Lots of smiles in Bradford city center at the ‘amazing’ two-day festival

A FESTIVAL held in Bradford city center has been hailed as “incredible”.

BD: The festival – which took place in the city center on Friday and Saturday – celebrated art, culture and heritage with a series of free and ticketed performances and events that brought in huge crowds.

The event, produced by Bradford Council, took place just months before 2025 – the year Bradford marks its UK City of Culture status.

There was plenty of entertainment on offer in the heart of the city (Image: Philip Lickley via T&A Camera Club)

A spokesman for Bradford 25 – the group helping to organize next year’s celebrations – said: “BD: The festival was incredible.”

According to the Council, BD: Festival featured “world-class performers, including international names and homegrown talent”.

Highlights of the event included Perceptions de la Compagnie Bivouac, which was an extraordinary circus experience performed in a huge aerial structure.

BD: The festival has been described as “incredible” and a great way to prepare for City of Culture 2025 (Image: Ralph Berry via T&A Camera Club)

Councilor Alex Ross-Shaw, Bradford Council’s executive member for regeneration, planning and transport, said it was “one of the best things I’ve ever seen in Bradford”.

Meanwhile, SMOOSH! de Paraorchestra brought an energetic wind and brass band and troupe of dancers to the streets for a parade of classical pop-karaoke music.

The Punjabi Roots Baja band and their parade of dhol players and bhangra dancers delighted the audience.

Crowds gathered downtown for one of the shows (Image: Newsquest/Brad Deas)

SOUND DE SECÀ entertain you with a unique theater, dance and music experience that combines percussion, energetic choreography and captivating rhythms.

A live performance, Catwalk by Zwermers, explored themes of consumerism, fast fashion, gender fluidity, cultural identity, conformity and individuality.

There were stories on the Bradford Stories bus and a performance on the history of tea.

The town library also hosted performances of Queenie and Pooka, a story about a traveling girl and a shape-shifting creature.

The vigil over the fun was a huge hit.

Rombald the Giant watched everything carefully (Image: Anna Dyson-Clarke via T&A Camera Club)

Rombald the Giant – a sculpture created by Designs in Air – gazed across City Park and made many heads turn.

Rombald was an inflatable version of the mythical giant said to be responsible for creating the Cow and Calf rock formation in Ilkley.

Looks like he’s having a delicious time! (Image: Anna Dyson-Clarke via T&A Camera Club)

A large sculpture of colorful fish seemed to enjoy a whale in the fountains.

Cllr Sarah Ferriby, executive member for healthy people and places at the Council, said there was “something for everyone at this fabulous annual event”.

She added to BD: The festival was “a great chance for us to come together to celebrate art, culture and heritage.”