Goole 200

Lantern Parade
2026-11-05 | To be confirmed
A colourful Lantern Parade by Animated Objects will be an exciting addition to Goole’s annual Bonfire Night celebrations for 2026. Further details, including the timings for the parade, will be released nearer the time.

Helios by Luke Jerram
2026-09-25 - 2026-10-05 | To be confirmed
Photo credit: Becs Hughes.
East Riding of Yorkshire Council’s Arts team is delighted to be able to bring Helios, a touring artwork by UK artist Luke Jerram, to Goole.
Measuring seven metres in diameter, the artwork features detailed imagery of the sun’s surface. At an approximate scale of 1:200 million, each centimetre of the internally-lit spherical sculpture represents 2000 kilometres of the sun’s surface. It is very dangerous to look at the sun directly as it can damage our eyesight, so Helios provides a safe opportunity for the public to get up close to, and inspect its extraordinarily detailed surface, including sunspots, spicules and filaments.
The sculpture also features the source of the solar flares which caused the Northern lights to be visible from the UK in May 2024. The installation is a fusion of solar imagery, animated lighting and a specially created surround sound composition by Duncan Speakman and Sarah Anderson.
Helios, in ancient Greek mythology, is the god who personifies the sun. He drove a four-horse chariot across the sky each day, giving the earth its hours and seasons.
The imagery for the artwork has been compiled using photographs of the sun provided by astrophotographer Dr Stuart Green, taken between May 2018 and June 2024, and NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) observations of the sun, with guidance from solar scientist, Professor Lucie Green of University College London (UCL).
Helios was co-commissioned by National Trust, Cork Midsummer Festival, Liverpool Cathedral, Old Royal Naval College and University College London.
Luke Jerram’s multi-disciplinary practice involves the creation of sculptures, installations and live arts projects. Living in the UK but working internationally since 1997, Jerram has created a number of extraordinary art projects which have excited and inspired people around the globe.
In 2019 Luke Jerram was elected Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society.
Helios follows on from Luke’s other astronomical artworks Museum of the Moon, Gaia and Mars.

Further details about Hellos coming to Goole during 2026, including the venue, will be confirmed nearer the time.

The Water Way Walk
2026-09-06 | Meet at Aire Street, Aire Street, Goole, East Riding of Yorkshire, DN145QW, United Kingdom
Explore Goole’s history and heritage on a 15-mile, circular walk along its riverbanks, starting from Aire Street at 10am.
This walk is also a chance to enjoy the natural environment of Goole in good company. Participants are welcome to complete part or all of the route.
More information is available from Goole District Lions.

Music In The Park
2026-08-30 12:00 - 20:00 (Europe/London) | West Park, Airmyn Road, Goole, DN14 6UU, United Kingdom
Join Friends of West Park for a day of family-friendly fun and musical entertainment in the picturesque surroundings of West Park. With a varied programme of musical entertainment, there’s something to suit all ages and tastes. More information will be available nearer the time.

Castaway Film Celebration
2026-08-22 18:30 - 20:00 | Castaway Music Theatre, Estcourt Street, Goole, East Riding of Yorkshire, DN14 5AS, United Kingdom
Join the Castaway Film Group Come for the premiere of their most recent work celebrating Goole and its unique characters.
There will also be a nostalgic look back at some key films the group have created together over the last 15 years and a question-and-answer session with the filmmakers. Refreshments will be available.
For tickets and more information, click here.

Yorkshire Day Celebrations
2026-08-01 | To be confirmed
To coincide with Goole’s bicentenary year, the town will be a focus for this year’s Yorkshire Day celebrations. More information will be shared nearer the time.

Canal Boat Stories – Live! With Robbie Cumming
2026-07-20 19:30 - 21:30 | Junction Goole, Paradise Place, Goole, East Riding of Yorkshire, DN14 5DL, United Kingdom
A fun and interactive evening of canal-themed escapism with blogger, streamer, recording artist and TV personality Robbie Cumming. Known all over the north, midlands and south of England as ‘the Canal man’, Robbie has starred in six television series of ‘Canal Boat Diaries’ and has three music albums under his belt. Supported by photos, video, music and even props, this is an intimate experience for fans of canals, alternative living and storytelling.

Family Geocaching Hunt
2026-07-20 - 2026-08-28 | Multiple locations across Goole, Goole, East Riding of Yorkshire, United Kingdom
Take part in this Family Geocaching Hunt at any time during the six-week, school summer holidays to suit you. It’s a chance to explore Goole, stay active and discover the town’s hidden history together.
Geocaching is a fun, family-friendly, outdoor adventure that involves using your phone to find hidden places, and this hunt will take you to locations across Goole.
To get involved, download the What Was Here? app, or scan the QR code (below) to download it, and then choose the Goole Geocache Hunt. Then, all you have to do is find it, snap it and win it!
There are prizes for the most geocaches found and the most trail stops visited. To be in with a chance of winning, simply share photographic evidence by tagging @EastRidingActive on Facebook.
This fun, free event has been organised by East Riding of Yorkshire Council’s Active Communities Team in collaborating with East Riding Museums and East Riding Archives.
For more information, email Jez Hartley at: Jez.hartley@eastriding.gov.uk.

Goole Riverbank Challenge 10K
2026-07-19 | Goole Rugby Club, Westfield Lane, Goole, DN14 5PW, United Kingdom
Organised by local running club Goole Viking Striders, the Riverbank Challenge is one of the area’s most popular and well-established races. It’s a chip-timed 10k along the banks of the River Ouse, with a quick blast through the village of Hook thrown in. Setting off from Goole Rugby Club on Westfield Lane, the race follows a flat and scenic route.
A special race T-shirt is being created featuring a bicentenary-themed design, and there will be a bespoke bicentenary-themed medal for those who complete the run.
This year’s race will take place as part of a busy programme of community events and activities planned to mark Goole’s 200th anniversary weekend. Plenty of information, including details of how to enter, can be found on the Goole Riverbank Challenge entry page.

Goole Bicentenary Community & Heritage Celebration
2026-07-18 - 2026-07-20 | To be confirmed
A varied programme of events and activities will take place at venues across the town to coincide with Goole’s 200th anniversary weekend.
More information will be shared nearer the time.

Sync or Swim by Tamar & Jo
2026-07-18 | To be confirmed
Sync or Swim by Tamara & Jo is a vibrant, intergenerational dance theatre piece co-created with professional and community dancers, choreographed by Jo Ashbridge.
Inspired by the unlikely combination of synchronised swimming and 90s party, the piece uses simple yet impressively crafted dance, comedy, colourful costume and a brilliant soundtrack of 90s bangers to create a fun and accessible experience for participants and audiences alike.
It explores themes of community, togetherness and belonging through the sportsmanship and uniformity of synchronised swimming, juxtaposed yet elevated through moments of joy, individuality and partying.
Tamar & Jo have developed their highly successful engagement practice through their down-to-earth, playful approach to community dance.
Further details about the timings, venue and participants will follow nearer the time. This event forms part of a busy programme of celebratory events and activities planned at venues throughout the town to mark the main 200th anniversary weekend.

Reuben Chappell: Master Of The Masts
2026-07-17 - 2026-10-25 | Goole Museum, Carlisle Street, Goole, East Riding of Yorkshire, DN14 5DS, United Kingdom
This landmark exhibition celebrates the life and work of Reuben Chappell (1870-1940), a Goole-born artist internationally recognised as one of the finest ship portraitists of the pierhead painting tradition. Featuring over 40 of his works, many of which have never been on public display, the exhibition explores the fascinating features of Chappell’s compositions and how he captured some of the greatest shifts in maritime technology, including the transition from wood to steel and the replacement of sail by steam. The dramatic and often tragic stories behind the vessels and their crews are also told. The exhibition also tells the story of Chappell’s journey as an artist and devoted family man, from his humble childhood origins around Goole’s bustling docks to his relocation to the wild and rugged coast of Cornwall, where his work continued through war and personal struggles.

Waterways Heritage Festival and Flotilla Of Vessels
2026-07-17 - 2026-07-20 | Goole Marina, The Timber Pond, Dutch Riverside, Goole, DN14 5TB, United Kingdom
A gathering of canal boats is planned, with entertainment, food and drink, to mark the 200th anniversary of the official opening of the Goole to Knottingley canal, and the port and town of Goole. Boat owners are invited to register using this expression of interest form to participate in a flotilla of vessels, which is planned to process around Goole docks on the afternoon of 18 July. More information about the timings will be shared nearer the date.
This event is being organised by Yorkshire Waterways Heritage Society in conjunction with the Goole 2026 Bicentenary Community Group and Boothferry Family and Local History Group.

Junction Goole Arting Classes: Acrylic Canvas Painting
2026-07-17 | Junction Goole, Paradise Place, Goole, East Riding of Yorkshire, DN14 5DL, United Kingdom
Arting is Junction Goole’s relaxed and sociable series of adult art classes and, for 2026, these sessions will have a ‘Goole 200’ theme.
Two two-hour sessions take place on each date – one at 3pm and one at 6pm. All materials, as well as light refreshments and a finished piece to take home, are provided. Visit the event website for booking details and more information.
On Friday 17 July, participants will learn and practise a range of acrylic painting techniques to create their own wildlife-themed canvas, inspired by the birdlife at Blacktoft Sands Nature Reserve.

Vintage In The Park
2026-07-12 12:00 - 16:00 | West Park, Airmyn Road, Goole, DN14 6UU, United Kingdom
Friends of West Park holds its annual Vintage in the Park event, with vintage fashion and vehicles, music, dancing and much more. Further details will follow nearer the time. Everyone is welcome.

Junction Goole Arting Classes: Mixed Media
2026-07-10 | Junction Goole, Paradise Place, Goole, East Riding of Yorkshire, DN14 5DL, United Kingdom
Arting is Junction Goole’s relaxed and sociable series of adult art classes and, for 2026, these sessions will have a ‘Goole 200’ theme.
Two two-hour sessions take place on each date – one at 3pm and one at 6pm. All materials, as well as light refreshments and a finished piece to take home, are provided. Visit the event website for booking details and more information.
On Friday 10 July, participants will experiment with inks, crystals and pastels to create their own mixed media fish artwork, inspired by Goole’s waterways, aquatic beauty and peaceful fishing spots.

The Clash of the Vikings!
2026-07-04 15:00 - 17:00 | Victoria Pleasure Grounds, Carter Street, Goole, DN14 6TN, United Kingdom
Goole Vikings will take on Widnes Vikings at the Victoria Pleasure Grounds after the Betfred Championship calendar was reshaped following Featherstone Rovers’ withdrawal from the competition.
The two clubs agreed the dates for the newly scheduled fixtures earlier this year, setting the stage for what has been dubbed ‘The Clash of The Vikings’. The fixtures will see two towns sharing one iconic identity going head-to-head in a unique Championship rivalry played out across two venues.
It seems particularly fitting that Goole Vikings’ home fixture will take place during the town’s 200th birthday month, when a busy programme of community events, activities and celebrations is planned and the home crowd is sure to be in a celebratory mood.
Both clubs are set to collaborate on a joint campaign around the fixtures, celebrating their shared Viking heritage.
Widnes is one of the sport’s oldest clubs and has a passionate fan base, whilst Goole is rugby league’s newest side, reigniting the sport that was first played in the town in the 1800s at the Victoria Pleasure Grounds, which remains their home to this day.
Further ticket information and promotional details for The Clash of The Vikings will be released on the Goole Vikings RLFC website in due course.

Junction Goole Arting Classes: Lino Print
2026-07-03 | Junction Goole, Paradise Place, Goole, East Riding of Yorkshire, DN14 5DL, United Kingdom
Arting is Junction Goole’s relaxed and sociable series of adult art classes and, for 2026, these sessions will have a ‘Goole 200’ theme.
Two two-hour sessions take place on each date – one at 3pm and one at 6pm. All materials, as well as light refreshments and a finished piece to take home, are provided. Visit the event website for booking details and more information.
On Friday 3 July, participants will learn how to cut and print their own lino design, inspired by the intricate details of Goole’s historic buildings.

Goole Bicentenary Creative Showcase - closing date for submissions
2026-06-30 | Not applicable to this event
Huddle Goole Community Interest Company is inviting amateur creatives from Goole and the surrounding villages to take part in its Goole Bicentenary Creative Showcase.
People of all ages and abilities are asked to create an image of a place, object or event based in Goole using any form of arts and crafts they choose.
Small prizes will be awarded in several categories, although this event is primarily about the enjoyment of being creative. Entries will go on display in July to celebrate Goole’s bicentenary.
To take part, please keep your submissions family-friendly, safe to display and no bigger than A3 in size. They must be submitted to Huddle Goole CIC at 1 Estcourt Street in Goole (DN14 5AS) before midnight on Tuesday 30 June. Please remember to include your name and address, and your age if you’re under 16 years.
Unfortunately, Huddle Goole is not able to accept submissions from professional artists and creatives.
For more information, visit the Huddle Goole website.

Junction Goole Arting Classes: Art Deco Posters
2026-06-26 | Junction Goole, Paradise Place, Goole, East Riding of Yorkshire, DN14 5DL, United Kingdom
Arting is Junction Goole’s relaxed and sociable series of adult art classes and, for 2026, these sessions will have a ‘Goole 200’ theme.
Two two-hour sessions take place on each date – one at 3pm and one at 6pm. All materials, as well as light refreshments and a finished piece to take home, are provided. Visit the event website for booking details and more information.
On Friday 26 June, participants will design and create their own Art Deco-style poster inspired by the sights and stories of Goole once offered travellers arriving by train or ship.

Goole 2026 Poetry Competition closing date
2026-06-21 | Not applicable to this event
Entries are now being accepted for Goole Library’s ‘Goole 2026’ Poetry Competition ahead of the closing date on Sunday 21 June.
To take part, entrants should submit a poem about Goole. For example, it could be about living in the town or written from the perspective of a Goole resident past or present.
There are categories for primary school age children, secondary school students and adults (over the age of 16 years) to enter. The winner of each category will receive a cash prize (£60, £90 and £100 respectively) and the runners-up will each receive a Goole 2026 commemorative ‘salt and pepper pot’ cruet set. Certificates will also be provided.
All of the prizes are being funded and provided by Goole Civic Society, and the winning entries will be published in a booklet, the creation of which will also be funded by Goole Civic Society.
Entries should be submitted to Goole Library, either by emailing goole.library@eastriding.gov.uk or by handing a hard copy in to library staff. Entrants should include their name, address and contact details, but this information should not appear on the poem itself.
Any personal information will be redacted before the poems are considered by the judging panel, which is made up of Margaret Hicks-Clarke, Chair of Goole Civic Society and a member of the Goole 2026 Bicentenary Group; Georgina Petty, Vice Chair of the Goole 2026 Bicentenary Group and Chair of Friends of West Park; and Janet Porter, a member of the Goole 2026 Bicentenary Group.
Terms and conditions:

Poems must be no more than 45 lines in length, have a connection to the ‘Goole’ theme and be typed clearly.
They must be the original work of the named entrant, written in English and should not have been published, broadcast or have previously won a competition prize.
No alterations can be made to a poem once it has been submitted.
Entrants can submit more than one poem, but they must be on separate pages.
The name of the poet must not appear in or on the poem itself.
Entries cannot be returned, so entrants should retain a copy of their work.
The decision of the judging panel is final and no correspondence will be entered into.
Copyright remains with the poet, but competition organisers reserve the right to publish the winning poems online or in print for one year after the closing date of the competition.
The organisers also reserve the right to alter details of the competition if necessary.
All entries must be received by Sunday 21 June 2026.

Goole And District RSPCA Dog Show
2026-06-13 13:00 - 16:00 | West Park, Airmyn Road, Goole, DN14 6UU, United Kingdom
This popular annual event promises to be bigger and better than ever before during Goole’s bicentenary year.
More information will be available nearer the time on the Goole and District RSPCA website. Registration will begin from 12.30pm. Bring your four-legged friends along for an afternoon of fun.

Community Health Walk
2026-05-26 10:15 - 12:00 | Montague Medical Group, 51 Fifth Avenue, Goole, East Riding of Yorkshire, DN14 6JD, United Kingdom
Meet in Montague Medical Group’s car park at 10.15am to take part in this free health walk for people of all ages and fitness levels.
Organised by East Riding of Yorkshire Council’s Active Communities Team, in collaboration with Cygnet Primary Care Network, as part of national walking month, the walk will start at 10.30am.
Participants will head towards West Park, where they will stop for 20 to 30 minutes to enjoy refreshments in West Park Café before heading back to the start point.
A free drink (a cup of tea, standard coffee or bottle of water) will be provided at West Park café. No booking is required, but anyone who would like further information can email Jez Hartley at: jez.hartley@eastriding.gov.uk.
Children must be accompanied by an adult and everyone is welcome.

Goole 200: A History Of Goole In 200 Objects
2026-05-23 - 2026-07-04 | Goole Museum, Carlisle Street, Goole, East Riding of Yorkshire, DN14 5DS, United Kingdom
This exhibition explores two centuries of Goole’s rich history through 200 weird and wonderful objects from Goole Museum’s collections.
Nearly all of the artefacts on display were donated by members of the local community, so this exhibition is very much a people’s history of Goole.
Some of these fascinating artefacts tell the story of Goole’s origins and growth as port, alongside the development of other industries such as shipbuilding, alum working and clothes manufacturing. Others are more personal, everyday items and provide a window into childhood, home-life, healthcare and recreation in Goole.
In contrast, several objects shed light on the more dramatic episodes in Goole’s past, including the World Wars and grand public celebrations. Look out for the ‘spotlight’ objects, which are artefacts that tell a particularly special story.

Junction Goole Arting Classes: Clay Gargoyles
2026-05-22 | Junction Goole, Paradise Place, Goole, East Riding of Yorkshire, DN14 5DL, United Kingdom
Arting is Junction Goole’s relaxed and sociable series of adult art classes and, for 2026, these sessions will have a ‘Goole 200’ theme.
Two two-hour sessions take place on each date – one at 3pm and one at 6pm. All materials, as well as light refreshments and a finished piece to take home, are provided. Visit the event website for booking details and more information.
On Friday 22 May, participants will sculpt their own Gothic-style gargoyle in clay, drawing inspiration from St John’s Parish Church in Goole.

Junction Goole Arting Classes: Carafe Painting
2026-05-15 | Junction Goole, Paradise Place, Goole, East Riding of Yorkshire, DN14 5DL, United Kingdom
Arting is Junction Goole’s relaxed and sociable series of adult art classes and, for 2026, these sessions will have a ‘Goole 200’ theme.
Two two-hour sessions take place on each date – one at 3pm and one at 6pm. All materials, as well as light refreshments and a finished piece to take home, are provided. Visit the event website for booking details and more information.
On Friday 15 May, participants will paint a glass wine carafe, drawing inspiration from Goole’s trading history.

Baroque Around The Books
2026-05-12 11:00 - 12:00 | Goole Library, Carlisle Street, Goole, East Riding of Yorkshire, DN14 5DS, United Kingdom
Join Sam Brown (lute) and Daniel Thomson (vocals) as they share the music and poetry of Shakespeare’s England as part of a programme entitled Facets Of Time.
Partnering with East Riding Libraries for the first time, the National Centre for Early Music (NCEM) is hosting free concerts in four East Riding Libraries during May 2026, making early music accessible to everyone.
This wonderful initiative, supported by the John Feldberg Foundation, brings together two things the NCEM deeply passionate about – supporting the careers of young artists and sharing the magic of early music with a wider audience. Baroque Around The Books is an NCEM cultural wellbeing initiative.
This free event at Goole Library is suitable for all age groups and has a running time of approximately 30 minutes. No booking is required, simply turn up on the day. For access information, please visit Goole Library.

Junction Goole Arting Classes: Enamel Plate Painting
2026-05-08 | Junction Goole, Paradise Place, Goole, East Riding of Yorkshire, DN14 5DL, United Kingdom
Arting is Junction Goole’s relaxed and sociable series of adult art classes and, for 2026, these sessions will have a ‘Goole 200’ theme.
Two two-hour sessions take place on each date – one at 3pm and one at 6pm. All materials, as well as light refreshments and a finished piece to take home, are provided. Visit the event website for booking details and more information.
On Friday 8 May, participants will design and paint their own enamel plate in a session inspired by the traditional canal boat art seen on Goole’s historic waterways.

Interactive Workshop: Summer Heat Wave of '76
2026-05-07 13:00 - 14:30 | Goole Museum, Carlisle Street, Goole, East Riding of Yorkshire, DN14 5DS, United Kingdom
This year marks the 50th anniversary of the 1976 summer heat wave. Although it’s usually remembered as a golden summer, the hot, dry weather also led to a water crisis.
Goole Museum is inviting local people to take part in a free, interactive workshop, where they will be able to delve into the 1976 heat wave and drought through newspaper articles and other archival material.
Participants will also use creative methods, including collage-making, to explore what drought means for us as a community and how we can learn from the past to prepare for the future. This workshop is being staged in collaboration with the University of Hull.

Maypole Celebration and Teddy Bear's Picnic
2026-05-04 11:30 - 13:30 | West Park, Airmyn Road, Goole, DN14 6UU, United Kingdom
Everyone is welcome to join the Friends of West Park for a Maypole Celebration and Teddy Bears’ Picnic in West Park on the first Bank Holiday Monday in May.
There will be dancing around the Maypole from 11.30am to 12.30pm, followed by a Teddy Bears’ Picnic from 12.30m to 1.30pm.
Ice creams will be on sale and West Park Cafe will be open as usual. Picnic lunches are available from the cafe, but must be pre-ordered. The first 20 picnic lunches be provided free of charge, thanks to Friends of West Park.
Weather permitting, there will also be free craft activities on the band stand, courtesy of Huddle Goole.
Goole District Lions and Goole Civic Society have kindly donated prizes for a Teddy Bear’s Picnic competition and there are various categories for people to enter, including Cutest Teddy Bear, Best Handmade Costume, Creative Use Of Recycled Materials, Best Family Affort, and a special Bicentenary Award.
This event is free to attend. Follow Friends of West Park’s Facebook page for more information.
