5 Events to Enjoy in West Yorkshire This Autumn

There is something about West Yorkshire in autumn that makes getting out and about particularly appealing. The days are getting shorter, the trees are changing colour and, thankfully, there is still plenty going on before winter properly arrives.

Across the towns and cities, autumn brings everything from big cultural festivals and live music to food, Halloween events and the slightly more unusual things you wouldn't necessarily plan a whole weekend around.

If you're looking for a reason to visit West Yorkshire this autumn, here are five events worth putting in the diary.

1. Ilkley Literature Festival

2–18 October 2026

If you like books, conversation and the occasional excuse to spend an afternoon wandering around Ilkley, the Ilkley Literature Festival is an easy one to recommend.

The festival is one of the longest-running literary festivals in the North and brings authors, performers and speakers into the town for more than two weeks. There are more than 100 events, covering everything from talks and interviews to performances and workshops.

What makes it particularly good from a visitor's point of view is the setting. Ilkley is already worth a trip in autumn, with the moor rising above the town and plenty of independent shops, cafés and places to eat. You can easily build a day around an event rather than simply turning up for a talk and heading home afterwards.

I'd probably arrive early, have a wander around town, find somewhere for lunch and then head to whichever event you've booked. If the weather behaves itself, there's always the option of walking up towards the Cow and Calf afterwards and seeing Ilkley from above.

It feels like a very Yorkshire way to spend an autumn day: a good book, a decent lunch and a walk on the moors.

2. Marsden Jazz Festival

9–11 October 2026

Marsden is a great place to visit at any time of year, but there's something particularly fitting about heading into the village on a cool October weekend when the Marsden Jazz Festival is in full swing.

The festival takes over venues around the village and brings live music into a part of West Yorkshire that's better known for its moorland, canals and industrial heritage. The 2026 festival runs from Friday 9 to Sunday 11 October.

One of the nice things about Marsden is that you don't need to plan the entire weekend around the music. You can combine a gig with a walk along the Huddersfield Narrow Canal, explore the village or head out towards the surrounding moors.

And because the venues are dotted around the village, the festival has a more intimate feel than some of the huge music events you'll find elsewhere. You can wander between places, stop for a drink and see where the evening takes you.

If you're visiting from outside West Yorkshire, this is one I'd consider turning into an overnight stay. Marsden and the Colne Valley are particularly good once the autumn colours arrive, and having somewhere to come back to after the last performance makes the whole weekend feel a little more relaxed.

3. Light Night Leeds

28–29 October 2026

When the clocks have gone back and it gets dark before dinner, Leeds has a rather good answer: Light Night.

Taking place on 28 and 29 October this year, Light Night Leeds turns parts of the city centre into a huge outdoor art trail, using light, projections, performance and installations to transform streets and familiar buildings. The 2026 event is part of the city's Leeds 400 celebrations and is completely free to attend.

This is probably one of the easiest events on the list to turn into a proper evening out. You don't need to arrive at a particular time or sit through a performance. You can simply head into the city, pick up a programme and wander between the installations.

It's also a good excuse to see Leeds after dark. Buildings and streets that you might normally walk straight past can look completely different when they're covered in projections or lit up as part of an artwork.

The event runs from 6pm until 9.30pm, so there's plenty of time to combine it with dinner, drinks or a bit of shopping. And because it's free, it's a particularly good option if you're visiting Leeds with family or a group of friends and don't want to spend a fortune on tickets.

Wrap up warm, wear comfortable shoes and don't worry too much about having a strict plan. Half the fun is seeing what you find around the next corner.

4. Huddersfield International Crisp Festival

2–11 October 2026

Not every autumn event needs to be serious, and Huddersfield's International Crisp Festival is probably the best example.

Yes, it really is a festival dedicated to crisps.

Running from 2 to 11 October, the event brings together more than 200 crisps from around the world, alongside live music, quizzes, competitions and ticketed tasting events. Most of the events take place at the Sportsman in Huddersfield, with some also at the County Beerhouse.

It's the sort of event that makes a good weekend story because it is, frankly, a bit different. You can go along with friends, try crisps you've probably never seen before and make an evening of it.

And once you've had your fill of snacks, Huddersfield has plenty to offer beyond the festival. The town centre has its own food and drink scene, while the wider area gives you easy access to places such as Lindley, Holmfirth and the Colne Valley.

If you're looking for something a little less predictable than the usual autumn events, put this one on the list.

You might never look at a packet of crisps in quite the same way again.

5. Yorkshire Scare Grounds – Wakefield

9 October–1 November 2026

For something a little more frightening, the Yorkshire Scare Grounds Halloween event returns to Wakefield this autumn.

Running from 9 October through to 1 November, the event is based at the Yorkshire Scare Grounds Scream Park and is designed around Halloween scares and immersive experiences.

This is definitely one for those who enjoy their autumn with a bit more adrenaline. Rather than simply walking through a decorated attraction, the scare-park format makes an evening of it, with different experiences to work your way through.

It's also well timed for October half term, making it an option for older families and groups of friends looking for something to do in the evenings. If you're visiting Wakefield for the weekend, it can easily be combined with a daytime trip to somewhere like Yorkshire Sculpture Park or a walk around the city before heading over for the evening.

If you're not particularly keen on being scared, there are plenty of other things happening across Wakefield in October — but for anyone who enjoys Halloween, this is the one to put on the calendar.

Just don't blame me if you spend the drive home checking the back seat.

A West Yorkshire autumn worth getting out for

The best thing about autumn in West Yorkshire is that you don't have to choose between countryside, culture and entertainment.

You can spend an afternoon listening to an author in Ilkley, catch live music in Marsden, wander through the streets of Leeds surrounded by light and art, eat your way through an international crisp selection in Huddersfield or spend an evening being chased around a scare park in Wakefield.

And that variety is exactly what makes autumn a good time to visit.

The summer crowds have eased off, the landscape is starting to change colour and there is still plenty happening across the county. So grab a coat, check the diary and make a weekend of it.