Grab your diaries and make a note of some of these unmissable events over the summer months.

1. AESTHETICA ART PRIZE EXHIBITION:

If you want to see the Damien Hirst and Tracey Emins of tomorrow head to York Art Gallery. This annual prize is run by Aesthetica Magazine and this year features the work of 12 artists. Our favourite is Jukhee Kwon’s Babel Library, which has turned shredded pages of the Encyclopaedia Britannica into a giant waterfall.

To August 31st, aestheticamagazine.com

2. YORK FESTIVAL OF IDEAS:

In these troubled times we like the theme of this year’s festival which is Imaging the Impossible. An eclectic programme of events, there are talks on everything from astronomy to artificial intelligence and Andy Murray’s mum Judy will also be putting in an appearance.

June 5th to 17th, yorkfestivalofideas.com

3. SHEFFIELD DOCFEST

There has never been a better time to be a documentary maker and this festival celebrates the best of the current crop. A definite highlight will be Line of Duty and This is England’s Vicky McClure talking about her new BBC series My Dementia Choir at the city’s Showroom cinema.

June 7th to 12th. sheffdocfest.com

4. ITU WORLD TRIATHLON SERIES

It’s become one of the highlights of Yorkshire’s sporting calendar. Around 5,000 amateurs are set to give the Leeds triathlon a go, but for those just wanting to see whether Alistair and Jonny Brownlee can see off the competition in the main event tickets are available for the grandstand in Millennium Square.

June 9th & 10th, leeds.triathlon.org

5. THE GREAT YORKSHIRE VEGAN FESTIVAL

With more than 130 stalls and 15 world food caterers, Leeds Town Hall will be transformed into a meat-free dream. As part of the two day event there will also be cookery demonstrations, workshops and yoga classes.

June 16th & 17th. leedstownhall.co.uk

6. KATY PERRY

The singer has always been much more than just a throwaway popster and the Witness tour promises to be her best to date. Add numerous costume changes and a set which is the very definition of bling to an impressive back catalogue of singles and it should make for an irresistible mix at Sheffield’s FlyDSA arena.

June 19th, flydsaarena.co.uk

7. DAVE HASLAM AND JOHN MCCLURE

One was a Hacienda legend, the other was the frontman for Reverend and the Makers. Now Haslam and McClure come together to DJ for the first time at Hebden Bridge Trades Club. The event also marks the publication of Haslam’s new book, Sonic Youth Slept on My Floor; Music, Manchester & More.

June 22nd, thetradesclub.com

8. GIN FESTIVAL LEEDS

It has experienced a renaissance like no other and this is a chance to taste a huge variety of gins from all over the world, there will also be masterclasses, the opportunity to meet distillers in person, live music and good food to soak up the spirits.

June 22nd to 24th, ginfestival.com

9. MISTER FINCH

The Leeds textile artist’s animal creation are instantly recognisable and just a little bit unsettling. If we say badgers wearing tiny jackets propelled by wheels and hedgehogs playing brass bell you get the picture. Well, 75 of them will be on display at Yorkshire Sculpture Park in The Wish Post, an homage to the gothic fairytale.

June 23rd to September 23rd, ysp.org.uk

10. SHAKESPEARE’S ROSE THEATRE

This summer York will get its answer to the Globe with the recreation of a 17th century theatre next to Clifford’s Tower. Open for three months, the company will be performing, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Macbeth, Romeo and Juliet and Richard III.

June 25th to September 2nd. shakespearesrosetheatre.com

11. RUFUS WAINWRIGHT

He’s collaborated with everyone from Elton John to Mark Ronson, Joni Mitchell and Burt Bacharach, but this summer there is a chance to see the trademark, Wainwright sound stripped back as he performs an intimate gig in the surrounds of Leeds Town Hall

June 26th, leedstownhall.co.uk

12. BRADFORD LITERATURE FESTIVAL

When it was announced Kate Bush was to create a new work of art in homage to the Brontes as part of this year’s event, its reputation as one of the fastest growing literary festivals was confirmed. Bush most likely won’t show face, but there will be appearances from David Starkey, Jeanette Winterson, Frank Bruno and Dennis Skinner.

June 29th to July 8th, bradfordlitfest.co.uk

13. YORK RIVER ART MARKET

The stretch of the River Ouse which runs through York is always pretty beautiful, but during the summer there is even more reason to visit as each Saturday in July it is turned over to an open-air gallery attracting artists from Yorkshire and beyond.

July 7th, 14th, 21st, 28th. visityork.org

14. THE GREAT YORKSHIRE SHOW

It’s July, it’s Yorkshire, so that must mean one of the country’s biggest events in the rural calendar. If you have never been, you should. As well as the usual animal classes and rural crafts, the Pimm’s flows like nectar at Harrogate Showground and there is a food hall like no other.

July 10th to 12th. greatyorkshireshow.co.uk

15. THE GREAT GATSBY

F Scott Fitzgerald’s novel of 1920s prohibition, bootleg liquor and the hedonistic seeking Jay Gatsby is rightly a classic of the jazz age and the words will be brought to life in this outdoor production which sees Castle Howard near York stage one his famous parties.

July 11th to 15th, castlehoward.co.uk

16. THEAKSTON’S OLD PECULIER CRIME WRITING FESTIVAL

It began life 15 years ago as small celebration of crime writing, but is now one of the biggest events of its kind in the world. To prove the point this year’s they’ve managed to lure that big hitter of the thriller genre John Grisham to Harrogate’s Old Swan Hotel.

July 19th to 22nd. harrogateinternationalfestivals.com

17. THE GREAT YORKSHIRE FRINGE

Viewed as warm up event for Edinburgh, the York festival has developed some clout and this year will see sets from the likes of Paul Foot, Reginald D Hunter, Omid Djalili and for those old enough to remember Tony Slattery From Whose Line is It Anyway will be there.

July 19th to 29th. greatyorkshirefringe.com

18. PLAN B

The writer, producer, actor and performer aka Ben Drew will become the latest artist to perform live at Leeds’ Millennium Square. With fourth studio album Heaven Before All Hell Breaks Loose just out, expect a chunk of new material alongside old favourites Ill Manors and She Said.

July 20th, millsqleeds.com

19. TITANIC THE MUSICAL

Based on real people aboard the most legendary ship in the world, this show can do no wrong. It was a massive hit on Broadway and in the West End and now comes to Bradford’s Alhambra Theatre. Demand for tickets is likely to be high so book early.

July 24th to 28th, bradford-theatres.co.uk

20. CLASSIC IBIZA

Harewood House might be an unlikely setting for an evening of classic Ibiza tunes, but that’s part of its appeal. As the sun slowly sets on the stately home, experience some of the White Isle’s most iconic tunes from down the years, all brought to life by the Urban Soul Orchestra.

July 28, harewood.org