Oozing with pride on the 72 to Grassington next Saturday!

Grassington’s a great place every day of the week and with so much to be proud about – the amazing bus route 72, run by Keighley Bus Company for starters and then the jaw-dropping Dales scenery, meandering, twisting and turning roads, through lush green pastures, past lovely independent shops and cafes, stone walled cottages with perfectly manicured gardens and birds tweeting gaily in the background. We could go on and on but next week, there’s something even greater to toast as this delightful market town is hosting ‘Pride in the Dales‘ – a celebration of love, inclusivity and equality. No one likes a grass, but here in Grassington, we’re going to fess up without recourse – next Saturday is going to be a day to remember!

Get-on board the 72 for a colourful journey across the Dales!

Yes, indeed – Saturday 29th June in Grassington is going to be a fun-filled day where folk come together to show support to the LGBT + community. This will be a barnstorming day of parades, live performances and lot’s going on for all ages!

It really is a day for people to express themselves freely, be celebrated for who they are and feel the warmth of the community. The people of the Yorkshire Dales, just like the lovely, chirpy bus drivers on the 72, are renowned for their welcoming and caring approach, so no better a place to host this super event than great Grassington.

Last year was the first Pride event in Grassington and was a roaring success, with the volunteer organisers ensuring there was a groundswell of support among businesses and the wider community to repeat it this year! Whilst the big cities are renowned for their Pride events, Grassington bucks the trend in being potentially the smallest location across the globe to have an occasion of its own! But, there’s so much being crammed into this idyllic, market town next Saturday and we’re counting down the days here at Great Scenic Journeys!

Poochies of Pride

The parade is going to be a burst of colour like no other, with abundant creativity, joy and excitement as it winds its way through the fantastic cobbled streets of Grassington, creating a masterpiece of a spectacle and the liveliest of atmospheres. Local talent will also be showcased from musicians to drag artists and workshops for children, where they can, in a safe and fun environment, express their creativity and learn about the importance of diversity and inclusion. The Parade kicks off at noon and is followed by live music from Maria Watton-Graham, Tony Bailey and Callum Spencer. There’s also a Dog Show, kicking off at 14:00, with prizes for four categories – “Best dressed”, “Who looks like their owner?”, “Best Boy”, “Best Girl”. No registration is required, so just turn up with your canine chum to enter!

In the evening live acts will be performing at Grassington Town Hall in an advanced ticket only event. On stage will be drag queens from Bar Pop, as well as DJs spinning an eclectic range of tunes and Smashby and Rhaya Sunshine performing too!

Hand on your Heart, Grassington is the place to be!

Meanwhile, there’s a Kylie Minogue tribute act at the Devonshire Arms pub in Main Street! Got to be certain to get there on time? Then, make sure you do the locomotion and get on the 72 to Grassington for some spinning around! We should be so lucky to visit the Devonshire Arms too, which is famous across Yorkshire, with more than 50 gins on offer and its own signature Gin, made in collaboration with Hooting Owl. It’s a rainbow of flavours – juniper, bitter orange, grapefruit, sweetness of liquorice and cassia bark, with spicy notes of cubeb and grains of paradise. Oh and the nosh is pretty decent here too, award winning sausages from just down the road at Jacksons of Cracoe and fresh seafood!

The grass is always greener here!

There’s more to a day out at Pride than just the amazing events planned – this is such a fab place, inclusive in all ways, as it was the setting of the famous  TV series “All Creatures Great and Small” and also is packed with heritage, as showcased at the Grassington Folk Museum, which is well worth a visit! Maybe cram in a walk or make a weekend of it with a scenic sojourn through the nearby Yorkshire Dales National Park which offers a myriad of walking trails, including the scenic Grass Wood, famous for its ancient yew trees and diverse wildlife. The River Wharfe, meandering through the village, provides a serene backdrop for riverside walks and picnics. The Linton Falls, is also well worth a visit – if there has been plenty of rain then standing on the bridge overlooking the falls thundering beneath can be very intense and just a little scary!

Hop, skip and make a trip of it!

Then, it’s worth skipping along to Skipton, a place which has so much to see and do, from devouring the delightful market to the wonderful castle and much much more! Check out our blog for some inspiration….

Don’t skip us along – stop off and let us tell you how great Skipton is! – Great Scenic Journeys

To plan your scenic sojourn on a bus journey where the customer service and scenery is so great it oozes pride, go to….

72 Skipton – Grassington – Great Scenic Journeys

And to find out more and book tickets for Pride on Saturday 29th June, check out….

Pride in the Dales | Pride event | Grassington, Skipton, UK