A HIP-HOP dance at Five Rise Locks, a mobile cinema in a Mini Cooper, a puppet show in a camper van, acrobatics on the canal and a Titanic-themed fancy dress party are all part of a summer of culture in the district.

Summer Unlocked is a free programme of theatre, music, film and quirky performances hitting streets, neighbourhoods, civic spaces, moors, gardens and parks.

The family-friendly cultural and sports events run throughout the school holiday and are supported by Bradford Council, The Leap and Bradford 2025, with funding from the England European Regional Development Fund. The programme runs alongside Summer of Fun, which is funded by the Department for Education’s Holiday Activities and Food programme (HAF) which is designed to provide children and young people with free, fun activities at holiday clubs this summer.

Highlights include:

* Seeta Patel Dance Company’s reimagining of Stravinsky’s ballet The Rite of Spring, in classical Indian dance style Bharatanatyam, performed in the City Park Mirror Pool.

* Bradford-based learning disability live arts company Mind the Gap has collaborated with director Nickie Miles-Wild to create outdoor theatre piece Leave the Light on For Me. Staged in Lister Park, it combines physical performance, evocative soundscapes and family humour, exploring how people with learning disabilities engage with conversations around climate change.

* Jellyfish Theatre’s adventure The Wagon of Dreams is an interactive show for children aged three-plus, with handmade puppets and socially distanced audience interaction.

* The Persian Paddleboarder, a floating performance by Bobak Champion, sees physical theatre, clowning, acrobatics and hip-hop dance take to the waterways with performances on Lister Park boating lake, Apperley Bridge, the canal at Saltaire and Bingley Five Rise Locks.

* Minicinemagic! is a mobile cinema projector within a classic Mini Cooper which will park up and project good news stories stories about people in neighbourhoods districtwide. People can share their own ‘Mini moments’ for the Minicinemagic! Newsreel by sending texts, photos and short video clips to illuminos.co.uk/latestnews, texting 07762 117008 or posting on social media using the hashtag #bradfordminimoments.

* Front Room Poetry invites people to join them in an outdoor sitting-room at skate parks, neighbourhoods and community centre car parks, to hear spoken word artists, storytellers and rappers from across the UK.

* COMPACT DISCO, coming to a neighbourhood near you, aims to get people moving with its travelling discotheque, complete with a giant mobile disco ball, sequined performers and personalised playlist,

* Live music includes Bradford group The Peace Artistes, whose riotous, raucous explosion of brass, woodwind and percussion will pop up in parks including Peel Park, Bowling Park and Wibsey Park.

* Breakin for Love with urban dance giants Tech Styles International and The Clean North Crew will be inviting people to try their hand at breakdancing.

* The Chalk Dance is a series of family-friendly pavement art workshops hosted by Urban Canvas.

* Another World, set in Parson’s Field at Haworth's Brontë Parsonage Museum, is an installation by NEON Studio exploring an imaginary world where the Brontës ran wild.

* Thornton's South Square Centre, which recently re-opened following an eight-month renovation, will host Titanic Relaunched; recreating the elaborate Titanic-themed fancy dress party which marked the opening of the arts space in 1982. Its community courtyard will be filled with colourful backdrops, party-style photos, an iceberg, lighthouse, seagulls and ship’s wheel.

* Bradford Libraries are running Teddy Bear Picnics, with interactive storytelling and crafts, and families can get active with climbing towers and den building.

* A Summer Unlocked Food & Drink Weekender, from July 29 to August 1, sees street-food vendors and a bar in City Park.

Portfolio Holder for Healthy People and Places, Cllr Sarah Ferriby, said “We want families and residents to feel empowered to get out and explore the fantastic public spaces we have here in Bradford. Summer Unlocked will offer Covid-safe activities creating moments of surprise, celebration and reflection.”

Added Richard Shaw, Bradford 2025 bid director: “Summer Unlocked offers families chance to see, hear and experience an incredible line-up of performers against the backdrop of our beautiful streets, canals, parks and squares. It’s a brilliant opportunity to try something different and see Bradford’s public spaces brought to life in a whole new way.

“It’s great to see momentum building through the summer as we ramp up cultural activities as part of our bid to be UK City of Culture 2025.”

* visitbradford.com/SummerUnlocked