This year’s Bradford Family Learning Festival promises to “inspire curiosity” when it begins later this month.
Thousands of adults and children are expected to attend a series of Family Fun Events in this year’s Bradford Family Learning Festival.
The festival runs from Saturday, 26 October to Friday, 1 November 2024.
Bradford Council’s Library Service and the Museums & Galleries Service along with the National Science & Media Museum and other partners are aiming to inspire curiosity and provide families with opportunities to learn new skills together whilst having fun.
This year, Bradford Libraries will offer free Heifer Production’s Bronte performances of Wild & Windy Moors for children aged 4–7-years-old & 8-12 years-old at Ilkley and Keighley Libraries on Wednesday, 30 October.
Libraries will also be encouraging curiosity at their story times with the picture book There’s a Tiger in The Garden by Lizzy Stewart.
Explore Learning will offer sessions in Maths and English across the week at various libraries. There will be an author visit at Wyke Library on Monday, 28 October at 10am from Deane Narayn-Lee with this book The Loving Earth. Competition winning author Alexandra Rad aged 11 years will also read from her picture book at an event in Idle Library on Tuesday, 29 Oct at 10am. All events are free at Bradford Libraries. Bookings for the events can be made through the appropriate library.
Bradford Museums & Galleries will host events at all the Council Museum sites. On Saturday, 26 October families can have a go at making their own bees wax candles as part of the large Apple Day event at Cliffe Castle or head to the Industrial Museum to take part in a Rag Rugging workshop. Wednesday, 30 October has a big tinkering challenge at Bradford Industrial Museum where families will be challenged to make a bridge that can hold a toy vehicle. Halloween on Thursday, 31 October will have a large programme of activities at Bolling Hall including the case of the Cheeky Boggart and in the evening a special series of Ghostly Tours will take place for children aged 7-12 (booking required). The week ends with the wonderful Listers Lanterns at Cartwright Hall on Friday, 1 November. Workshops to paint your own lantern as well as lots of handling activities and a chance to create your own Light Night picture.
The National Science and Media Museum are bringing a fantastic selection of activities to Bradford as part of the City Sparks programme. City Sparks shines the spotlight on Bradford communities, celebrating the diversity of achievement in STEM and providing a platform for underrepresented voices. The National Science and Media Museum has collaborated with local community organisations to create an exciting programme of events for all the family to enjoy, taking place in venues including The Broadway, WomenZone, and MAPA Cultural Arts Centre.
Other partners providing activities for the festival include the charity Saltaire Inspired who offer their Winter Saltaire Makers Fair on 26 & 27 October showcasing some of the UK’s finest contemporary craft and design, entry is FREE for under 16s (adults £3).
Bradford’s Intercultured Festival is also partnering with the Bradford Family Learning Festival. The Intercultured Festival aims to bring all cultures and communities together in the city and is holding several exciting family events in October.
Teens Run The World, at Commonspace, John Street, on Saturday, 26 October offers a range of activities, including dance, art and Mehndi.
Families can also try Lantern making with Cecil Green Arts on Monday, 28 October, to create a lantern ahead of the annual parade at Lister Park. The event takes place at Bradford Library.
Our Home, at Bradford Oastler Market on Friday, 1 November, includes crafts, face painting and workshops in partnership with Bradford Nightstop. It encourages participants to consider what home means to them.
Book for all events – which are free or pay-as-you-feel – at intercultured.co.uk and drop-ins are welcome at the last two family events.
Bradford Cathedral are also joining in the fun with their Half-Term Family Activities at the Cathedral on Tuesday, 29 October. Sessions need to be booked at Half-Term Family Activities (Morning Session) (29-Oct-2024) · ChurchSuite Events
Half-Term Family Activities (Afternoon Session) (29-Oct-2024) · ChurchSuite Events
Further activities and events can be found at https://itsoninbradford.co.uk/editorial/family-learning-festival/
Cllr Sarah Ferriby, Bradford Council’s Portfolio Holder for Place, said “Families always enjoy this Festival. It provides many much-needed low cost or free family learning and leisure activities. This year we are hoping for record numbers taking part in the activities across the district at our Libraries and in our Museums. Family learning has great outcomes for children, adults, and the wider community. It can help families tackle disadvantage and improve their life chances, all done in a fun accessible way at the Festival.”
Elaine Richmond, Community Partnerships & Events Manager at the National Science & Media Museum, said: “We are delighted to be working in partnership with Bradford Family Learning Festival for another year. This year’s festival theme, “Inspiring Curiosity”, is something that aligns closely with our values as a museum, and our activities as part of the City Sparks programme truly reflect that. We’ll be kicking off a fun-filled week with events across the heart of the city, championing diverse voices in STEM to inspire children and adults alike. We’re really looking forward to going out into the local community for another exciting series of activities.”
Maggie Myers, Director of Education and Visitors at Bradford Cathedral, said: “We’re delighted to be offering our free family activities once again during half-term. We look forward to welcoming children and their carers for a session on Tuesday October 29th. As it’s Autumn, there will be lots of Autumn-related activities and colouring for the whole family to enjoy, as well as family-friendly guided tours for those who would like a tour of the Cathedral. The Cathedral will also be open on that day for families to look around in their own time and there are always Cathedral quizzes and trails to keep the children busy! Refreshments are also available. We hope to see you at some point on Tuesday October 29th for some half-term fun in a magnificent setting!”
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