Things to Do in Wilberfoss
Bringing the community and wider community together
Various events take place in Wilberfoss. Some are one-offs, some happen every few years and some have drawn in crowds year-on-year and for many year. St John the Baptist Church holds several events each year too. The Playing Fields Association and the Community Centre Management committee have both taken their turn in hosting the Summer Fair and more recently the Christmas Fair has been run by volunteer individuals. Wilberfoss in Bloom sometimes run an Open Garden event where residents open their gardens to visitors and once or twice a year they hold a plant sale to raise funds. A party is held every year for the elders of the village. What have been staples for many years have been the Bonfire Night, the Scarecrow Festival and the Duck Race but all are of course reliant on volunteers.
Keep scrolling for details of a our short walk, The Wilberfoss Wander
Bonfire Night
The annual Bonfire and Firework Display draws a huge crowd year on year. Run by the Playing Fields Association, there's an opportunity for local groups to raise funds through the sale of cakes and refreshments. Doors open around 6.30 pm and the fire is lit around 7.00 pm. A 20 minute professional firework display is usually set off around 7.30 pm. The BBQ is used by one of the user groups to raise funds and in recent years a children's disco has been provided. The bar is open all evening .
Two-Day Annual Scarecrow Festival
Our Annual Scarecrow festival has brought people to the village from all over the country. We average around 25-30 scarecrows and the voluntary committee decides on a different theme each year. Refreshments are served in the Community Centre throughout the event and it's there that you'll pick up a map of the village showing the location of the scarecrows. Funds raised not only benefit voluntary groups in the village, but a national charity is chosen by the committee every year and half the proceeds are donated to that charity.
Annual Duck Race
Historically, the Annual Duck Race has been held on Easter Sunday but as Easter never falls on the same weekend from year to year, the weather was always a little unpredictable for this event.
One year we were brushing snow off the ground in the morning and the sun was shining brightly by the time the first race went off at 2.00 pm. In 2018 the committee was forced to make the unprecedented decision to move the event altogether and held it on the first May Bank Holiday. The water level in the beck was just too high and flowing too fast at Easter! Nothing stops the crowds from supporting this wonderful annual event, however, and an ice cream van is on site whatever the weather! It's a great opportunity for local groups to raise much needed funds by selling tickets for the races. With over 300 ducks a race, there's some money to be made!
In 2023, with a new committee on board, the Duck Race was moved to the 14th May , raising £1,800 for community groups. In 2024 it will take place on the 1st September.
The Wilberfoss Wander
A 1.3 mile walk around the village
Wilberfoss Wander is the name for a short (~1.3 mile) walk around the countryside from the village. It takes in public rights of way and permissible paths in a tranquil circular route starting from the Church. Two benches were added to the route in 2022 to offer places to sit and take it all in. Watch out for barn owls, tawny owls and hares over the fields and keep your eyes peeled for our kingfishersa. More recently a little egret made Wilberfoss its home for a season. Otters have even been known to visit fish ponds of homes close to the beck in Wilberfoss in the past!