FIREWORK displays, amazing acrobatics, witches, runs and a Christmas lights spectacular are some of the highlights of an action-packed autumn and winter programme of events in City Park.

A Wizard of Oz themed three-day mini-festival, Echoes of Oz - There's no place like Bradford, will transform City Park between Friday, October 9, and Sunday, October 11, between 1pm and 9pm, with live light shows at 1pm and 7pm each day.

Visitors will be able to hop across the Yellow Brick Road into City Park's mirror pool and delight in Munchkinland, and also feature Dorothy's House and play on the Ruby Slipper Slide.

Other characters at the event are Glinda the Good Witch, Professor Marvel and Powerful Wizard of Oz himself. It has been developed by Shipley-based company Irregular Arts.

Heliosphere sees acrobats from British street theatre company The Dream Engine perform while suspended below giant helium balloons for this year's Christmas lights switch on, held on Saturday, November 14, from 5pm to 6pm.

The Christmas lights spectacular will also feature The Diamond, a giant translucent pod where a cocooned artist performs acrobatics while suspended by aerial ribbons.

Meanwhile, City Park will become a laboratory for the free British Science Festival Fringe: Family Saturday on September 12, from 11am to 3pm, with live science demonstrations and hands-on activities. This will form part of the British Science Festival held in Bradford between September 7 and 10 and a Festival Fringe from September 11 and 18.

Bradford Family Learning Festival Colour and Light Saturday Spectaculars will be set in venues around City Park on October 24 and 31.

Giant sun catchers will be made for City Library's windows, with colour and light stories at 11am and 2pm. Craft making activities, including making colour spinners, will take place.

Runners will be catered for with the Epilepsy Action Bradford 10k on Sunday, September 27, from 9am. Bradford City Runs, which includes a 5k, 10k and half-marathon, will be held on Sunday, October 25, from 9.15am.

Bradford City Centre will turn into a velodrome for this year's Sky Ride event on Sunday, September 20, from 11am to 3pm. The event will include a display from Europe's number one mountain bike and BMX demonstration team and bike riding skills sessions for children aged under 16.

The Lord Mayor of Bradford, Councillor Joanne Dodds, will attend the traditional Remembrance Sunday service will be held in Centenary Square on Sunday, November 8, between 11am and noon.

Visitors can get into the festive spirit on Sunday, November 15, with the annual reindeer parade where Father Christmas and six real reindeer will leave Kirkgate Centre at 10am, before travelling along Sunbridge Road to City Park.

Councillor Susan Hinchcliffe, portfolio holder for education, skills and culture, said: "The City Park events for autumn are looking really good.

"The autumn quarter is the most significant retail trading quarter of the year and particular this year, with the opening of the Broadway shopping centre, it's even more important that we put on a good series of events."