Holmfirth, United Kingdom

Holmfirth's economy is dominated by rural and tourism activities. A 2013 youth survey identified reducing opportunities for young adults in the area and an intention to leave to find employment. The survey resulted in a successful bid for lottery funding to create new opportunities and training to increase employment opportunities in the area. Tourism economic activity is increasing with several accommodation and tourist pursuits developing in the town including booking software to manage and market accommodation. New holiday accommodation includes that linked to the new Winery in Cartworth Moor.

Longley Farm, a manufacturer of dairy products founded in 1948, is a significant employer in the town.

Holmfirth's Film Festival and Festival of Folk are held every May, and its Arts Festival takes place over two weeks in June.

An annual Holmfirth Feast, with amusements and bazaars, took place during the mid-nineteenth century at Crown Bottom. The feast is associated with an unusual choral folk song known as the Holmfirth Anthem.

Holmfirth Choral Society hold regular classical choral music concerts in Holmfirth Civic Hall and the Holme Valley Orchestra plays throughout the year.

Holmfirth's Film Festival and Festival of Folk are held every May, and its Arts Festival takes place over two weeks in June.

The town's cinema, the Picturedrome, which opened in 1912 as the Valley Theatre, is now a live music venue and has been nominated for the NME Best Small Venue. It hosts various music events. Acts such as Adam Ant, Bad Manners, Buzzcocks, Evile, Fish, Half Man Half Biscuit, Hawkwind, John Martyn, Ocean Colour Scene, the Red Hot Chilli Pipers, Ron Sexsmith, Saxon, Suzi Quatro and the Beat have performed.

Holmfirth Art Week, with its July exhibition in the Civic Hall, raises money for Macmillan Cancer Relief.

The Holmfirth Festival of Folk takes place in May of each year, featuring a wide selection of folk music and folk dance acts from around the UK. Performances take place in a variety of indoor and outdoor venues throughout the town.

Holmfirth's only primary school is Holmfirth Junior, Infant, and Nursery School located on Cartworth Road; however, there are many other primary schools in villages and hamlets closely surrounding Holmfirth. In 2017, 82% of the school's student were achieving the expected standard for their age and 12% were exceeding the expected standard.

Holmfirth High School is a coeducational secondary school that takes in students from the local primary schools named above as well as students from neighbouring villages and hamlets. The school has over 1,300 pupils, split over five-year groups from years 7 to 11. As of June 2023, the school has an Ofsted rating of "outstanding".