Following a successful start last year, the city’s outdoor organisations, groups, clubs and businesses are coming together to offer a festival programme of more than 100 events, with everything from ‘come-and-try’ taster sessions, demos, rides, runs and urban paddle-boarding to guided walks and conservation.

Headline events include the Rab Climbing Works International Festival, The Magnificent Seven hill climb challenge, the Big Running Weekend and Sheffield Adventure Film Festival.

South Yorkshire Orienteers will help kick-start the festival when they host a national orienteering race at Burbage on Sunday, March 1.

Participants in the Sheffield Magnificent Seven tackling Blake Street

A new addition to events for 2020 is the Asda Foundation Sheffield Half Marathon.

Speaking on behalf of race organisers Run For All, commercial director Siobhan Curtis, said: “We’re really delighted that Sheffield Half Marathon can be part of the Festival of the Outdoors this year.

“Starting and finishing in the city centre, the race route takes thousands of runners all the way out to the edge of the Peak District, so it truly showcases Sheffield as the Outdoor City.

“Entrants will also have the opportunity to test their mettle against the Outdoor City Peaks Challenge, a 'triple test' incorporating a timed hill climb and downhill sprint on one of the most scenic parts of the course.”

Percy Bishton, who will be speaking about his role at the Tokyo Olympics

Several international climbing star s will be making their way to Sheffield to compete at the Rab Climbing Works International Festival (CWIF) on March 14-15, before The Climbing Works’ co-owner, Percy Bishton, heads to Japan later this year, having been appointed chief route setter for bouldering at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

The Festival of the Outdoors is offering an exclusive chance to hear from Percy with a special Route to Tokyo Q&A at The Climbing Works on Thursday, March 12.

Graeme Alderson, co-owner of the Climbing Works and organiser of CWIF, said: “It’s a massive year for climbing.

“As a new sport making its debut at the Olympic Games, there’s never been more interest and so CWIF, and indeed Sheffield, is set to be all the more in the spotlight.

“It’s an enormous privilege that the Climbing Works, and particularly Percy, are playing a part in showcasing this amazing sport to the world.

“The Q&A will be a great opportunity to hear about Percy’s past 30 years in route setting and the moments that have led him to this amazing point of his career.”

Sheffield’s unique cycling event The Magnificent Seven returns for its fifth outing, further cementing itself as one of the toughest cycling challenges in the UK.

Taking place on March 15, the event features three new climbs at Briers House Lane, Ivy Park Road and Burnt Hill, inviting spectators from the local community and beyond to cheer on the riders.

Now in its 15th year, Sheffield Adventure Film Festival (ShAFF) will once again be bringing the wild outdoors into the heart of the city centre with a three-day programme of more than 100 of the latest outdoor adventure films. It takes place at the Showroom Cinema on March 20-22.

The festival is once again presented in association with the British Mountaineering Council, who will launch their Climate Project at this year's ShAFF, just one of many free festival experiences on offer that go beyond the films.

ShAFF organiser Matt Heason said: “I believe that if we love the wild places we adventure in, we also have a duty to protect them.

“Adventurers often push the limits and challenge the norm, and so that’s why this year at ShAFF, we want to inspire everyone to use their adventurous skills and spirit to come together to shape the world for the better.

“To lead by example, we’re delighted to team up with The Outdoor City, BMC and Komoot to actually create our own special film during the festival, which will show the journey from Kinder Scout to Sheffield.

“The film will not only highlight the accessibility of the Peak District, but show the importance of taking care of this immensely important environment.”

Conservation also continues to be a key theme of the Festival of the Outdoors this year, with a variety of volunteering and muck-in sessions on offer.

One big volunteer event will take place at the Devil’s Elbow Bridleway on March 14, as Ride Sheffield and Rotherham and Sheffield Wildlife Trust host a Trail Day to repair damage caused by storms last year.

Sheffield Beer Week (March 9-15) has brewed up several crossover events, including a Women in Beer Walking Tour, Pub Heritage Walks and a beer run out to brewery St Mars of the Desert in Attercliffe.

True North Brew Co have brewed a Festival of the Outdoors ‘Trale’ pale ale and are running a competition to be a brewer for a day.

A printed festival guide will be available to pick up for free from shops, cafes, pubs and bars.

Find the online guide at www.theoutdoorcity.co.uk/festival-of-the-outdoors.