Come to Bradford for Christmas

With so many activities across the district, Bradford is the place to be for Christmas. There will be Christmas lights switch on events across the district as well as lots of music and entertainment, pantomimes, a fun fair and lots of Christmas fairs and markets, traditional Christmas Services including Nine Lessons and Carols at the Cathedral, there’s even a Christmas Tree Festival and the annual Epilepsy Action Reindeer Stampede will see antler clad runners tackle the 5k route round Lister Park. A funfair will light up in City Park and Tyrrel Street from Thursday November 30 until Sunday December 3 with children’s rides and dodgems. Christmas street theatre will entertain shoppers on the pedestrian areas in the city centres between 12pm and 5pm on Saturday 2 and Sunday 3 December. With 20 colourful acts including Santa and his sleigh, snowmen, fairies, elves, dancing turkeys, penguins, Rudolph, snow globes and stilt walkers all providing festive frolics and music. There may even be added snow. The Alhambra Theatre’s outstanding pantomime will once again star the fantastic Billy Pearce who this year is taking on the role as Buttons with singer and Loose Women panellist Coleen Nolan playing the Fairy Godmother in Cinderella, with performances from 16 December to 28 January. Other Christmas shows and concerts include a Christmas Night With The Stars with tribute act performances from Cher, Michael Jackson, Elvis Presley, Michael Buble, Freddie Mercury and Shirley Bassey at Ilkley’s King’s Hall and Winter Gardens, folk rock pioneers Steeleye Span, famous for their 1973 Christmas hit Gaudete at Ilkley’s King’s Hall and Winter Gardens, an evening of dance, songs and festive cheer comes to the Alhambra theatre with the Christmas Words show on 7 December and The Chicago Blues Brothers bring their brand new festive show to the Alhambra on December 8. An array of Christmas markets and craft fairs are being held across the district including the fantastic Victorian Christmas event at the Industrial Museum on Saturday 18 and Sunday 19 November, Ilkley King’s Hall and Winter Gardens will be the venue for a Christmas Craft and Gift Fayre on Sunday 26 November, a Christmas Market will take place in Central Park in Haworth on Saturday 2 and Sunday 3 December and the Made Bradford Market will be held in Darley Street on Saturday 2 and Saturday 16 December. There will be lots of festive fun at Bradford Council-run markets over the Christmas period with a Christmas Trade Fair hosted by Young Enterprise on Saturday 9 December inside the Oastler Shopping Centre, children’s interactive workshops, traditional Christmas entertainment from the Salvation Army Band, Pennine Chimes and school choir in the Oastler Shopping Centre and Kirkgate Market in the city centre and a Santa’s grotto along with festive entertainment at Keighley Market. The Lord Mayor of Bradford, Coun Abid Hussain has just launched the annual Lord Mayor’s Appeal Christmas Star’s Appeal, where people dedicate a star to a loved one for the Christmas tree in City Hall. The Lord Mayor’s Appeal annual Christmas Lunch takes place on Friday December 15 in City Hall and raises money for the Lord Mayor’s Appeal. For those wanting to get active there is the Epilepsy Action Reindeer Stampede with a 5k run and a mini stampede for children, Bradford Council’s Countryside and Rights of Way team has also organised two Christmas walks, a 5.5 mile Candlemass Eve walk on December 9 and a 4 mile Christmas Cheer walk on December 13. Switch-on events with markets and fairs will be taking place across the district throughout November and December. This year’s city centre Christmas lights will have a special light raising awareness of the White Ribbon Campaign, the global campaign to end male violence against women. Incidences of domestic violence rise significantly during the festive period. The light will be turned on as part of the Christmas lights switch-on and will remain illuminated during the Christmas period including on White Ribbon day, 25 November. The annual City Carol Service takes place at the Cathedral on Monday 18 December. The service is open to anyone and is attended by the Lord Mayor and civic leaders. Coun Sarah Ferriby, Bradford Council’s Executive Member for Environment, Sport and Culture, said: “Christmas is such a special time of year and these events in the city centre and across the district give people plenty of opportunities to celebrate.” For more information about Christmas events in the district visit www.visitbradford.com

A Grand Day Out at Bradford Industrial Museum

A free science-themed day at Bradford Industrial Museum is being held for families on May Bank Holiday Monday.

The museum’s annual ‘Grand Day Out’ event will feature family activities and presentations on the theme of science and technology in every day life – from work to entertainment.

Activities, running from 10-4pm on Monday 1 May, will include a workshop by Sublime Science explaining how science can seem like magic.

Zoolab’s animal rangers will also visit to explain the biology of plants and animals.  Children will be able to carry out experiments in the museum’s galleries and make models using principles of physics and chemistry.

There will be craft activities, trails, demonstrations and working machinery in the museum’s Victorian Spinning Mill, Motive Power Gallery and Blacksmith’s workshop.

 

New autumn children’s healthy lifestyle programme to start

Places are available for the latest children’s healthy lifestyle programme due to start in Bradford on 1st October.

The free course, run by Bradford Council, will help children and parents find out how they can eat more healthily and become more physically active by supporting them to make small but effective lifestyle changes.

The children will also participate in fun physical activity sessions each week.

Participants need to be aged between 5 and 11 and will need to be accompanied by a parent or carer.

The 9 week programme runs from the Karmand Community Centre on Barkerend Road, BD3, between 5-7pm on Thursdays.

Anyone wanting more information or wanting to take part can call 01274 435387.

Lydia Worton from Bradford Council’s Health Improvement Team said: “This is a great chance for parents or carers who are concerned about their child’s weight, or simply wish to learn how to become healthier, to take some positive action.

“The programme is about empowering children and their parents by giving them the knowledge to make the right lifestyle choices by making small changes in your lifestyle.”

“Making lots of small changes can make a different to their health and wellbeing.”

Bradford City FC Community Foundation October Half Term Football Camps

Bradford City FC Community Foundation are pleased to be hosting their ever-popular football camps this October half term.

Children will need a packed lunch, drinks and to be dressed ready for football and appropriate to whatever the weather is like on the day!  All staff are minimum FA Level 2 qualified, trained in emergency aid and hold an advanced CRB check.

For more information or to book a place, visit the Bradford City FC Community Foundation website or call 01274 706850.

Half-Term holiday BASE Camps on offer at Bradford Council sports centres

Bradford Council is offering children within the Bradford area the chance to try out new sports this October half-term at BASE Camps at three sites across the district.

Bactive Sport and Exercise camps will be run at Richard Dunn Sports Centre and Nab Wood Sports Centre. Children between the ages of five and 13 can try out a host of new sports, as well as practising the sports they love.

Indoor only football, basketball, tennis and athletics will be on offer as well as some lesser practised sports such as handball, trampolining and dodge ball.

Further information can be found on the Base Camps flyer.