THE tenth annual Bradford Family Learning Festival blasts off this weekend with a host of half-term events across the city.

Each year, museums, libraries and other venues get together to stage the festival, giving children and their parents the chance to learn new things together.

And with astronaut Tim Peake’s capsule still on show in Bradford, many of this year’s activities have taken on a distinctly space-age theme.

At the National Science and Media Museum, visitors can embark on Mission Space, an out-of-this-world half-term adventure.

While the astronaut himself was only in Bradford for a day last month, families can still learn about his historic mission to the International Space Station and the capsule which brought him back to earth.

Visitors can also can build their own rocket or make a rover vehicle to explore the surface of a distant planet.

Activities take place at the museum every day throughout the festival, which begins this Saturday and runs until Sunday, October 29.

There will be two ‘Super Saturdays’ on October 21 and October 28, when Bradford’s City Library will offer alien-themed activities from 11am until 3pm.

During the day, young guests will be able to make space crafts, design alien postcards and create a giant alien on the library’s windows.

Manningham and Shipley libraries will host an Alien Loves Underpants shows for children up to the age of six, based on the books by children’s author Claire Freedman, and children across the district are being asked to draw an alien family for the chance to win a basket of books.

Susan Brewster-Craig, the development officer for Bradford’s libraries, said: “Bradford Libraries are thrilled to be part of the 10th Bradford Family Learning Festival.

“We aim to encourage more families into our libraries to have fun with the storytelling and creative activities taking place across the district.”

At Kala Sangam in Forster Square, visitors can see the fantastical Indian folktale The Magic Fish and take part in a family dance workshop.

And artist Jonny White will be leading activities at Cartwright Hall Art Gallery in Lister Park, Manningham.

The Impressions Gallery in City Park is hosting From Bradford with Love, offering people the chance to take part in a pop-up photo studio as part of their show.

Councillor Sarah Ferriby, Bradford Council’s executive member for environment, sport and culture, said: “We hope the line-up for this year’s Family Learning Festival will help to capture the imagination of children and their families.

“All of the partners involved have put together an inspiring programme and I can’t wait for this year’s event to get under way.

“The Family Learning Festival is something Bradford can be very proud of.”