April is a super-packed month on the Otley events calendar. Not only is it Easter, but there’s a whole host of gigs going on, plus the Otley Green Fair and the long-awaited and much-anticipated Otley Coffee Culture Festival. 

First up on the horizon for Otley this Easter are two very special events, both of which were cancelled over the past couple of years due to the Covid crisis. Tomorrow at 9.30am sees the raising of the Otley Cross on the Chevin. 

Those wishing to see the cross erected should meet at the Surprise View car park just before 9.30. If anyone would like to help load the cross onto the truck that delivers it to the Chevin, please meet at the Sinclair Warehouse (at the end of Bremner Street, Otley) at 9am.

The cross will stay in place until April 30 and there will be a special Easter Sunday multi-denominational ceremony at its base at 7am. All are welcome.

The four-day Easter weekend also sees a number of secular events taking place. Famed circus troupe Cirque de Soleil comes to Otley on April 16 at the Courthouse – or at least they do on film with their performance of Dralion at 7pm. See here for more. On the same night, Upstairs at the Labour Rooms sees three folk/rock acts take to the stage in the form of Bard Company, Graham Windle and Martin Heaton. Tickets are just £5 on the door. See here for more.

Anyone for a coffee festival? 

This month finally sees the Otley Coffee Culture Festival take place, a full two years since it was originally mooted to happen. The festival from 10am to 4pm on Saturday April 30 will celebrate coffee’s journey from bean to cup with a fascinating and fun-filled day focusing on all things coffee and beyond.
 
Operating on a ‘hub-and-spoke’ model, the main festival will be held at the town’s historic All Saints Parish Church which will host more than 20 local, regional and national exhibitors. The festival programme will include talks, tastings and music, as well as stands offering food, coffee equipment, art, and merchandise.
 
Tickets to the festival are priced at £6 in advance/£7.50 on the door and are available from Otley Courthouse. See otleycoffeeculture.co.uk for more

Superstar Sari comes to Otley

Singer/songwriter Sari Schorr has been playing to packed houses across the UK and Europe since the release of her groundbreaking debut album A Force Of Nature and she’s on stage at Otley Courthouse on Thursday April 14. See here for more.

Otley goes green

This month sees Otley boost its growing environmental credentials with the return of the free Otley Green Fair at the Courthouse on April 9 from 10am to 4pm. Stalls will include Otley 2030, Wildlife Friendly Otley, Wharfedale Beekeepers and more, plus there will be Morris dancing and a kid’s workshop (£6 for children, free for accompanying adults). See here for more.

And there’s more…

There’s always loads of things to do in Otley… Elsewhere this month, ace pianist Dan Burnet will be Live at The Taps on April 10 and tribute act AKA Noel Gallagher will be at Tapas & Tunes on April 22 at 7pm. Plus there’s our regular Farmer’s Market and Crafts Market on the last Sunday of the month, April 24. See our events guide for these events and much more…