour, over hills and home
Illustrators Matty Burnham and Tim Gomersall have come together to show a series of vibrant line and wash illustrations of Yorkshire, where they both live and work. From coastal towns to moorland villages, this exhibition will take you on a painted journey through some of Yorkshire’s most scenic and special places.
Matty Burnham is an ink and watercolour artist, originally from Cumbria. The landscapes of the north are a constant source of inspiration for his work from Northumbria’s castles, to Scotland’s lochs and the Lake District’s fells. Tim Gomersall is an artist who works from home in Leeds and describes his work as a response to the beautiful places of the British Isles from its towns and cities to awe-inspiring fells, dales and sea cliffs.
Artworks and cards will be on sale throughout the duration of the exhibition.
There is no charge to see this exhibition as it is located in our Art Gallery at the entrance to the Museum. Open Saturday to Thursday from 10am to 5pm, closed Fridays.
Wonder Wednesdays
Ever wondered what life was like in the past? Join us on Wednesdays during school holidays to try out a range of historic activities!
Access is included within your entry ticket to the Museum or on presentation of a valid annual pass.
Charms and Murmurings
Josie Beszant, Hester Cox and Charlotte Morrison return to our art gallery with a new exhibition which explores the themes of birds and folklore. Drawing inspiration from their personal collections, museum artifacts, folklore, and the North Yorkshire landscape, the exhibition will showcase a range of mediums: ceramics by Charlotte Morrison, printmaking by Hester Cox, and collage and found objects by Josie Beszant. The works reflect a thoughtful, interconnected approach to the subject matter.
Meet the artists on the opening day (20 September) from 2 – 4pm in the gallery.
There is no charge to see this exhibition as it is located in our Art Gallery at the entrance to the Museum. Open Saturday to Thursday from 10am to 5pm (4pm in November), closed Fridays.
Bird Lore - an event with Sally Coulthard, Josie Beszant and Hester Cox
Sally Coulthard, bestselling local author
Big Bear Bike's Rosedale Chimney Hill Climb
Sunday 4 October, 10am – from Rosedale Abbey
Inspired by the story of Edgar Milner, the first cyclist to scale the infamous Chimney Bank at Rosedale, this fantastic event is back for its second year. A brilliant inaugeral event took place in 2024, and by popular demand is being held again and organised by the wonderful folks of Ryedale Velo Club and sponsored by the brilliant Big Bear Bikes.
We are delighted that the Museum, along with Ryedale Special Families, has been selected as one of the chosen charities that this race is being held in aid of.
For all the details and entry please visit – Cycling Time Trials.
Edgar Milner was awarded a medal for his amazing achievement in 1912 and we are delighted to have this medal as part of the collection at Ryedale Folk Museum. You can read all about Edgar’s story here.
Autumn at the Museum
From Saturday 11 October
Visit the museum to see it all decked out in its autumn finery. Soak in the atmosphere at this special time of year – we like to think there’s a little bit of magic in the air!
The people of the past turned to customs and rituals to cope with the changing seasons, and especially their anxieties around the drawing in of darker nights.
With pumpkins galore, seasonal wreaths and apple displays, we’re celebrating this very evocative season in traditional style.
We’re delving back to time when the calendar was marked with celebrations and festivals, including ‘Hallowmas’, which incorporated All Hallows’ Eve on 31 October, All Saints Day on 1 November and All Souls Day on 2 November. These three festivals also drew on Pagan celebrations of Samhain at this time of year.
We also have a programme of seasonal activities and events taking place this autumn at Ryedale Folk Museum.
After Dark... at the Museum
Wednesday 29 October and Thursday 30 October, 4pm – 7pm
Join us for these very special late openings at Ryedale Folk Museum, where you can experience the Museum between 4pm and 7pm when we are normally closed to the public.
A selection of the museum’s buildings will be open for you to explore. Wander through the museum spaces after dark this autumn and savour the atmosphere of this special time of year.
Free entry upon presentation of a valid annual pass. Alternatively you can purchase a ticket for this after-hours opening. We’ll have tickets for the evening available at £5 per person, or you can buy an annual pass at the normal ticket price in order to gain access to the Museum for the following year.
Trick or Treat Experience
The museum is all decked out for All Hallow’s Eve and we’ve got a special event not to be missed. Visit the museum’s historic homes, knock on the doors and enter if you dare.
With treats for everyone, plus the odd little trick along the way, there’s plenty of fun to be had this Halloween.
The Trick or Treat Experience at Ryedale Folk Museum lasts approximately 45 – 60 minutes and is suitable for families with children aged 4 to 11, plus remember to leave time for your hot drink and festive cupcake.
Please note, as the museum is closed on Fridays, there will be no access to the Museum that day except for this event. To book your tickets, simply select a time slot from the options and the number of tickets required.
Early bird tickets are available until 30 September priced at £13 per child (or adults wishing to collect treats), or £9 per adult (excluding extra treats). All tickets include a hot or cold drink and a cupcake. Children’s tickets include treats collected around the museum and a craft activity.
Apple and Pear Pruning Workshop
- why we prune fruit trees
- when to prune
- how to prune for general maintenance and to encourage fruiting
- how much wood to take off
- managing an overgrown fruit tree
Apple Tree Grafting Workshop
Saturday 28 February 2026, 9.30am – 1.00pm
Apples don’t ‘come true’ from seed or root cuttings. Grafting allows for the propagation of known, desired apple varieties, ensuring the fruit will be the same as the parent tree. The technique involves joining a scion (a cutting from a desired apple variety) to a selected rootstock, determining the height and vigour of the new tree.
In this workshop, led by Chris Simmonds, you will learn how to graft – mastering the technique by watching demonstrations and having a go.
Scions will be taken from a selection of the Museum’s heritage apple trees and joined to rootstock (provided), suitable for producing cordon, espalier, step-over or freestanding apple trees so your new tree will fit into even the smallest garden. Full aftercare instructions will be given.
Please dress in warm clothes and good shoes as some of the workshop will be outside in the Museum’s orchard. Demonstrations and hands-on aspects will be inside. All tools will be provided.
Includes coffee and cake, and one grafted rootstock to take home.
Course participants limited to 10. £30.00pp.
