ONE of the most spectacular events to happen in Bradford last year will return to the city this winter.

Illuminate Bradford, which took place over a weekend last October, will be coming back to the city centre in late November.

The Bradford Council organised event attracted over 200,000 visitors who saw light themed displays in Centenary Square, City Park, Ivegate and several other city centre streets.

The highlight was a spectacular projection that transformed City Hall into a huge arts installations.

Last year’s event was held in mid October, but this year’s Illuminate Bradford will be held closer to Christmas, on the weekend of November 29 to December 2.

It is believed that the Council has organised the event for later in the year to tie it in with other Christmas themed celebrations happening in the city centre.

A Council spokesman said details of the programme for this year’s event would be announced in the coming weeks, but it was expected to be on a similar scale to last year’s spectacular.

The 2017 Illuminate Bradford had proved to be a huge hit, attracting 200,000 people to the district. After the event, Bradford Council estimated that it had been worth more than £2.7 million to the local economy.

Over 150 local artists also took part in the weekend, including groups like Cecil Green Arts, who paraded huge puppets round City Park.

In Centenary Square, spectators watched dancers, acrobats, multimedia shows, and light installations which festooned the city centre buildings, and in particular City Hall, in bright colours through 3D projection specialists, Colour Project.

The projections reflected the spirit of Bradford, highlighting events like the Tour De Yorkshire and the district’s film and industrial heritage.

Ivegate was transformed into a “River of Light” by local arts group The Brick Box and there were live performances by acts including Bradford Festival Choral Society in the city.

The event had followed on from the previous year’s Forest of Light, which saw the City Park mirror pool illuminated with a huge arts installation made up of 59 sculptures.