What's On In August

Ahh, August in the Bradford district. The weather is good, the kids are off school and there are loads of fantastic summer events and activities coming up! Here are just a few of the highlights to whet your appetite.

Put on your flat cap and celebrate Yorkshire Day in Keighley on Thursday, 1^st August. Church Green car park will be full of fun activities including a vertical rush slide, face painting, donkey rides, a display of birds of prey and more. You can also visit The Great Yorkshire Day Time Machine (Thursday, 1st August) at the Bradford Industrial Museum and journey through history to encounter individuals who once inhabited the land. On Saturday, 3rd August in Baildon watch clog dancing and hear music from the Bradford Concert Band.

Enjoy family activities, crafting and science fun with the National Science and Media Museum Summer Family Activity events happening at Bradford Libraries, Tong Garden Centre and the Shipley Glen Tramway on dates throughout August.

Join Bradford Pride in City Park on Saturday, 3^rd August for a colourful day waving the rainbow flag. A variety of brilliant live performers will make the day memorable, including DJs, singers and drag kings and queens.

Come along to the Creative Earth Eco Fest at Clife Castle in Keighley on Saturday, 3^rd August. Discover creative solutions to helping the environment and take part in plant-based photography workshops, talks on environmental topics, forest bathing and much more.

Visit NT East Riddlesden Hall in Keighley between 5^th-21^st August and join the Hidden Treasures Tour. These guided tours will take you to see some of the hall’s rarest and most precious treasures. Be sure to get your tickets on arrival at the hall as they are on a first-come, first-served basis.

Head to Nell Bank in Ilkley for their ever-popular Discovery Days on 6^th-7^th August. Kids will love joining in on all manner of Olympic-themed activities and games, as well as playing in the adventure playground. Book your places today!

Discover the gruesome world of historical medicine at Bolling Hall, Bradford on Wednesday, 7^th August. Some special guests from the Thackray Medical Museum will be on hand to reveal some of the bizarre ways people used to stay healthy before the advent of modern medicine.

See great children’s films at the Bradford Family Film Festival from 7^th-21^st August. The Big Screen in City Park and the Clayton Community Cinema will be showing a selection of free films, from animated classics to modern favourites, to keep kids of all ages entertained this summer.

Get crafty at the Brontë Parsonage Museum in Haworth. Every Wednesday this month there are brilliant activities for kids to get involved in making all kinds of things that have links back to the famous sisters.

Take a step back in time and see history brought to life at the Yorkshire Wartime Experience from 9^th-11^th August in Hunsworth. Hundreds of classic military vehicles, enactment groups and traders will be on hand for a brilliant family weekend. Plus, keep your eyes on the sky for some special flyovers.

Attend the Burley Festival on 17^th-24^th August, for a week of fun. With loads of events, including guided walks, a dog show, vintage cars, music, sports and more, there’s something for everyone to get involved with.

Immerse yourself in the beautiful nature found at the Denso Marston Nature Reserve on Saturday, 17^th August. A special guided walk will take you around the reserve while regaling you with stories from Gimm’s Fairy Tales.

See history through a new lens at Wave of Nostalgia in Haworth on Thursday, 22^nd August. Author Kirsty Loehr will be reading from and signing copies of her new book, A Short History of Queer Women, as well as answering your questions. Tickets are available now.

Party on to three days of phenomenal music as the Infest Festival returns to Bradford on 23^rd-25^th August. Fantastic artists, including, Emmon, Rein, Llumen and Mark Hex, will make this festival a must-visit for any music lover.

Fire up your hog and ride down to the Shipley Harley Rally on 23^rd-26^th August at the Baildon Rugby Club. This annual event is heaven for motorcycle enthusiasts, with rides, stalls and plenty of great live music.

Watch a parade of giant red giraffes, created by legendary French street theatre company Compagnie OFF, as they parade through the streets of Bradford on Saturday 24^th August. Accompanied by a variety of performers and musicians, these magnificent puppets have come to help with the lead-up to our year as the UK City of Culture 2025.

Climb aboard the trains of the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway on Saturday, 24^th August to enjoy some delicious drinks as you’re carried along the line on their Diesel and Ale Day. The on-train bars will be stocked with the finest cask ales, with each of the special services stocking a different selection.

Follow a guide from the Bradford Police Museum through the centre of Bradford and enter the murky world of Victorian crime. On this walking tour, you’ll discover the sites of robberies, murders, poisonings and more.

Even in the summer, the show must go on at the incredible theatres and music houses in the Bradford district. Make your three wishes at the Alhambra Theatre to see Disney’s Aladdin or listen to the songs of Andrew Combs when he takes the stage in The Live Room, Saltaire. Four amazing adventurers will tell stories of their journeys at King’s Hall in Ilkley at A Night of Endurance while fab local musicians the Eaton Rifles rock the Bingley Arts Centre. Shakespeare’s classic Hamlet can be seen in a special outdoor production at NT East Riddlesden Hall in Keighley or you can enjoy a night of blues and Americana at Black Dyke Mills in Queensbury with The Violet Hours.

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Enjoy your time in the Bradford district and don’t forget to tag @visitbradford #VisitBradford in your photos.

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