Staithes Festival

It was once one of the largest fishing ports on the Yorkshire coast, now Staithes is a picturesque jumble of whitewashed cottages and narrow cobbled ginnels leading to the pretty harbour and beach. They still do a spot of fishing here, and since the early 1800s it has been a bit of an artists' colony – a sort of a northern St Ives, where the Staithes Group, led by Dame Laura Knight. Many of the artists trained in Paris at the height of the Impressionist movement and brought to Staithes ‘ the art of plein air’ painting.  Making art in the village has enjoyed a revival of late and Staithes Festival of Arts and Heritage reflects work that is still being being produced in the village today.

Staithes is a pleasant place to visit at any time of year, taking in the excellent Cod and Lobster pub right on the harbourfront and maybe doing a fishing or foaraging trip with the greta people at Real Staithes. But in mid-September it' the festival that holds sway, with scores of cottages and public buildings throwing open their doors to the public as pop-up galleries selling work by local and visiting painters, photographers and sculptors. You can make your way through the maze of lanes discovering the galleries, and drop into pop-up tea rooms along the way for a hot drink and some homemade cake. There are walks and talks, film shows and workshops celebrate not only the local art but also Staithes itself and its fishing heritage. You might even get to witness a sea shanty or two from the Men of Staithes Choir!