It was a real cracking Yorkshire Day on Wednesday 1 August in Dewsbury, as the best Market in the Country 2007, celebrated its county’s annual day.

The atmosphere was set as local musical performers including a Hurdy Gurdy and traditional Yorkshire dances filled the market and the town centre.

In the centre of the market, children’s craft workshops saw local children spending countless hours painting, drawing and describing what makes Dewsbury their favourite place in Yorkshire. The pieces of work will be judged on Sunday 26 August during the Dewsbury on Sea event, and the creator of the winning piece will be invited to help switch on the Christmas Lights in Dewsbury. And it’s not too late to enter. Local children can still submit drawings, poems, collages, essays, in fact anything they wish to create which represents to them the best things in Dewsbury. Entries can be submitted to the Market Office in Dewsbury until Saturday 25 August.

Also at the craft workshops, children took part in painting wooden fishes and jellyfish which will be hung on the fabulous Dewsbury Pier during the Dewsbury on Sea event on Saturday 25 and Sunday 26 August.

At 12 noon on 1 August, in the heart of Dewsbury Market, Vic Watson the Kirklees Markets Crier, cried the Pledge of Allegiance to Yorkshire. With the crowds all gathered around, Vic invited local people to pledge their allegiance with more than 100 people stepped up to pledge their allegiance, receiving certificates for being true Yorkshire tykes, white roses and a stick of good old Dewsbury on Sea rock.

Traders in the market really kept the spirit of Yorkshire Day alive in the market, with many joining in and dressing up for the occasion. Visitors could see stalls decorated with Yorkshire Rhubarb, Yorkshire Roses and in some cases Yorkshire Puddings!

Of course, being a real traditional Yorkshire Market, Dewsbury already boasted the very best of Yorkshire fayre, and visitors to the market certainly enjoyed a real Yorkshire welcome.

Cllr Ken Sims, Cabinet Member for Regeneration said ‘Dewsbury Market was the perfect venue to host the celebrations for Yorkshire Day in Kirklees. Holding the title of the best market in the country is something that we are all proud of, and reflects the dedication of Kirklees Council and its market traders to keeping this the busiest and largest open market in Yorkshire. We are now looking forward as the markets team delivers a programme of events right through to Christmas which will culminate in the re-launch of the fully refurbished Market Hall in Dewsbury.’

The next town centre event is Dewsbury on Sea, taking place on Saturday 25 and Sunday 26 August. Twelve tonnes of sand will be used to create a real beach on Foundry Street at the side of the market. Buckets & Spades a plenty are provided for children to play for free all day in the sand. Punch & Judy, children’s rides, caricature artists, living statues, face painting, sticks of rock, crazy golf and much more as we enjoy our bank holiday weekend in style at Yorkshire’s largest and the UK’s best open market!