The Beacon

Everyone’s welcome at The Beacon – our very own touring venue.

What's on - Bowling What's on - Cliffe Castle Park Visit

We’re taking Bradford 2025 on the road in our custom-made touring venue.

The Beacon is a venue like no other – a stunning performance space that will be touring the district during Bradford 2025. This super-versatile venue can be built and rebuilt anywhere – and we’ll be taking it for month-long stays in Wibsey Park, Bowling Park, Cliffe Castle Park and Lister Park.

We’re working with the people of Bradford to create bespoke programmes in each location. There’ll be headline acts: music, comedy and much more. There’ll be weekday shows and weekend festivals. But there’ll also be clubs, classes, family activities, neighbourhood get-togethers… you name it.

Everyone’s welcome at The Beacon – and (almost) anything goes.

What's on - Bowling Park

See what's on at The Beacon in Bowling Park.

An image of a microphone in focus with a crowd of seated people blurred in the background

Part of The Beacon

18 Jun 2025

Say It As It Is: Bowling Park

with Kirsty Taylor

Speak up and listen in – Kirsty Taylor hosts a special open mic night for Bradford 2025

Refugee Week 2025

Community as a superpower.

Join us at The Beacon for welcoming and inclusive programme of artworks, events and activities.

16-22 Jun 2025

Find out more →

A group of children look at something to the right.

What's on - Cliffe Castle Park

See what's on at The Beacon in Cliffe Castle Park.

man wearing a bow tie, holding a gun to his head with a yellow smiley face shooting from the gun

Part of The Beacon

10 Jul 2025

Imaginary Friends

Daniel Bye

After a tragic event, a floundering TV comic takes comfort in his imaginary friends.

Part of The Beacon

11 Jul 2025

Drag-Ford

Bradford Drag Collective

Enjoy an evening of cabaret with five local drag artists from Keighley and beyond.

A colourful glass fronted building with The Beacon on the front surrounded by hundreds of people on a sunny day.

FREE Part of The Beacon

12 Jul 2025

The Big Beacon Family Welcome – Cliffe Castle Park

Join us at Cliffe Castle Park for an afternoon of family fun.

A man address an audience speaking into a microphone with his right arm outstretched

Part of The Beacon

13 Jul 2025

Loaded Laughs at The Beacon

Bradford 2025's new comedy night, live at The Beacon.

FREE Part of The Beacon

16 Jul 2025

Health and Wellbeing Day

Keighley and Worth Valley Community Partnership

Connect with your community and check your health at this free daytime event.

FREE Part of The Beacon

17 Jul 2025

What are you watching?

Friends of Bradford Art Galleries and Museums

Explore the development of film culture in Bradford and Keighley.

Part of The Beacon

17 Jul 2025

Say It As It Is: Cliffe Castle Park

with Kirsty Taylor

Speak up and listen in – Kirsty Taylor hosts a special open mic night for Bradford 2025

Part of The Beacon

19 Jul 2025

Cliffe Castle Party in the Park

Teen Scene Parties & K-Town Sound Machine

Bradford’s premier teen party producer present an unmissable family friendly Party in the Park at Cliffe Castle.

Two men in traditional Indian dress play dhol drums on stage

FREE Part of The Beacon

19 Jul 2025

LOUD & PROUD Dhol Drumming

Punjabi Roots

Learn to play the iconic dhol drum at this free workshop – no experience necessary.

FREE Part of The Beacon

31 Jul 2025

Celebrating Culture at Cliffe Castle

Highfield Community Association

Celebrate South Asian culture in Keighley with activities for the whole family to enjoy.

A patchwork quilt made of squares designed by the community to represent peace

FREE Part of The Beacon

20 Jul 2025

Peace Picnic: Cliffe Castle Park

The Peace Museum

The Peace Museum host the third of five free gatherings to celebrate peace, protest and community.

FREE Part of The Beacon

21 Jul 2025

The Great Crafty Get-Together

Keighley Parish and LinkAge

Celebrate all the crafters - and all those that would like to be!

Twi men sat down, one is looking up, the other man sat with his arms crossed

Part of The Beacon

22 & 23 Jul 2025

Your Best Guess

mala voadora & Chris Thorpe

Life is entirely unpredictable. But what if we could rewrite history?

A young boy pulls another young boy who is sat in a makeshift cart across some grass

FREE Part of The Beacon

24 July - 10 Aug 2025

Play Bradford’s Mobile Adventure Playground – Cliffe Castle Park

Play Bradford

We’re teaming up with Play Bradford to bring mobile play to The Beacon at Cliffe Castle Park.

Three giant puppets of women from different cultural backgrounds perform in a park

FREE Part of The Beacon

25 Jul 2025

World of Women Walkabout Show

Cecil Green Arts

Larger than life, handmade puppets will be entertaining the crowds at Cliffe Castle Park.

Part of The Beacon

25 & 26 Jul 2025

Colorsphere

Hands Some Feet & Opus Company

Colorsphere is not your average circus.

young boy with lots of balls/ spheres around him on the floor

Part of The Beacon

25 & 26 Jul 2025

Babysphere

Hands Some Feet & Opus Company

Explore a world of colour, movement, and sound.

A man talks to a group of children in a bus which has been converted into a library

FREE Part of The Beacon

26 Jul 2025

Share Your Story: Bradford Stories Bus at Cliffe Castle Park

National Literacy Trust in Bradford

We’re inviting children and young people to share their stories aboard a classic American school bus.

A collage of various materials including cardboard, feathers and googly eyes

FREE Part of The Beacon

28 Jul & 10 Aug 2025

Let’s Make – Cliffe Castle Park

Lou Sumray

Get creative with artist Lou Sumray at these free family-friendly workshops in Cliffe Castle Park.

Part of The Beacon

28 Jul 2025

Evening Conversations – The Beacon

Sudha Bhuchar

Sudha invites her boys to ‘crack open a cold one’ and share their views on life.

FREE Part of The Beacon

30 Jul 2025

Little Explorers, Festival of Archaeology

Bradford District Museums & Galleries

Craft activities and exploration stations for little archaeologists and scientists.

FREE Part of The Beacon

30 Jul 2025

Archaeology Talks!

Bradford District Museums & Galleries

Enjoy a day of archaeology talks to celebrate the National Festival of Archaeology.

A crowd of people at a club night, in black and white.

Part of Summer Sounds

2 Aug 2025

Summer Sounds: Saturday

Day one of our two-day festival of music in Cliffe Castle Park.

A man wearing flowing red clothes looks directly towards us. Behind him there are trees in leaf and a blue sky.

Part of Summer Sounds

3 Aug 2025

Summer Sounds: Sunday

Day two of our two-day festival of music in Cliffe Castle Park.

A large group of men in black trousers and white shirts cheer in a park. Two women are stood at the front in dresses.

FREE Part of The Beacon

5 Aug 2025

Summer of Song

Steeton Male Voice Choir

Steeton Male Voice Choir celebrate 118 years of singing.

A mother holds her young daughter in front of her as she reaches to draw on a giant sheet of paper on the wall

FREE Part of The Beacon

6 Aug 2025

The MEGA Drawing Box in the Park

Keighley Creative

Keighley Creative and artist Naseem Darbey present a nature inspired drawing box adventure!

FREE Part of The Beacon

6 Aug 2025

Creative Summer Social

Cultural Voice Forum

A relaxed and welcoming indoor and outdoor event celebrating Bradford’s creative sector.

FREE Part of The Beacon

7 Aug 2025

Youth Fest

Bradford Youth Service
Keighley Team

The Youth Service provide a day of activities for 11-19 year olds.

An illustration of an open story book with a purple cloud coming out of it

Part of The Beacon

8 Aug 2025

OUR STORY

Nebula Girls Group

Gain a unique insight into the challenges and strengths of being an autistic girl in today’s world.

FREE Artist Award

9 Aug 2025

STATUESQUE at Cliffe Castle Park – 75th Birthday Bash

Chicks on Sticks & Naomi Parker

Costumed characters, free family workshop and a community parade.

An external shot of Cliffe Castle Museum

FREE Part of The Beacon

9 Aug 2025

Cliffe Castle Park 75th Birthday Bash

Starring Statuesque

Join us to celebrate 75 years of Cliffe Castle Park at their birthday bash!

FREE Part of The Beacon

10 Aug 2025

Shadmanny

Bradford South Asian Festival

A taste of South Asian wedding culture.

Part of The Beacon

10 Aug 2025

Stick in the Wheel

A raw holler of folk, synths, spoken word and intricate guitar fuzz.

Plan your visit to The Beacon

Find out about accessibility, facilities, parking and more – plan your visit to our touring venue, The Beacon.

Plan your visit →

The Beacon Visual Story

This visual story is to help you plan your trip to The Beacon, our custom-made touring venue for Bradford 2025. It includes photographs around the venue and it’s facilities.

See the Visual Story →