A NEW festival is about to be 'Born in Bradford' for thousands of families to enjoy this October.

Plans are being finalised for #BiBFest, the first-ever Born in Bradford Family Festival which will take over City Park and the National Media Museum on October 18 and 19.

Highlights of the two-day festival will be live shows and entertainment, fun explorer zones, playtime sessions and hands-on opportunities getting to grips with the very latest medical and research technology.

There will be plenty to keep both little ones and grown-ups occupied, said BiB Family Liaison Officer Ann Barratt.

The Born in Bradford project has been tracking the lives of 13,500 children and their families from all cultures and backgrounds across the district since 2007 to help understand more about child health and to pass on that vital information to UK and world studies.

Mrs Barratt said with the project's oldest children now aged seven, the festival is building on its popular teddy bear picnic celebrations from previous years which have attracted thousands of BiB parents and is a sign it that it is growing up too.

She said: "The festival represents a big milestone for the project as we have a lot of insights to share now results are coming out.

"The festival will be divided into three zones - our planet, our lives and our bodies so that families can explore and learn together at the event.”

Inspiring techno-themed health challenges over the weekend in the Museum will include food preparation with Bradford’s Ministry of Food, a spectacular Centre of the Cell show for seven to nine-year-olds, virtual dentistry to learn more about teeth and the chance to test out top of the range ultrasound equipment.

Families will also get the chance to pose for a picture with the Born in Bradford bear in City Park and go on a special bear-hunt trail courtesy of Bradford-based Hallmark cards.

The first 1,000 children to arrive at the festival will each receive special explorer packs.

The festival has won the backing of a host of community groups and organisations including some cash sponsorship from Bradford Trident, Bradford’s Better Start Partnership which is a ten-year programme to improve the lives of pregnant mothers and children up to three in the Little Horton, Bradford Moor and Bowling/Barkerend Wards.