The village year
What's on in Thornton-le-Dale
For a small village, Thornton-le-Dale keeps a busy calendar, a much-loved agricultural show, an Easter duck race, scarecrows over the August bank holiday and the Christmas lights switch-on. Here's the year at a glance; dates recur each year, so check the organisers for exact dates.
The village year
Easter Monday
Duck Race
Thousands of yellow ducks are released into Thornton Beck, raising funds for the village Christmas lights. A family favourite on the green. Read the duck race guide.
Late spring (May/June)
Spring Gala
A village gala with stalls, games and community fun.
Wednesday 5 August 2026
Thornton-le-Dale Show
The big one, a traditional one-day agricultural and country show, in its 105th year in 2026, with livestock, horticulture and handicraft classes, sheepdog and terrier/lurcher shows, children's sports, a craft and produce marquee, trade stands and demonstrations. Free parking at the show. Held on the first Wednesday in August. Official site: thorntonledaleshow.org. Read the Show visitor guide.
Sunday 30 August 2026, 3:00pm
Bank Holiday Duck Race
The August Bank Holiday duck race runs from Priestmans Lane down the beck to the Beck Isle thatched cottage. Ducks are £2 each, with prizes of £50, £25 and £15, in aid of the Village Hall and Manthorpe Play Park. Full details on the duck race page.
August Bank Holiday weekend 2026
Scarecrow Festival
The Thornton-le-Dale Scarecrow Festival takes place over the August Bank Holiday weekend, with the scarecrows staying in place through the following week. The 2026 theme is "any children's TV programme character from 1952 to today". Scarecrows appear throughout the village, including the pond area. Free to wander round. Application forms to enter a scarecrow are available at Wardill Brothers.
One of the home-made scarecrows on display around the village. September through winter
Stargazing and the Dark Skies festivals
Nearby Dalby Forest hosts stargazing evenings through the darker months, with the Dark Skies Fringe Festival each October half term and the Dark Skies Festival each February. See the stargazing guide for getting there after dark, parking and staying the night.
First Saturday in December
Christmas Lights Switch-On
The village lights, funded and put up by volunteers (and the duck race), are switched on with a festive evening, see the Christmas lights guide.
Year-round
Clubs, groups and the village hall
Regular clubs and private events take place at the Thornton-le-Dale Village Hall. The hall's own website lists what is on and how to book the rooms.
Year-round
The seasons in the village
Spring lambs (February to May), paddling in the beck in summer, and autumn colour on the Ellerburn walk.
Planning a visit around an event? See parking in the village and getting here, Show day and summer weekends fill the car park early. For more to fill the day, see things to do. For the full village overview, start with the main Thornton-le-Dale guide.
Common questions
- What's on in Thornton-le-Dale?
- A busy village calendar: the Easter Monday duck race, a Spring Gala, the Thornton-le-Dale Show in early August, the Scarecrow Festival over the August bank holiday, and the Christmas lights switch-on in early December.
- When is the Thornton-le-Dale Show?
- On the first Wednesday in August, Wednesday 5 August in 2026, a one-day agricultural and country show in its 105th year.
- What is the Thornton-le-Dale duck race?
- On Easter Monday, thousands of yellow ducks are released into Thornton Beck to raise money for the village Christmas lights.
- When is the Scarecrow Festival in Thornton-le-Dale?
- Over the August Bank Holiday weekend, with the scarecrows staying in place through the following week. The 2026 theme is any children's TV programme character from 1952 to today, and scarecrows appear throughout the village, including the pond area. Entry forms are available at Wardill Brothers.
- When are the Thornton-le-Dale Christmas lights switched on?
- On the first Saturday in December.