SALTAIRE will host a countdown to Christmas in style with its annual Living Advent Calendar event which sees village home’s windows lit up.

Residents of the World Heritage Site will illuminate 56 windows throughout the village.

Running since 2006, the Saltaire Living Advent Calendar has become a highlight for the Bradford district, and attracts visitors from further afield.

 

The village's windows light daily up throughout the month in houses, schools, shops and churches until Christmas Eve.

This year, 15 windows will be illuminated on Thursday, December 1, with further windows lighting up each evening until Christmas Eve.

Window designs remain a surprise – even for event organisers Saltaire Inspired - until 4pm on their light-up date, and typically include festive scenes, quirky characters and tales influenced by Saltaire, culture, and the window creator’s own lives and experiences – often with a good sprinkling of festive humour.

For the fourth year, Rydals Museum in Sweden is creating a window for the event, while Shipley-based Cactus Crew has created a window on Saltaire’s behalf which is currently in transit to Sweden, to feature in Rydal’s event.

Windows are illuminated from 4pm to 10.30pm each evening, until January 1.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: Some more of last year's windows used in the Saltaire Saltaire Living Advent Calendar, which is returning this yearSome more of last year's windows used in the Saltaire Saltaire Living Advent Calendar, which is returning this year (Image: Philip Lickley)

For those unable to visit in person, window designs are revealed each evening at saltaireinspired.org.uk and on Facebook (@saltaireadventcalendar), Twitter (@saltaireart) and Instagram (@saltaireinspired).

This event is supported by sponsors Edward St Bakery and Bingley Gallery. Further funding is raised by the sale of packs of Christmas cards, featuring a selection of the previous year’s windows, which are available to buy from saltaireinspired.org.uk and at outlets in the village.

The Saltaire Living Advent Calendar is organised under the umbrella of arts charity Saltaire Inspired.

Julia Calver, chair of Saltaire Inspired, said: "A highlight of our winter programme, the Living Advent Calendar is truly a collaborative effort, with windows created by village residents, community groups, schools, local businesses, and our partners from Rydals in Sweden.

“With displays in the windows of Saltaire's listed cottages, iconic buildings, and our community phone box, we can't wait to see what will be revealed this year."

A map showing the locations of the windows can be found at saltaireinspired.org.uk and trail leaflets can be picked up at locations throughout Saltaire.

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