A SPECTACULAR event that attracted tens of thousands of people to Bradford City Centre will not be taking place this year due to budget pressures.

The three-day Illuminate Bradford event, which sees City Hall become the backdrop to animated projections, has kicked off the festive season in Bradford for the last two years.

But it has now been announced that there will be no Illuminate Bradford in 2019 - instead City Park will host a one day Christmas Fayre.

Bradford Council - which organised Illuminate Bradford said the “difficult decision” not to run the event was down to budget cuts and cost pressures due to reduced government funding for local Councils.

The Christmas Fayre that will replace the event is being held on Saturday November 30.

It is due to feature brass bands, Christmas choirs, funfairs, street theatre performances and “multi-coloured waterfalls.”

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There will also be a 36 stall market, and the event will link up with Bradford Cathedral’s centenary celebrations.

It will form part of the second “Sparking Bradford” programme of Christmas events - following on from last Winter’s programme.

The event will open from Noon to 8.30pm.

News of Illuminate Bradford being dropped this year came through an email sent out to potential market traders.

When asked about the changes, a Bradford Council spokesperson, said: “We regularly review our events programme and due to continuing budget cuts and cost pressures from other services, the Council has taken the difficult decision not to hold Illuminate Bradford this year.

“However, the Council will continue to support the Sparkling Bradford programme and there are plenty of high quality events happening across the district including the new Bradford Christmas Fayre which will feature over 36 high quality stalls and lots of fun street theatre and entertainment.”

The first Illuminate Bradford event was held over three nights in October 2017, and saw projections on City Hall highlighting Bradford’s history, people and culture.

There were also numerous street performances and activities throughout the city centre.

Bradford Council said the event attracted over 200,000 visitors to the city centre

The next year the event returned, but in late November and as part of the District’s festive events.

Illuminate Bradford 2018 featured a new show - a projection called Imaginarium that “took audiences on a magical journey under the sea, into space and through a mysterious fantasy land.”

Once again the free event attracted huge crowds to the city centre, with other shows and projections on Darley Street, Ivegate and other areas of the city centre.

It was one of the main events that made up “Sparking Bradford” - which brought together all the different festive events in the District. It saw numerous groups, the councils and businesses joining forces to arrange and promote festive events.