A NEW campaign is underway to highlight all that's going on in Bradford over the festive period.

The Broadway Bradford, Visit Bradford, Bradford Council, Made in Bradford and University of Bradford have teamed together for Sparkling Bradford.

It will bring together all of the season's events and experiences, highlighting the district as a Christmas destination.

And to celebrate the inaugural Sparkling Bradford campaign,  Andy Warriner from Keighley, has penned a poem to encompass what Christmas means to Bradfordians.

The poem was performed and recorded by local school students, Georgina Macdonald, 15, Willow Clapham, 12 , Jessica Braddy, 11, and Charlotte Malin, eight, of Skipton and Sebastian Peters, 11, of Shipley to mark the start of the festivities. 

Sparkling Bradford events have been wrapped up in a Christmas brochure, to be delivered across the district in the coming weeks. It will feature events from each corner of the district, including Alpaca Treks in Oxenhope to the Industrial Museum’s Victorian Christmas Market and Saltaire’s Living Advent Calendar.

There will also be an opportunity to win £1,000 worth of holiday vouchers, with a treasure hunt that takes visitors around the city centre in search of 12 Christmas baubles.

Councillor Sarah Ferriby, Bradford Council’s Executive Member for Healthy People and Places, said: “Sparkling Bradford is exactly what the district needs, it brings together all of the events that people love into one big Bradford Christmas.

"The Festive Launch takes place at The Broadway on November 10 and will be followed by annual highlights such as Illuminate Bradford, Ilkley Christmas Teepees, Keighley and Worth Valley Railway Christmas Specials, the pantomime at the Alhambra as well as events at Bradford Council-run theatres, museums and in our parks and so much more.

"It’s all in the brochure and online in one digestible package, making it easy for people to see what’s on offer.”

Cllr Ferriby added: “At key points throughout the next two months you’ll also be able to use our special Sparkling Bradford Snapchat filter, which will add a little glitter to your festive selfie.”

Jessica Braddy, one of the young stars of Sparkling Bradford, said: “I loved reading the Sparkling Bradford poem, it made me feel so festive and excited about everything we do in Bradford.

"It’s such a special time of the year and Bradford is such a special place. I really hope that everyone loves what we’ve done and it makes even more people excited about visiting our district this Christmas.”