Bradford’s City Park will be at the centre of celebrations this Saturday to mark St George’s Day.

This year’s celebrations will have a colourful medieval feel to it with joking jesters, dancers, singers and street theatre entertaining the crowds from 11am to 4pm.

Visitors and shoppers will also get the chance to find out about the legend of St George And The Dragon when the Lions Part Theatre group re-enacts a 500-year-old ballad explaining the tale behind it – the folk play is performed all around the country by the professional touring thespians, who met while working with the Original Shakespeare Company.

The Lord Mayor of Bradford, Councillor Naveeda Ikram, will be joining in the celebrations enjoying more of the fun including watching daring stunts such as fire eating and walking over a bed of nails.

And there will also be live music performed by the Red Hippo band, the Bradford Youth Concert Band and the City of Bradford Concert Band to get the party swinging.

Two vintage vehicles – a classic Jowett and a van provided by the Council-funded Bradford Industrial Museum – will also be added attractions on the day.

Coun Ikram said: “Bradford enjoys joining in the national celebrations and we are delighted to be holding this year’s event in this fantastic new setting.

“City Park is already bringing a lot of people into the city and it is a naturally great venue for an event such as this. I’m sure visitors will enjoy this fabulous free event, which will be great family fun.”

Saturday’s big event will be the first held in City Park since it officially openend last month with its sculptures, interactive laser light, public artwork and a 4,000sqm mirror pool with more than 100 fountains, including the tallest in any UK city, spouting 100ft.

Morris dancing team The Flagcrackers of Craven will commemorate England’s patron saint with a dance-out on Monday – St George’s Day.

It will be held at The White Lion, Kildwick, and guest teams have been invited along to ensure there is a variety of styles for the public to enjoy, from rapper sword dancing to stick-clashing border dances. A traditional Easter mummers play will also be performed.

The evening’s entertainment will begin at 7.30pm and will continue outside until darkness falls, when the dancers will move inside the pub for wassail singing.