If any city has a claim to being the most Yorkshire of all Yorkshire places, it is Ripon. Rooted firmly at the county's heart, reachable from every direction, and steeped in heritage and community spirit, Ripon is preparing to mark Yorkshire Day on 1st August in fitting fashion — doubly so, since the date coincides with the city's beloved St Wilfrid's Procession.

Flying the flag

Ripon BID has installed fifty Yorkshire flags at key points across the city centre, and the display has been very much a community effort:

Ripon Men's Shed altered and repainted the flag poles
Otley BID donated the poles
Cllr Chris Hardisty volunteered to put every flag in place

Between them, they have ensured Ripon looks the part for the occasion.

A city built for the role

Ripon's position at the county's centre makes it a natural home for Yorkshire Day festivities — a city that embodies heritage, hospitality, independence and a fierce sense of identity in equal measure. From the ancient cathedral to the nightly Hornblower tradition, from independent shops to family-run attractions, Ripon offers a living reminder of what sets Yorkshire apart. On 1st August, that identity will shine brighter still.

St Wilfrid takes to the streets

Running alongside Yorkshire Day is the St Wilfrid's Procession, one of Ripon's most cherished annual fixtures. Expect vibrant floats, music and costumes, families lining the streets, and Wilfrid himself riding through the city in a tradition that has drawn the community together for generations.

All four Hornblowers, together at last

The celebrations will close with a special ceremony at 9pm, when all four Hornblowers perform together — a rare event that adds fresh significance to a tradition now 1,140 years old. More on the Hornblower tradition here.

Following Walter's trail

No Yorkshire Day in Ripon would be complete without Walter the Whippet, whose trail through the city — courtesy of Ripon BID — offers a family-friendly way to take in the sights at leisure. Along the route:

An ancient charter. Ripon's city status is traced to a charter reputedly granted by King Alfred the Great in 886 AD, making it one of the oldest chartered towns in England — and the likely source of the Hornblower tradition itself.

A Yorkshire icon. The whippet was bred in the mid-19th century across Yorkshire and Lancashire mill towns for rabbit coursing and racing, earning the nickname "the poor man's racehorse" for those who couldn't afford a full-sized greyhound.

A Saxon crypt. The trail passes close to Ripon Cathedral, home to the oldest intact Anglo-Saxon crypt in England, built around 672 AD by St Wilfrid using stone salvaged from Roman buildings.

A market town at heart. The historic Market Square has hosted trading for centuries and remains a lively hub to this day.

A racing pedigree. Just outside the city, Ripon Racecourse — known affectionately as "the Garden Racecourse" — has staged flat racing since 1900.

Three museums. The trail links naturally to the Workhouse Museum, the Prison & Police Museum, and the Courthouse Museum, each adding social history to the day out.

Top of the Tykes

Marking the occasion in verse, local journalist Tim Flanagan has penned Top of the Tykes, a witty and heartfelt tribute to Ripon's determination to stand tall as Yorkshire's most Yorkshire city.

A day to be who we are

Yorkshire Day and St Wilfrid's Procession are a reminder that Ripon is a place of deep roots, strong community and proud identity. Whether a first-time visitor or a lifelong resident, 1st August is the moment to celebrate everything that makes this city — and this county — extraordinary. So come along: enjoy the flags, join the procession, watch the Hornblowers, follow Walter through the streets — and help Ripon prove, once again, that it really is top of the Tykes.