The Hepworth Wakefield Harvest Festival

Carmel Smickersgill, Tours & Activities Editor

Book now

The Hepworth Wakefield Harvest Festival

21-22 September 2024

Always double check opening hours with the venue before making a special visit.

Colourful Illustration of boots, seeds, watercan and trowel
Tess Smith-Roberts
Book now

As every good calendar keeper or tarot card-carrying pagan is aware, the Autumn Equinox takes place on the 22 September and marks the shift in seasons. To welcome the transition of daylight hours into darker, cosier times, The Hepworth Wakefield are hosting their first Harvest Festival. Expect a weekend-long series of markets, workshops and entertainment where you can meet some of the most exciting independent producers in Yorkshire. 

Amongst the stall holders are the familiar faces of Jumbo Records, Leeds’ oldest (and possibly best-loved) record store, and the vintage heavyweights of Yorkshire, Wax & Wain Co. who curate sustainable and beautiful handcrafted goods. You’ll also find traditionally-made modern furniture from East Yorkshire-based Slo Workshop; contemporary woven textiles by Marsden-based Anna-Lisa Smith; luxury candles from Ash + Ember; and Wakefield’s very own Alchemilla Floral Design, who specialise in bespoke British flowers and seasonal blooms. With over 60 stall holders you can find food, books, blankets, candles, ceramics, fabrics, homeware, plants, prints and seasonal produce on sale. We love that the festival is a real showcase for local and independent sellers – so you can feel good about investing in a sustainable local economy. 

The market is being held in the Tileyard North, a refurbished mill opposite the gallery. Throughout the weekend there are also craft activities for all ages, plenty of inventive street food vendors and live music to soundtrack your perusing. 

In parallel with the Harvest Festival, The Hepworth Wakefield has an exhibition of screen-printed posters by Saltaire-based artist Tall Paul Kelly. Earlier this year, Kelly was the winner of the gallery’s annual Print Fair Prize. The works will be on display in the gallery’s cafe as a free exhibition open to all. Throughout the festival entries to the other galleries will also be half price so it’s a great opportunity to see some of Barbara Hepworth’s seminal works while keeping some spare change for the stalls. 

Hepworth herself was often inspired by the seasonal changes and these uncertain transition periods in our world. What better way to sink into the autumn than by surrounding yourself in her legacy and celebrating the excitement of a new season.

What's on at The Hepworth Wakefield

Where to go near The Hepworth Wakefield Harvest Festival

Wakefield
Restaurant
Hi Sushi

Hi Sushi is a new Japanese sushi restaurant, located at the site of the former Hokkaido Teppanyaki restaurant.

Wakefield
Theatre
Stride Theatre

Stride Theatre is a diversity and SEN focused theatre company at the heart of the Wakefield community, looking to ‘bring people together’ and ‘allow individuals to flourish’.

Wakefield
Shop
Wakefield Antiques

Wakefield Antiques, The Ridings is the hot-spot space for locals of Wakefield to deal, create and collect products, craft and heirlooms.

Wakefield
Bar or Pub
Now Serving

In the heart of Wakefield this basement bar, ‘high end, low brow’ by their own description, remains a popular watering hole.

Neon Workshops
Wakefield
Neon Workshops

One of Wakefield’s coolest companies, book a workshop, visit a temporary exhibition or browse Neon Workshops’ online shop.

Merlins of Wakefield
Wakefield
Shop
Merlins of Wakefield

Merlins of Wakefield is a magic shop offering both products and informed advice to beginner and experienced magicians.

Wakefield
Event venue
Venue 23

Venue 23 is an independently run live music venue in Wakefield, which plays host to both local and international talent.

Holmfield Arms
Wakefield
Hotel
Holmfield Arms

A popular lodge-style hotel set in picturesque parkland with its own restaurant, close to Wakefield city centre.

The Hop Wakefield
Wakefield
Music venue
The Hop Wakefield

With over 50 years brewing experience and over 35 years knowledge of the music industry, The Hop Wakefield offers traditional ale plus contemporary music.

Frank Bird
Wakefield
Shop
Frank Bird

With an elegant facade and a reputation for excellent customer service, Frank Bird offers premium menswear collections from around the world.

What's on: Festivals

A girl lies down in a field of daisies.
Until
CinemaManchester
The Worlds of Mamoru Hosoda at HOME

This summer, HOME presents a short season of films from celebrated Japanese animator Mamoru Hosoda, screening on the big screen in stunning 4K for the first time.

From £4.70
Until
FestivalsCity Centre
Independents Biennial 2025

You’ll find Independents Biennial exhibitions pretty much everywhere in Merseyside, with more art, performances and events than ever before.

Free entry
Image of a performer dressed as a creepy moon, wearing a beige suit jacket, grinning in front of a lamp
EducationCity Centre
British Science Festival

Enjoy comedy shows to art installations, dynamic performances and more at this amazing celebration of all things science.

Free entry

Culture Guides

Detail of an abstract sculpture, with burned materials and rusty chicken wire at the centre, with rusted metal bars bent around it.
Exhibitions in the North

Chocolate fountains, beautiful batiks and medieval marginalia - this month's supersized Exhibitions Guide has it all.

Literature Events in the North

The autumn leaves might be falling already, but the harvest is plentiful as the live literature scene gets back into the swing of things after a summer break...

Theatre in Manchester and the North
Theatre in the North

This season’s theatre is gloriously eclectic: from radical cabaret and reinvented classics to new musicals and boundary-pushing performance.

Cinema in the North

This month we recommend a season of Film noir, cult Australian movies and a huge celebration of DIY community cinema.