Blue skies, bustling market stalls and a packed programme of family activities combined to make Yorkshire Day a memorable occasion in Masham, as residents and visitors came together to celebrate.

St Mary’s Church was at the heart of it all, welcoming families with a children’s activity trail that encouraged youngsters to explore the church while collecting stickers from each of the themed stalls. Along the way, children decorated cakes, made greetings cards, tested their luck on the tombola, guessed a teddy bear’s name and tried their hand at hooking a duck before collecting a well-earned goodie bag of treats at the end of the trail.

The church also offered plenty for adults to enjoy, with tables laden with books, jigsaws and plants for sale, while freshly baked cakes and hot drinks provided the perfect excuse to stop and have a chat about all things Yorkshire.

Outside, the market square was equally vibrant. The popular stalls attracted a steady stream of shoppers, while families wandered through the town with ice creams in hand.

Visitors praised the warm welcome they had received and the effort made by local volunteers and community groups to create a day that celebrated Yorkshire whilst offering something for all ages. One couple, preparing to round off their visit with a well-earned shandy at the Kings Head where they were staying overnight, said it was refreshing to see a community come together to celebrate and they had really enjoyed browsing the stalls and visiting some lovely independent shops.

I really enjoyed spending a few hours chatting to people and taking part in the activities with my young daughter but mostly it was a joy to see how many people had contributed time and effort to make the event a success. It is always so wonderful to see a community working together to make amazing things happen.