Activities and attractions will be taking place across the city this weekend during the Bradford Science Festival.

After three intensive days of demonstrations and workshops for children and young people, which ended today, the city’s first science festival is gearing up for a weekend of events, expected to attract people in their droves to the district.

Schoolchildren yesterday got to get up close to reptiles and creepy crawlies in City Hall, including a python and a tarantula, as part of the school events programme.

Helen Barraclough, who leads the Space Connections team which organised the festival, said: “What we are excited about is taking science into unusual places, so we have got animals in the Kirkgate Shopping Centre and Gary the Clown in Hand Made in Bradford.

“We are trying to show how science is embedded in all aspects of life, it’s not just something we do in a lab, science is everywhere.

“And we want families to get involved and realise there are so many opportunities in scientific careers.”

Tomorrow scientist Steve Allman will visit the University of Bradford to explore science fiction, science fact and science future.

He will be showing how to levitate, make objects invisible, glow in the dark and slow down time – proving science fact is often stranger than science fiction. Mr Allman will present his free remarkable science show at 11am and 2pm.

The university will also be holding a family fun day tomorrow between 10.30am and 2.30pm with hands-on activities to make and do for kids of all ages. On the same day, Creature Features will be presented at the university through the day by Animals In-tuition.

It’s a chance to meet and learn about unusual and interesting creatures. Science of the Circus will be the theme of four presentations given by Gary the Musical Clown on Saturday, at Hand Made in Bradford, the exhibition and shop in the city centre, near Market Street.

There will be plenty of audience participation as Gary demonstrates how ‘forces’ make a difference in making things move, speed up, slow down and even change shape in his fun-packed and informative show.

Also on Saturday, the Inspirational Science Theatre Company will present Which Way Is Up at various locations in the city, close to the Kirkgate Centre. Follow the journey of two scientists as they aim to get to the moon one step at a time and see if their rockets actually leave the ground!

A Science Festival information stand will be located in the Kirkgate Centre during the weekend, providing details of all attractions.

Information can also be found at bradfordsciencefestival.co.uk or by contacting Space Connections on 08456 522406.