September is traditionally a month of festivals in Otley and while some old favourites such as the Vintage Transport Extravaganza may have fallen victim to Covid, there’s still much to do in the town this month.

First up are this year’s Heritage Open Days that take place at Otley Courthouse on September 11. This year’s theme is Edible England and the Courthouse has a number of related events taking place. A free Food Trail will take place around the building once an hour from 10am-3pm. It will visit the Police Canteen and Prisoner’s Breakfast Room, alongside tales of poaching, theft and embezzlement. Other events include a kids story workshop Geese, Chicken and Other Foodie Crimes at 10.30am, and two performances of Pies for Pennies by the Otley Players at 11.40am and 1.20pm in the Courtyard (weather permitting, otherwise indoors).

See here for the full programme

This month also sees the return of the Otley Folk Festival. The much-loved, Black Sheep-sponsored festival will be a little smaller this year due to Covid concerns and will feature two main gigs at Otley Courthouse. On Friday September 18, prog-folk singer Katie Spencer (pictured) will be on stage (£14) with support from Jon Palmer, Duncan McFarlane & Anne Brivonese. The show starts at 7.30pm. 

The following day at the same venue will see a performance from Granny’s Attic – a folk trio who play the tradition with verve, energy and their own inimitable style. They are all exceptional musicians and fine singers and play English traditional and original music (tickets are £20).

The festival will also be using the Black Horse Stables for afternoon concerts. Saturday afternoon with the Dave Vermond Trio and Bayou Gumbo and Sunday afternoon with the Hall Brothers, The Gerry McNeice Band and The Jon Palmer Acoustic Band. The Black Horse events will be ‘pay on the door’ between £5-£10.

See here for the full programme

Later in the month sees Otley’s first ever Festival of Kindness that will run for three days from Friday 24 to Sunday 26 September 2021.​

Organised by Otley 2030, themes for the first festival are ‘Kindness to Self’, ‘Kindness to Others’ and ‘Kindness to the Planet’, and there will be activities suitable for all ages; including music, dance, wellness sessions, storytelling, writing workshops, book swaps, crafting, pop-up theatre and a range of speakers from local, national, and international organisations. Most activities will be bookable but free (and some accessible online).

See here for the full programme