What's On In July

Summer has arrived, and the Bradford district is in full swing with a host of exciting events to enjoy with friends and family. Whether you're visiting for the day or staying for a week-long summer adventure, here are just some of the July highlights to look forward to.

The Bradford Literature Festival wraps up its 2025 programme this July with a brilliant line-up of events. Enjoy wit and storytelling with Griff Rhys Jones, talks from Mishal Husain and John Cooper Clarke, lively debates on identity and global issues, a Regency dance workshop and the one-man show Being Mr Wickham. Families can head to City Park for two themed days: a space-inspired Family Fun Day on Saturday 5 July and a magical Sunday on 6^th July with walkabout characters and a screening of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone.

Raise a glass or two at the Beer and Gin Festival at Baildon Cricket Club on 4^th-6^th July. There will be plenty of tasty drinks to sample over the weekend along with delicious food from Saltaire Belle and Skewer Point and a selection of great live bands.

The Wrose Carnival takes place at Wrose Recreational Ground on Saturday, 5^th July, bringing a lively day of community celebration with colourful parades, local stalls, a dog show, funfair rides, live performances and plenty of entertainment. With free entry and a welcoming atmosphere, it’s a fantastic way to enjoy a summer’s day.

Head into Oxenhope on Saturday, 5^th July, to cheer on the participants of the annual Oxenhope Charity Straw Race. Teams will be carrying bales of straw, often in full fancy dress, around each pub in the village in one of the most popular charity events of the year.

Discover beautiful woven works of art at Bradford Cathedral from 8^th July-1^st September. Woven Lives is a striking installation of coloured glass and symbolic forms lit from within, that reflect the shared stories of Bradford’s people. Blending light and shadow, the artwork explores how moments of joy and hardship are interwoven into the fabric of community, resilience and belonging.

Opening on Saturday, 12th July, the New Darley Street Market brings new energy to Bradford’s city centre with three floors of fresh food, global street eats, and independent shopping. From Caribbean flavours to Greek gyros, the top-floor food court is a culinary hotspot, while long-standing traders and fresh independents fill the food and lifestyle halls. Launch celebrations on 12^th-13^th July will feature live entertainment and festivities in the new market square—a vibrant new hub for community, culture and cuisine.

Experience the Haworth Festival from 11^th– 21^st July as the village buzzes with live music, comedy, dance and creative workshops. Highlights include stand-up from Rob Rouse and Patrick Monahan, the Brontë Balboa Dance Weekend, gothic ghost walks, poetry with Tamar Yellin and the ever-popular duck race at Ponden Mill. Check out the full programme and join the celebration.

Board the classic diesel trains of the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway and enjoy a delicious pint as you’re whisked along through the Worth Valley on their Diesel and Ale Day on Saturday, 12^th July.

Join the fun at the Baildon Carnival on Saturday, 12^th July, in Jenny Lane Park. A fantastic parade opens the event, which includes a fun fair, live entertainment, stalls, a dance floor and more. Make sure to enjoy this brilliant summer family day out.

Pick up wonderful arts and crafts at the Ilkley Manor House’s Summer Maker’s Fair on 19^th-20^th July. The courtyard will be filled with stalls selling beautiful items, including ceramics, textiles, jewellery, homeware and clothing – there will be something to tempt everybody!

Taste some delicious food at the Food and Lifestyle Mela at Lister Park, Bradford, on 19^th-20^th July. This huge cultural celebration will be packed with tasty food, fashion and non-stop entertainment that the whole family will love.

BD:Festival is back! On 25^th -26^th July Bradford city centre will burst into life with world-class performances, street theatre, live music, workshops, food and family fun. Highlights include Zee and the City, Drop Me If You Dare, Soka Tira Osoa and Exposed. Expect crafts, surprises and a vibrant summer atmosphere all weekend long. Check out the full programme today!

Cliffe Castle Museum in Keighley celebrates the National Festival of Archaeology with a day of fascinating Archaeology Talks on Wednesday, 30^th July. A variety of speakers will be discussing everything to do with this study of the past, from folklore and the Iron Age to Neolithic carvings. No stone will be unturned!

There are loads of great summer shows coming to stages around the district this year. Bradford 2025 and the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway present a special performance of the Railway Children in Oxenhope – including a rail journey experience. Disney’s Beauty and the Beast tells a tale as old as time at Bradford Playhouse, whilst the grounds of NT East Riddlesden Hall in Keighley will be the setting of an outdoor production of Pride and Prejudice. Detective-thriller Picture You Dead is coming to the Alhambra Theatre, with more thrills coming to Ilkley Playhouse with a new production of The River.

Music fans will love experiencing brilliant tributes to the Magic of the Beatles at the Alhambra Theatre and Total Rex at Black Dyke Mills in Queensbury. The Live Room in Saltaire presents Canadian folk band Le Vent Du Nord, and at Ilkley Playhouse you’ll enjoy a fabulous Night of the Stars. Over at The Underground in Bradford you can join Emilia Quinn for a 4^th of July party full of all things Americana.

Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture bursts into July with performances, exhibitions, and family fun at The Beacon at Cliffe Castle Park in Keighley and The Loading Bay in Bradford. The Beacon brings imaginative theatre, circus with Colorsphere and Babysphere, and hands-on activities like the Bradford Stories Bus and archaeology adventures. At The Loading Bay, explore Tu i Tam/Tyt i Tam (3^rd-27^th July), celebrating Bradford’s Polish and Ukrainian communities, plus Come Rest in Chaos (17^th July), Last Rites (22^th July) and Evening Conversations (25^th July). And that’s just the start—there’s much more to experience across the district with Bradford 2025.

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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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