A "FESTIVAL of Light" being held across the District will see the Northern Lights come to City Park.

Bradford is #LiT is a major new event that will culminate on November 5 and 6 with a series of light based art installations in the city centre.

Bradford Council says the event will offer a "fun, free alternative" to families on Bonfire night.

One of the highlights will be Borealis, an artwork created by Dan Acher, which brings the magic of the Northern Lights/Aurora Borealis to Bradford in an incredible display that will light up the night sky.

The event has been organised in partnership between Bradford Council, Bradford BID and Bradford 2025 - the group set up to bring the City of Culture title to the District.

The festival will see nine bespoke commissions take over the streets of Bradford, alongside two nationally recognised commissions that will visit Yorkshire for the first time.

On Friday 5 and Saturday 6 November, from 5pm - 10pm, City Park will become a Nordic wonder-land thanks to the Borealis display.

The historic Wool Exchange will also be transformed, with a projection-artwork by Illuminos, entrancing audiences with a colourful winter-themed show titled When the Clocks Go Back, Count Sheep.

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Bradford Cathedral will be re-imagined with Light Organ, by artist Akeelah Bertram, as the Cathedral’s electronic organ is transformed by a visual and sound experience which will take visitors on a journey through one of the region's most beautiful buildings.

Local artists Cecil Green Arts will bring the streets to life with their giant, light-up puppets and Mythical Beasts, which will move through the city centre, bringing light to unusual spaces.

As well as the city centre programme, Bradford is #LiT will present a series of pop-up installations across the District through the winter months, including: Al Asma Ul Husna by the Muslim Women’s Council and The Leap, whose light creations will illuminate Leeds Road; Spin Me a Yarn by Lucy McDonnell, a large, luminous ball of wool which will appear in Haworth and is inspired by Bradford’s heritage as the ‘Wool Capital of the World’; There Are Brighter Days Ahead by Bradford-born artist Nathan Evans, which will light up the windows of Keighley Creative with a typography installation designed to inspire optimism and bring a calming moment to the world.

Richard Shaw, Bid Director at Bradford 2025, said: “This is a great opportunity to see the work of incredible Bradford-based artists, alongside some of the most imaginative light artists from across the UK and abroad, as they light up the district with their wonderful new creations.

"The programme will connect audiences across Bradford, from the city centre to Haworth, Bingley and Keighley, and demonstrate the wealth of culture and talent we have to offer, whilst highlighting our world-class architecture and community spaces, as we continue to promote our bid for City of Culture 2025.”

Councillor Sarah Ferriby, Healthy People and Places Portfolio Holder, said:“This fantastic free festival brings together some brilliant national and local talent and will be great fun for all the family. Bradford is #LiT forms an important part of our build up to City of Culture 2025, for which we have now been successfully longlisted. We encourage everyone to make the most of this wonderful opportunity to enjoy some superb light installations and celebrate our district’s rich cultural heritage.”

Further information on the events will be released in the coming weeks.