Excitement is building in Bradford city centre as the much-anticipated BD:Festival is about to kick off this weekend, promising a spectacular showcase of world-class artists and performers.
This vibrant and free summer festival offers a unique blend of street theatre, live music, and immersive cultural installations, guaranteeing a delightful experience for all attendees. From hip-hop hippo routines to interactive multi-sensory edible exhibitions, the festival promises to be a source of endless fun, laughter, and creativity. Various locations across the city centre will be abuzz with these captivating performances on both Friday, 28th July, and Saturday, 29th July.
One of the highlights of BD:Festival is the world premiere of Balbir Singh’s Cricket Green, an exciting theatrical game that combines live music and dance to explore the themes of cricket and climate change in an innovative and thought-provoking manner.
In addition to this, festival-goers will have the opportunity to experience the BrickLive trail, a captivating installation brought to the city centre by the Bradford BID. The theme of Fantasy Kingdom brings 15 mystical and fantasy figures made entirely of toy bricks, including unicorns, dragons, and warriors, scattered throughout the city centre. Visitors can partake in an online quest to find these installations and enter a prize draw for a chance to win a £100 City Centre Gift Card.
For those who prefer nighttime festivities, BD:Festival has teamed up with QM Records to present the MOVES Festival at Bradford’s Kala Sangam over the two days. This festival promises a captivating lineup of multi-genre performances from talented local artists like Jae Depz, Musumba, KG, Mezcal, and Beth Gibson.
As visitors immerse themselves in the vibrant atmosphere of BD:Festival, they’ll also have the opportunity to make the most of their day or night in Bradford. The city boasts a lively café scene and nightlife, with numerous fantastic eateries and attractions to explore within and around the city centre.
Produced by Bradford Council, BD:Festival exemplifies the growing ambition outlined in the district’s 10-year culture strategy, “Culture is Our Plan,” as the city works towards its designation as the City of Culture in 2025.
Councillor Sarah Ferriby, Bradford Council’s Executive Member for Healthy People and Places, said: “The BD Festival is set to be a really inspiring weekend of fun and creativity. The range of cultural and artistic activities and events on this weekend is really inspiring and there is something for everyone.
“As we approach Bradford City of Culture 2025, the BD Festival really does whet the appetite and is an opportunity for us to showcase our district as a cultural innovator and hotspot and a fantastic place to visit.”
For more information visit https://www.visitbradford.com/whats-on/bdevents
For more information about MOVES events in the evening visit https://www.kalasangam.org/box-office/moves-fest/
