Knaresborough is home to a thriving mix of businesses and a proud tradition of free, community events that bring life to the High Street and Riverside every year. These much-loved events attract visitors, boost footfall, and create valuable opportunities for local businesses.

But behind the scenes, many of these events are delivered by small organisations, volunteer groups, and charities. Rising costs, stricter health and safety requirements, and higher insurance premiums have put real pressure on their ability to keep these events free and accessible.

That’s why we’ve come together as a partnership—to secure the future of these events and plan for long-term sustainability.

Why We Took Action

To understand the challenges, we brought together key stakeholders involved in organising these events. The biggest barrier? Financial resilience.

During this time, an exciting opportunity arose: the Vibrant and Sustainable High Streets Fund, supported by the Mayoral High Street Fund and administered by the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority.

Our Steering Group

This project is guided by a dedicated steering group made up of organisations who actively deliver free events in Knaresborough:

Chain Lane Community Hub
FEVA
Inspire Youth Yorkshire
Knaresborough Connectors
Knaresborough District Chamber of Trade
Knaresborough Lions
Knaresborough Museum Association
Knaresborough Town Council
Knaresborough Revolution
Knaresborough Rotary
Martin Davies
Yorkshire CREATE

About the New Events Fund

We know that launching a new event takes time and upfront investment. Our New Events Fund is here to help—providing financial support and connecting you with experienced organisers who have decades of expertise.

• Funding Available: £48,000
• Goal: Support at least 3 new events in 2026
• No fixed cap per event, but sustainability matters—plan carefully when requesting funding.

What We’re Looking For

Your proposal should:

• Take place on Knaresborough High Street, the Riverside, or create a clear link between the two.
• Be free for the public to attend (fundraising and merchandise sales are allowed).
• Happen during 2026.
• Be creative and innovative—think beyond the traditional!

Example:
In December 2025, the fund supported Tinsel Town in Pubs, a unique initiative by the Knaresborough District Chamber of Trade. Local pubs hosted festive film screenings, with costs covered by Eventure Knaresborough. The result? A fun, low-cost idea that boosted footfall, supported local businesses, and brought the community together.

Deadline

• Tender Launch – Friday 9^thJanuary 2026
• Application deadline – 12pm Friday 6^thFebruary 2026
• Finalise decision and present to steering group – Thursday 19^thFebruary 2026
• Inform applications – Friday 20th February 2026

Interested in applying?

You can download the Application here alongside the guidance here.