Thornton-le-Dale (also called Thornton Dale) is a village and civil parish in the Ryedale district of North Yorkshire, England, about two miles east of Pickering towards the seaside town of Scarborough. A thatched cottage in the village has appeared on countless calendars and chocolate boxes over the years.
Thornton Dale is also famous for its yearly shows where people from the area gather to compete in various events. On the first Saturday in December the Village Lights Committee (all volunteers) stage the annual Christmas lights 'Switch On'. This is the culmination of a whole year's work of raising money and putting up the lights around the village.
In November each year the Thornton le Dale players put on a play in the village hall. This normally runs for three nights and is always well attended and enjoyed by many villagers and visitors from the surrounding area.
