UK City of Culture 2025
Various venues BradfordBradford district’s year of culture is set to deliver more than 1,000 new performances and events including 365 artist commissions, a series of major arts festivals and major national and international collaborations. Visit the website for further details.
From Haworth To Eternity: The Enduring Legacy Of The Brontës
Bronte Parsonage Museum Church Street, HaworthThe Brontës’ enduring popularity is largely explained by the power and originality of the stories they created, but the story of the Brontës’ own lives is as compelling as their fictions. The family’s home at Haworth Parsonage, and the moorland surrounding it, were a profound influence on the Brontës, and became part of the irresistible draw of Haworth for visitors from all over the world.
Axe-Throwing
The Axe Imperium The Fun House, ColneAxes to Ashes is coming to The Fun House, Colne. Inject some spontaneity, some excitement, some togetherness! Reconnect with your partner, your children, your friends. Do something that makes you feel alive. Release that inner Viking Lose your pent-up frustration It's therapy. It's fun. It's addictive. Axes to Ashes isn't an ordinary axe throwing venue with very limited equipment; it has Tomahawks, Angel Axes, Throwing Knives and its very own Axes to Ashes Dragon Axe®. Plus there is an Axelings™ Range which is suitable for children and those with physical impairments which may limit their ability to throw regular projectiles. Various times and prices.
Life Goes On – Exhibition
Salts Mill Saltaire, ShipleyAn exhibition featuring Ian Beesley, a celebrated Bradford-born photographer. Known for his powerful images of Northern England, Beesley will showcase a collection of previously unseen works from his extensive archive. Wed - Sun 10am - 5pm. Free.
Bradford on Foot
Bradford on Foot BradfordDiscover Bradford on Foot, a collection of themed walks and tours exploring hidden streets, scenic countryside, and local heritage. Curated for Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture, these routes have been selected by walking groups, historians, schoolchildren, artists, and locals. All available to download or pick up in paper format at Bradford libraries.
Katharine Holmes and Three Generations of Painting and Living in a Malham Cottage
The Folly, Victoria Street, Settle BD24 9EY The Folly, Victoria Street, SettleThis exhibition explores Katharine Holmes’s stunning modern paintings alongside the work of her mother and grandmother, Phillipa Holmes and Constance Pearson. Selected works by Katharine Holmes will be for sale. Runs until Sat, 3 January 2026
THE ELF EXPLORER
Keighley & Worth Valley Railway The Railway Station, Station Road, HaworthStep into a world of festive wonder with The Elf Explorer – a heart-warming steam train journey packed with Christmas cheer, mischievous elves, and a visit from Father Christmas himself.
Snow White – Christmas Pantomime 2025
Blackburn Empire Theatre Aqueduct Rd, BlackburnTom Rolfe Productions are thrilled to be back with a brand new production bursting with dazzling costumes, hilarious comedy, sensational singing, beautiful scenery, and the coolest Magnificent Seven ever! Various times & prices.
Snow White Family Panto
The Grand Theatre, St. Leonardsgate LancasterGet ready for a magical adventure as Lancaster Footlights proudly presents: Snow White – The Fairest Panto in All the Land! Bursting with humour, dazzling costumes, and toe-tapping songs, this traditional tale comes to life with all the charm and sparkle you’ve come to expect. Various times & prices.
Aladdin: The Rock ‘n’ Roll Panto
City Varieties Music Hall 46 New Briggate, LeedsThis isn’t your average Christmas pantomime – this is a Rock ‘n’ Roll Pantomime! Imagine the perfect blend of laugh-out-loud audience participation, hilariously cheesy jokes, and a high-energy jukebox bursting with iconic rock anthems and chart-smashing hits. And the best part? Every note is performed live on stage by a showstopping cast of multi-talented actor-musicians. It’s a festive extravaganza like no other! Various times. £20.50 - £40.
THE NEW ADVENTURES OF PETER PAN
Albert Halls Victoria Square, BoltonThe celebrity and West End cast will leave you believing in the power of magic in this perfect festive treat that features all the best elements of a traditional pantomime. Various times. £18 - £22.
Santa Live!
Albert Halls Victoria Square, BoltonJoin our magical elves as they help Santa save Christmas and fix Muddles’ mistake and deliver the presents to lots of exciting characters the meet along the way. Various times.
SANTA MEET & GREET
Coniston Hotel and Spa Coniston Cold, SkiptonStep into festive magic! Meet Santa in his cosy grotto, receive a special gift, and enjoy fun with our cheerful Elf. Then relax with a delicious two-course festive lunch in The Bannister Suite – perfect for making memories together.
All Together Now Choir: Wonderful Christmas Time
Bingley Arts Centre Main Street, BingleyCome and join the fabulous All Together Now Community Choir for their traditional Family Christmas Concert that is guaranteed to get you feeling festive. 2pm & 5pm. £12.00 each All profits go to local Yorkshire charities.
Mayors Charity Christmas Concert Blackburn with Darwen Band
Darwen Library Theatre Knott Street, DarwenCome along for the Annual Christmas Sing-a-long with Darwen Brass for the Mayor of Darwen's Charity which is Dementia UK. 2 hours of Carols and traditional Christmas songs.
DEAR SANTA LIVE!
King's Hall Station Road, IlkleySanta is determined to deliver the most fantastic Christmas present to Sarah, but he doesn't get it right straight away! With the help of his cheeky Elf, he finally settles on something ‘perfect', just in time for Christmas Eve.
The Muppet Christmas Carol
Settle Victoria Hall Kirkgate, SettleThe fabulous Muppets band together to teach Scrooge (Michael Caine) the meaning of Christmas in this charming adaptation of Charles Dickens' classic tale.
JACK AND THE BEANSTALK
Skipton Town Hall High Street, SkiptonThis year, Same Difference invites you on a festive adventure like no other. Jack and his mum is busy preparing their annual Christmas offering to keep the Giant away from the village—but disaster strikes when the cupboards are bare!
The HAPPA Café and HAPPA Direct Shop
Happa Shores Hey Farm, Briercliffe,, BurnleyThe HAPPA Café, open seven days a week including until 8pm Fridays and Saturdays, serves a selection of food and drinks, including Walling’s Ice Cream and a variety of cakes and treats. The onsite tack and gift shop offers a fantastic selection of toys, second-hand and new equipment for your horse, and gifts for your dog.
LANCASHIRE READING TRAIL BOOK CLUB
Burnley Library Grimshaw Street, BurnleyChildren ages 6 - 12 are invited to join the book club, where they will be challenged to read a book by a specific author every four weeks, then meet up to chat, share reviews, craft, and become one step closer to completing the Lancashire Reading Trail.
Aladdin
The Muni Theatre ColneJoin our hero Aladdin, his mother Widow Twankey and his brother Wishee Washee as they embark on a magical adventure and try to defeat the evil Abanazar and his plan to become master of the world. Various times. From £16.50.
MEET FRANCES TEMPEST AT BOLLING HALL
Bolling Hall Museum Bowling Hall Rd, BradfordEnglish Civil War, 1642 – 1649. Bolling Hall was the temporary Royalist Headquarters after winning a great battle against the Parliamentarians under Oliver Cromwell, the Battle of Adwalton Moor in June 1643. Frances, as mistress of the house, would protect herself & her family by always having 2 Flintlock Pistols at the ready, “keeping her powder dry” under her apron. Every Sunday.
WINTER LIGHTS YORK
York City CentreThe Winter Lights adorn more than 50 streets in York. Miles of swags add yet more fairy-tale whimsy to this enchanting city. The Tree of Light captivates with its ever-changing display, using the latest Twinkly LED technology.
IN LOVING MEMORY
Bankfield Museum Akroyd Park, HalifaxDeath is something that affects us all, and the need to remember those we have lost is an important part of being human. Featuring displays of mourning wear, jewellery and imagery, this exhibition explores our changing attitudes towards death and the ways in which we cope with loss.
TROUBLE AT MILL: THE RADICAL WORLD OF ETHEL CARNIE HOLDSWORTH EXHIBITION
Queen St Mill Textile Museum Harle Syke, Burnley, United KingdomDon't miss a truly unique and beautifully presented exhibition celebrating local writer Ethel Carnie Holdsworth and the Rickard Sisters’ new graphic novel adaptation of her radical story, This Slavery.
LITTLE SCIENTISTS
Abbey House Museum Abbey Walk, Kirkstall, LeedsDiscover Abbey House Museum's three Victorian streets in a new way using the magic of science! Explore Abbey Fold, Harewood Square and Stephen Harding Gate and learn some simple science on the way. This discovery session is perfect for under-5s.
WINTER ILLUMINATIONS
Yorkshire Wildlife Park Hurst Ln,, DoncasterDiscover the magic Yorkshire Wildlife Park’s Winter Illuminations, the most magical winter lantern trail. Winter Illuminations is one of the UK's most magical Christmas light experiences and perfect for all the family or a festive date idea!
BRONTË BABIES – THORNTON
South Square Centre Thornton, BradfordThese relaxed sessions for little ones aged 0-walking feature sensory play, song, and stories and a chance to meet other parents and carers. Each session draws inspiration from the Brontë Parsonage Museum’s collection and the lives of the Brontës.
HAROLD GOSNEY: MATERIALS AND MAKING
York Art Gallery Exhibition Square, YorkThis retrospective celebrates over six decades of creative work by Yorkshire sculptor Harold Gosney (born 1937), an artist renowned for his inventive use of materials and his deep connection to the region.
The Don Banks Afternoon Variety Show
Darwen Library Theatre Knott Street, DarwenJoin us on a nostalgic journey down memory lane back to those good old days for an afternoon of uplifting songs, stories and laughter. £5/£6.
Roy ‘Chubby’ Brown Show
Albert Halls Victoria Square, Bolton50 plus years In Entertainment/comedy , Roy Chubby Brown is still going strong , entertaining thousands and thousands of fans annually up and down the country , Roy is the undoubted King of Comedy.
RORY’S SATURDAY CLUB
Leeds City Museum Millennium Square, LeedsCome down to Leeds City Museum for our Rory’s Saturday Club craft sessions for families with children of all ages. Drop-in, no need to book. Until 25th April. Give what you can.
DEMONSTRATIONS OF VICTORIAN HAIRWORK
Bankfield Museum Akroyd Park, HalifaxThe Victorian art of hairwork involved meticulously weaving together the hair of loved ones into flowers or wreaths.
Women in Rock
The Grand Theatre, St. Leonardsgate LancasterGet ready to crank up the volume and feel the power for Women in Rock, the electrifying live show dedicated entirely to the trailblazing women who shattered the ceilings and redefined rock music forever.
HOME EDUCATION: AMAZING ANIMALS WORKSHOP
Leeds Discovery Centre Carlisle Rd, LeedsGet up close to animals from around the world. In this workshop, you'll learn about adaptations, habitats and evolution by investigating a variety of birds, insects and exotic animal skeletons. Then you'll take a look at the purpose-built collection store, which houses over 800,000 natural science specimens.
BLT: Folk
Bingley Arts Centre Main Street, Bingley“A hilarious story of hope and a celebration of the different forms that love can take.” Presented by Bingley Little Theatre.
WHAT WE WORE
Bankfield Museum Akroyd Park, HalifaxA collaborative exhibition with Calderdale Dementia Hub and Bankfield Museum exploring fashion memories.
National Theatre Live: Hamlet
Settle Victoira Hall Kirkgate, SettleLive screening from National Theatre Live. Olivier Award-winner Hiran Abeysekera (Life of Pi) is Hamlet in this fearless, contemporary take on Shakespeare’s famous tragedy.
Waiting Room: Footlights on Tour at Settle Victoria Hall
Settle Victoria Hall Kirkgate, SettleIn this gripping original play, a group of strangers find themselves in a deserted railway station waiting room. Initially believing it to be just another stop on their journeys. As they settle in and wait for a train that never arrives, they soon realise something unsettling – none of them can remember where they’re going or where they’ve come from.
Educating Rita
Keighley Playhouse Devonshire Street, KeighleySet in the 1980's in Liverpool, Rita, a young hairdresser, seeks to break away from her working-class roots and pursue an education. Comedy drama by Willy Russell. 7.30pm. Sat mat 2.30pm.
MONTHLY KIRKSTALL ABBEY TOURS
Kirkstall Abbey Kirkstall, LeedsExplore how different parts of the Abbey were used, touching on how the monks of Kirkstall Abbey lived and a potted history of one of Britain’s most complete Cistercian monasteries from foundation to dissolution and beyond.
Richard Blackwood Unfiltered
Darwen Library Theatre Knott Street, DarwenNo gimmicks. No filter. Just Richard Blackwood at his realest. In this brand-new hour, Richard delivers sharp, fearless comedy with raw honesty - tackling fatherhood, fame, race, ageing and mental health.
Beatles Complete
Settle Victoria Hall Kirkgate, SettleBeatles Complete present a night of Beatlemania packed with massive hits from the most influential band of all time.
THE DAZZLING DIAMONDS: COMEDY DRAG SHOW
Lancaster Grand Theatre St Leonardgate, LancasterThe Dazzling Diamonds proudly present their smash-hit comedy variety drag show. This isn’t just any show – these “ladies” deliver a fast-paced, laugh-out-loud spectacle like no other.
THE POPPY HOLIDAY SHOW
Blackburn Empire Theatre Aqueduct Rd, BlackburnGet ready for a feel-good, toe-tapping afternoon as Poppy & Friends deliver timeless, unforgettable songs direct to your seat!
THE BUDDY HOLLY STORY 2026
The Grand Theatre BlackpoolBuddy tells the enduring story of the musical icon’s meteoric rise from his Southern rockabilly beginnings to international stardom. In just 18 short months, the bespectacled boy from Lubbock, Texas, revolutionised the face of contemporary music and would influence everyone from The Beatles to Bruce Springsteen and The Rolling Stones.
MACBETH ALONE
Lowther Pavilion Lowther Terrace, Lytham St, AnnesA scintillating new version of one of Shakespeare’s bloodiest plays. Macbeth Alone is a thrilling and visceral reimagining of Shakespeare’s most haunting tragedy — performed by one man alone.
STUDY AFTERNOON: CRIME AND PUNISHMENT
Abbey House Museum Abbey Walk, Kirkstall, LeedsGet up close with crime and punishment-related collections, including truncheons, a police lamp, and some of the ephemera collections, with a focus on crime and punishment in Leeds. Why not try out fingerprinting or learning about other crime-fighting techniques? Includes tea, coffee and cake.
RED GIANT
Barnoldswick Music & Arts Centre, BarnoldswickRed Giant are one of the most formidable, emerging blues rock bands from the UK. Don't believe it? Then come and see them. You'll soon change your mind.
Beauty and The Beast – Adult Panto
The Muni Theatre ColneBeauty’s looking for love — but instead finds herself trapped in a castle with a beast with a very big… personality. Packed with outrageous innuendo, dazzling drag, and more sass than you can shake a candle stick at. This is a laugh-out-loud, adults-only twist on the fairy tale you thought you knew.