Official City of Culture 2025 Event | Performance | Spoken Word

BBC Contains Strong Language

18 - 21 Sep 2025

17:00

To be announced

The UK’s biggest poetry and performance festival for new writing is coming to Bradford for the first time.

Contains Strong Language is the BBC’s annual celebration of poetry, performance and spoken word – and next year, it’s coming to Bradford for Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture.

There’ll be four days of performances, readings, events and activities at venues across the city, and a host of BBC radio programmes will be recorded or broadcast live from Bradford – including The Verb, BBC Radio 4’s ‘cabaret of the word’. Much of the weekend will be free.

Check back in 2025 for full programme details.

Please note: event times are TBC

Credits

Produced by the BBC. Part of Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture.

Lead image: © BBC

Partners

BBC Contains Strong Language

Age Guidance
All ages

Ticket Information

General TBC

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Music | Official City of Culture 2025 Event

The Bradford Progress

1 - 31 May 2025

10:00

To be announced

Created by Paraorchestra, Charles Hazlewood, Jeremy Deller and the people of Bradford.

The Bradford Progress celebrates the glorious variety of music made in Bradford – and the people who make it.

Over a weekend in May, the Bradford District will come alive with music made by musicians and singers who call our district home – a sonic journey ending in the centre of the city.

The Bradford Progress is created with and for the people of Bradford in collaboration with Paraorchestra, the pioneering ensemble of disabled and non-disabled musicians led by artistic director Charles Hazlewood, and Jeremy Deller, the Turner Prize-winning artist behind works such as We’re Here Because We’re Here and Acid Brass.

Please note: event times and specific dates are TBC

Credits

Paraorchestra with Charles Hazlewood, Jeremy Deller
Co-produced by Paraorchestra and Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture.

Age Guidance
Ages 5+

Ticket Information

General TBC

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Venue Details

To be announced

Bradford, England, United Kingdom,

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Official City of Culture 2025 Event | Performance | Theatre

The Railway Children

4 Jul - 28 Sep 2025

17:00

Keighley & Worth Valley Railway

Revisit the much-loved children’s classic – on the very train tracks where the film was shot.

Mike Kenny’s enchanting stage adaptation of E. Nesbit’s classic novel has won thousands of admirers since it premiered in 2008. Now, for the first time, we’re taking York Theatre Royal’s Olivier Award-winning production for a ride along the iconic Keighley & Worth Valley Railway, familiar to millions from the film adaptation of The Railway Children.

Exclusively for Bradford 2025, the show begins when you board a steam train at Keighley, then travel the full length of this historic railway. When you reach the end of the line at Oxenhope, you’ll find a purpose-built auditorium within the station’s Engine Shed – and a new version of the production, which tells the story of three children forced to move from London to Yorkshire after their father is falsely imprisoned.

Tickets are set to go on sale soon – to hear the news first, sign up to our free mailing list.

Please note: event times are TBC

Credits

E. Nesbit’s The Railway Children, adapted by Mike Kenny.

Presented by Bradford 2025 and York Theatre Royal in partnership with the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway for Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture.

Partners

York Theatre Royal

Keighley & Worth Valley Railway

Age Guidance
Ages 5+

Ticket Information

General TBC

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Venue Details

Keighley & Worth Valley Railway

The Railway Station, Station Rd
BD22 8NJ

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Art | Exhibition | Free Event | Official City of Culture 2025 Event

Turner Prize

2 Sep - 28 Feb 2026

10:00

Cartwright Hall Art Gallery

The world’s most exciting visual arts prize is coming to Bradford for the first time.

The annual Turner Prize showcases and celebrates the most exciting new developments in British art. In the year the UK celebrates the 250th anniversary of JMW Turner’s birth, the Turner Prize heads to Bradford.

In spring, we’ll announce the names of the shortlisted artists. And then in autumn, their work will be presented at Cartwright Hall Art Gallery, with the winner announced in December 2025.

Check back in the spring for more details.

Please note: event times and dates are TBC

Credits

Produced by Bradford 2025. Delivered in partnership with Tate, Bradford District Museums & Galleries and Yorkshire Contemporary.

Partners

Tate

Bradford District Museums & Galleries

Cartwright Hall Art Gallery

Ticket Information

General Free

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Venue Details

Cartwright Hall Art Gallery

Cartwright Hall, Lister Park
BD9 4NS

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Family | Official City of Culture 2025 Event

The Great Adventure Build

11 - 17 Aug 2025

10:00

To be announced

Join youngsters, families and the brilliant Woodland Tribe to make an adventure play structure like no other – created, designed and built by children.

The Great Adventure Build is a unique construction project where the children are in charge. We’ll provide the tools – hammers, saws, nails and a truckload of wood – and the children provide the imagination. Supported by the team at Woodland Tribe, the UK’s masters of constructive play, they’ll get to build their very own epic play space… and then try it out for size.

Children and families of all ages are welcome, and there’ll be specific sessions for children with special educational needs. Let your imagination run wild at The Great Adventure Build – and don’t forget to PLAY!

Please note: event times and location are TBC

Credits

The Great Adventure Build with Woodland Tribe. Commissioned by Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture.

Lead image: © Giulia Spadafora

Age Guidance
4+

Ticket Information

General TBC

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Venue Details

To be announced

Bradford, England, United Kingdom,

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Family | Official City of Culture 2025 Event

The Great Adventure Build

5 - 11 Apr 2025

10:00

To be announced

Join youngsters, families and the brilliant Woodland Tribe to make an adventure play structure like no other – created, designed and built by children.

The Great Adventure Build is a unique construction project where the children are in charge. We’ll provide the tools – hammers, saws, nails and a truckload of wood – and the children provide the imagination. Supported by the team at Woodland Tribe, the UK’s masters of constructive play, they’ll get to build their very own epic play space… and then try it out for size.

Children and families of all ages are welcome, and there’ll be specific sessions for children with special educational needs. Let your imagination run wild at The Great Adventure Build – and don’t forget to PLAY!

Please note: event times and location are TBC

Credits

The Great Adventure Build with Woodland Tribe. Commissioned by Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture.

Lead image: © Giulia Spadafora

Age Guidance
4+

Ticket Information

General TBC

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Venue Details

To be announced

Bradford, England, United Kingdom,

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Family | Official City of Culture 2025 Event

Grue

8 - 23 Feb 2025

10:00

Damart Mill, Bingley

Enjoy a fabulous walk-through experience for culture-lovers young and old.

In this enchanted landscape, you’ll take on an important mission: helping our historian to solve the mysteries of Damart Mill. You’ll pass through secret doors, a fairy forest and even go underwater on your quest – and perhaps you’ll meet some special guests along the way.

Dreamed up by artist Steve Wintercroft, produced by Yorkshire’s very own ARCADE and built entirely from recycled and repurposed materials, Grue is named after an ancient word for ‘shiver’ – but don’t worry about the cold! You’ll be able to warm up with a drink and a snack, and take part in special crafting activities on site.

Please note: event times are TBC

Credits

GRUE by Wintercroft and ARCADE. Commissioned by Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture.

Lead image: © Steve Wintercroft

Ticket Information

General TBC

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Venue Details

Damart Mill, Bingley

Lime Street, Bingley, England, BD97 1AD, United Kingdom,

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Festival | Music | Official City of Culture 2025 Event

New Music Biennial 2025

6 - 8 Jun 2025

14:00

Venues around Bradford

Explore the cutting edge of contemporary music at this free weekender.

New Music Biennial is a three-day festival celebrating the best new music across all genres from the country’s most exciting composers – and in 2025, for the first time, it’s coming to Bradford.

From Bradford Cathedral to The Underground, the Biennial will be taking over venues across the city centre for three days and nights of performances showcasing 20 pieces of new music – with all shows absolutely free. Along with live performances of outstanding contemporary works, many performed in Bradford for the first time, there’ll be world premieres of brand new commissions. The works will then be performed at London’s Southbank Centre, broadcast on BBC Radio 3 and released by NMC Recordings – but we’ll hear them first.

The full programme will be announced in January 2025. Save the date – and stay tuned…

Call for proposals

Applications are now open for organisations to partner with exciting music creators and be a part of New Music Biennial 2025. The deadline for applications for new commissions or to present existing pieces of new work is 4th November 2024.

Apply here

Credits

Presented in partnership with PRS Foundation, Southbank Centre, BBC Radio 3 and NMC Recordings, and supported by Arts Council England.

Lead image: © Garry Jones Photography

Partners

New Music Biennial
PRS Foundation
Southbank Centre
BBC Radio 3
NMC
Arts Council England

Ticket Information

General TBC

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Venue Details

Venues around Bradford

Bradford, England, United Kingdom,

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Dance | Official City of Culture 2025 Event | Performance

Memories of the Future

5 Jul 2025

19:00

The Alhambra Theatre

A major dance project with a major difference – the 60 dancers will be drawn from communities across Bradford.

Memories of the Future is a new project from world-renowned dancer-choreographer Akram Khan and Akram Khan Company, making their first visit to the city, and Helen Linsell of Dance United Yorkshire, one of the country’s leading dance participation organisations.

The show is being created for 60 dancers drawn from communities across Bradford, spanning cultures and generations – and many of them will be performing on stage for the very first time.

Memories of the Future is partly inspired by the themes of identity, belonging and home in Khan’s beautiful Jungle Book reimagined, which Akram Khan Company are performing in January at the Alhambra Theatre as part of Bradford 2025 – tickets are available now.

Credits

Commissioned by Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture.

Partners

Akram Khan Company
Dance United Yorkshire
Bradford Council
Arts Council England
MariaMarina Foundation

Ticket Information

General TBC

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Venue Details

The Alhambra Theatre

Morley Street, Bradford
BD7 1AJ

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Music | Official City of Culture 2025 Event

Dialled In

2 Aug 2025

19:00

To be announced

Dialled In bring their artist-led festival to Bradford 2025 for a special northern outing.

Dialled In champions the sounds, stories and voices of the South Asian creative underground. They’ve hosted events everywhere London’s Southbank Centre to the Glastonbury Festival – and now they’re coming to Bradford.

Dialled In promises a stellar array of musicians, singers, DJs and more from home and abroad across two stages, taking in the full spectrum of South Asian music and club culture. Mix in creative workshops and the all-important South Asian food and drink stalls, and you have the recipe for an unmissable day out.

For full line-up and ticketing details, check back next year – and see you there.

Please note: event location and time are TBC

Credits

Curated by Dialled In.

Lead image: © Yushy

Ticket Information

General TBC

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Venue Details

To be announced

Bradford, England, United Kingdom,

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Music | Official City of Culture 2025 Event

Bassline Symphony

9 May 2025

19:00

St George’s Hall

4×4 legends Jamie Duggan, DJ Q and TS7 join arranger Katie Chatburn and the Orchestra of Opera North to celebrate the sound of Bradford in this one-night-only spectacular, curated by Tanya Vital.

Bassline is among the most thrilling musical subcultures of the 21st century. Bradford is a hotbed of this electrifying music, but it’s never sounded quite like this – with the trademark crackling rhythms and pulsing low end supercharged by Opera North’s magnificent orchestra.

Alongside new symphonic versions of classic cuts from our trio of headliners, a galaxy of guest vocalists and DJs will be bringing tunes both new and old to a special showcase set – all presented within the stunning Victorian splendour of St George’s Hall. We’re all about the bassline.

Please note: event times are TBC

Credits

Produced by Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture.

Lead image: © DJ Q

Partners

Opera North

Credits

Jamie Duggan – DJ
DJ Q – DJ
TS7 – DJ
Katie Chatburn – Arranger
Tanya Vital – Curator

Ticket Information

General TBC

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Venue Details

St George’s Hall

Bridge Street, Bradford
BD1 1JT

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Art | Exhibition | Free Event

Café Royal Books

12 Sep - 30 Nov 2024

13:00 - 17:00

Impressions Gallery

Café Royal Books is an independent publisher founded by Craig Atkinson in 2005, dedicated to post-war photography from Britain, with a particular interest in unseen or overlooked work.

Published weekly in an accessible and affordable zine format, they have a broad appeal for their photographic and historic interest, charting a fascinating route through British social history. Now spanning 700 issues, Café Royal provides a large and unique printed archive of documentary photography with historical significance and have opened up the work of whole generations of documentary photographers especially to new audiences.

Each book focuses on a single body of work by a single photographer, and each book is part of the larger, extensive series. As a series, they provide a valuable resource into cultural and social change in Britain. Subjects are wide and varied and include folk customs, protest, street photography, mining and industry, community and place or city, architectural change, music and youth culture, politics, and religion.

Many of the photographers published by Café Royal either had their first ever exhibition at Impressions – such as Martin Parr and Daniel Meadows, or have shown at the gallery including Jo Spence, Chris Killip, and more recently Sophie Gerrard. Also included are publications by Ian Beesley, who since the late 70s has been documenting the changing social landscape of Bradford.

All seven hundred zines will be available to browse and are accompanied by printed posters on the gallery walls, highlighting the variety of photographs featured within the publications. The exhibition will also showcase a specially curated collection of both Daniel Meadows’ 1972 Butlin’s By The Sea photographs, and Syd Shelton’s seminal Rock Against Racism series from the late 70s and early 80s.

In 2022, Craig Atkinson was the recipient of the Royal Photographic Society Award for Photographic Publishing. The award is given to an individual for outstanding achievement or sustained contribution in the field of photographic publishing.

Coinciding with the exhibition, our annual Photobook Fair will take place on Saturday 12 October 2024, with a focus on independent, non-mainstream, grassroots and self-published photobooks and zines.

 

Image: Butlin’s By The Sea: Butlin’s Filey, Yorkshire, 1972 © Daniel Meadows.

Ticket Information

General Free

Venue Details

Impressions Gallery

Centenary Square, Bradford
BD1 1SD

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Family | Music | Performance

Bradford’s Traditional Christmas Concert

14 Dec 2024

18:00 - 20:00

Price Hall, Bradford Grammar School

Join Bradford Festival Choral Society for their Christmas Concert.

A feast of Christmas joy will fill your ears, and you’ll be invited to join in with some of your favourite carols …and we can’t have a Christmas Concert without some brass – Rothwell Temperance Band will be joining them to really make it feel like Christmas!

Ticket Information

Adult £20
Over 60s £18
Groups of 5 or more £15
Groups of 8 or more £12
Concessions - students, under 30s, low income £5
Under 18s £0

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Venue Details

Price Hall, Bradford Grammar School

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Community | Festival | Film | Free Event | Music | Spoken Word | Theatre

The Alternate Experience 2024

9 Nov 2024

05:00 - 21:00

St George’s Hall

The Alternate Experience 2024 is a youth event where creativity meets faith.

The Alternate Experience (TAE) provides the platform for young people to showcase their love for God through art forms such as stage plays, performing arts, music, spoken word and design.

Ticket Information

General Free

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Venue Details

St George’s Hall

Bridge Street, Bradford
BD1 1JT

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Film

Friday the 13th Part VII: The New Blood

13 Sep 2024

20:25 - 22:15

Keighley Picture House Cinema

A film screening on Friday the 13th of Friday the 13th Part VII: The New Blood at Keighley Picture House Cinema at 8:25pm on Friday 13th September 2024.

With Jason Voorhees in attendance!

Age Guidance
18+

Ticket Information

Adults £7
Concessions £6

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Venue Details

Keighley Picture House Cinema

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Music | Performance

Bradford Festival Choral Society – Rossini: Petite Messe Solonnelle

16 Nov 2024

19:30 - 21:30

Price Hall, Bradford Grammar School

Rossini brings opera to church – neither small nor solemn!  The Petite Messe is bursting with dramatic flair and joyful melody.

Experience this exquisite music with our acclaimed soloists and award-winning choir.

perience this exquisite music with our acclaimed soloists and choir.

Soprano – Jenny Stafford
Mezzo soprano – Georgia Mae Ellis
Tenor – Nathan Vale
Bass – Alistair Ollerenshaw

Piano – Christopher Pulleyn
Harmonium – Jonathan Scott
Conductor – Thomas Leech

There will be a bar before the concert and during the interval.

Ticket Information

Adult £20
Over 60s £18
Groups of 5 or more £15
Groups of 8 or more £12
Concessions - students, under 30s or low Income £5
Under 18s £0

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Venue Details

Price Hall, Bradford Grammar School

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Community | Film | Talk

Lost Migrations – Film Screening

26 Sep 2024

18:00 - 20:00

University of Bradford

In collaboration with Project Dastaan, we are excited to host their three-part animated mini series at the University of Bradford. 

The film screening will include a Q&A on the 1947 Partition, identities, and migration.

For any questions, please contact fatima@raceequalitynetwork.org.uk.

Ticket Information

General Free

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Venue Details

University of Bradford

Richmond Road
BD7 1AZ

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Music | Workshop

Bradford Festival Choral Society Come and Sing Workshop – Rossini: Petite Messe Solennelle

19 Oct 2024

14:00 - 19:00

Titus Salt School

Embrace the thrill of choir in our afternoon vocal workshop.  In an informal and relaxed atmosphere, choral expert and BFCS Musical Director Thomas Leech will take us through Rossini’s Petite Messe Solennelle along with Assistant Musical Director, talented pianist and vocal coach Christopher Pulleyn.

Whether you’re a seasoned singer or have only just discovered your voice, this event is open to all! If you’re passionate about singing and want to be part of an extraordinary ensemble, then this is the perfect opportunity for you. Experience the joy of singing alongside fellow music enthusiasts and under the skilled guidance of our exceptional musical team.

Ticket Information

Workshop Ticket - Standard £15
Workshop Ticket - Students, under 30s, low income £5
Informal Performance Ticket (6-7pm) - Standard £5
Informal Performance Ticket (6-7pm) - Under 18s or low income £0

Venue Details

Titus Salt School

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Art | Exhibition | Free Event

Curious – an Exhibition of Collages by Ian Tothill

1 - 24 Nov 2024

17:00 - 15:00

South Square

Curious: An exhibition of collages by Ian Tothill

Ian’s interest in collage making was sparked by making an image for his daughter’s zine during lockdown in 2020. He has been playing with paper ever since and has had work included in collage books and several group exhibitions around the world.

Curious is a collection of collages made from all kinds of discarded materials – oldbooks, packaging, envelopes, photos, magazines, flyers and more. They have been reassembled to form pictures which reflect his curiosity about colour, ideas, memory, shape, stories. Some are abstract, others are populated by characters and images given new life with imagined narratives.

There will be a table of collage materials, scissors and glue in the exhibition and gallery visitors are invited to make their own collages

Ian is the founder of South Square Collage Club, a monthly gathering of people who want to have a go at collage, the most accessible medium.

www.iantothill.com

@iantothill

Age Guidance
All ages

Ticket Information

General Free

Venue Details

South Square

South Square, Thornton Road, Bradford
BD13 3LD

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Family | Performance | Tour

Family Halloween at Bolling Hall

31 Oct 2024

17:30 - 21:00

Bolling Hall

Join us at Bolling Hall for a spook-tacular family Halloween evening, featuring ghoulish guides and activities!

One of our resident ghouls will guide you round the Hall, touring a series of fun activities. Start with fearsome-facepainting and crafts, before heading for the monster-mash disco. Guess what horrible things are in the mystery boxes, then head to the ghost room for some terrifying tales!

Finally your ghoulish guide will show you the rest of the hall, look out for spooks and ghosts!

6 Tours available, each lasts approximately 1 hour 15 minutes.

Suitable for ages 7 – 12, children must be accompanied by an adult.

Age Guidance
Families only. Suitable for children 5 - 7, children must be accompanied with an adult.

Ticket Information

General £5+ BF

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Venue Details

Bolling Hall

Bolling Hall,Bowling Hall Road
BD4 7LP

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Community | Family | Food & Drink | Free Event | Free for Sanctuary Seekers | Outdoor

APPLE DAY at Bowling Park Community Orchard

13 Oct 2024

12:00 - 16:00

Bowling Park Allotments, Bowling Park Drive, BD4 7ES

Come to Bradford Environmental Services annual free celebration of all things appley on Sunday 13th October.  The event is free to all and will include stalls selling a large variety of apples and pears, cakes and baked goodies (all with an apple or pear theme), crafting stalls for children, freshly squeezed juice to buy and demonstrations.

The day runs from 12 – 4 and is accessed via the pedestrian entrance to Bowling Park Allotments on Bowling Park Drive, BD4 7ES.  Please respect the other allotments and stay in our lovely orchard.

ARE YOU ABLE TO VOLUNTEER YOUR TIME ON A STALL?  COULD YOU HELP US BEFORE THE DAY TO MAKE CAKES OR CHUTNEYS? DO YOU HAVE EMPTY JAM JARS TO DONATE?

Our ground rent has been increased significantly this year and we need to ensure we have the funds to continue with the heritage, biodiversity and conservation of our wonderful orchard run by volunteers.  Thank you.

Age Guidance
All ages

Ticket Information

General Free

Venue Details

Bowling Park Allotments, Bowling Park Drive, BD4 7ES

5, Bowling Park Drive, Bradford, England, BD4 7HG, United Kingdom,

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Community

Dog Friendly/Friendly Dog Day

22 Sep 2024

12:00 - 16:00

Bracken Hall Countryside Centre

Grand Dog Show Parade at 3.00pm; charities and stalls; info; quiz trail and activities; all pooches, hounds and KC champions welcome.

No charge to enter

Part of Saltaire Festival.

Ticket Information

General Free

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Venue Details

Bracken Hall Countryside Centre

Glen Road, Shipley, England, BD17 5EA, United Kingdom,

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Arts & Crafts | Community | Heritage

Hands-on and demonstrations by Bradford Guild of Spinners, Weavers and Dyers

15 Sep 2024

12:00 - 16:00

Bracken Hall Countryside Centre

Event at Bracken Hall Countryside Centre.

Members of the Bradford and District Guild of Weavers, Spinners & Dyers will give you a hands-on introduction to weaving and spinning.

There will be the opportunity to try drop spindles and spinning wheels, a mobile weaving frame, and discuss all sorts of wool-related crafting.

Come meet members of this thriving organisation and be inspired and have a go.

No entrance charge.

More information here >>>

Part of Saltaire Festival.

Ticket Information

General Free

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Venue Details

Bracken Hall Countryside Centre

Glen Road, Shipley, England, BD17 5EA, United Kingdom,

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Dance | Performance

Vogue Dance Studio Performance

15 Sep 2024

14:30 - 15:00

Roberts Park

Join us at 2:30 pm on Sunday, 15th September 2024, for an energetic dance performance by the talented children from Vogue Dance Studio, Shipley. Head over to the space near the bandstand to watch them showcase their vibrant moves in Freestyle, Street, and Break Dance styles.

Vogue Dance Studio is a local favourite, offering dance classes for everyone from tiny tots to young adults. Don’t miss this chance to see their young dancers showcase their skills and passion.

For more information about Vogue Dance Studio, visit their Facebook page.

Come cheer them on and feel the rhythm!

Part of Saltaire Festival.

Ticket Information

General Free

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Venue Details

Roberts Park

Higher Coach Road, Shipley, England, BD17 7LU, United Kingdom,

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