Ice Sculpture Trail

The Ice Sculpture Trail arrives in Harrogate town centre on Saturday 12 December, with eight ice sculptures placed across the town for you to track down. It's a family-friendly one: you wrap up warm and hunt for the eight pieces scattered through the centre, with a festive photo stop at the ice wreath selfie station to mark the day. The trail is put on by Harrogate BID in partnership with Ice Box, and it's supported by Harrogate Town Council, North Yorkshire Council and Victoria Shopping Centre, with the Town Council contributing £15,000 towards the festive activities.

The trail is part of a wider Christmas programme that centres on the new Harrogate Ice Pavilion, a covered real-ice rink on the upper tennis courts in Valley Gardens, which runs from 17 December 2026 to 3 January 2027. Around that, the town brings back Santa's Grotto at Victoria Shopping Centre, free curling lanes, and a giant snow globe that's open on six December days. There's also the North Pole Post Office, run in partnership with Harrogate International Festivals, and the Valley Gardens makers market.

Beyond the events, the BID's annual Christmas Window Competition returns, and the town's Christmas lights are fully funded this year. The ice sculpture trail kicks things off on 12 December, with the eight locations to be announced closer to the date.