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The Beacon

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

What's on - Cliffe Castle ParkWhat's on - Lister ParkVisit

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 - Cliffe Castle Park

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

children running about outside on the grass on a sunny day
FREE Part of The Beacon

Rugby Tots

Try Rugby with Rugby Tots at The Beacon!

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

Your Best Guess

mala voadora & Chris Thorpe

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

Two women in p.e. kit red wristbands and headbands hula hopp
FREE Part of The Beacon

Wonky Olympics

SD Theatre

Two clueless PE teachers give traditional sports day a hilarious makeover.

A young boy pulls another young boy who is sat in a makeshift cart across some grass
FREE Part of The Beacon

Play Bradford’s Mobile Adventure Playground

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

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

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

Babysphere

Hands Some Feet & Opus Company

Explore a world of colour, movement, and sound.

A collage of various materials including cardboard, feathers and googly eyes
FREE Part of The Beacon

Let’s Make

Lou Sumray

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

FREE Part of The Beacon

Cool Runnings Culture Day

Cool Runnings

Keighley's very own Caribbean eatery Cool Runnings takes over The Beacon.

Part of The Beacon

Evening Conversations

Sudha Bhuchar

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

FREE Part of The Beacon

Little Explorers, Festival of Archaeology

Bradford District Museums & Galleries

Craft activities and exploration stations for little archaeologists and scientists.

FREE Part of The Beacon

Archaeology Talks!

Bradford District Museums & Galleries

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

FREE Part of The Beacon

Celebrating Culture at Cliffe Castle

Highfield Community Association

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

FREE Part of The Beacon

Festival of Archaeology Finale

Council for British Archaeology and Bradford Museums & Galleries

Free family fun-filled two-day finale of this year’s amazing Festival of Archaeology.

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

Summer Sounds: Saturday

Asha Puthli, Metz n Trix and ganayva headline day one of our music weekender in The Beacon.

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

Summer Sounds: Sunday

Nitin Sawhney and Poppy Ajudha top the bill for day two of our Beacon music weekender.

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

Summer of Song

Steeton Male Voice Choir

Steeton Male Voice Choir celebrate 118 years of singing.

FREE Part of The Beacon

Nature-Inspired Crafts

Amy Hall

A relaxed session full of hands-on creativity, all themed around nature.

FREE Part of The Beacon

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

Creative Summer Social

Cultural Voice Forum

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

Youth Fest Logo
FREE Part of The Beacon

Youth Fest

Bradford Youth Service
Keighley Team

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

FREE Part of The Beacon

Art & Song

Emily Parkin and Stephanie Warrender

Imaginative sessions combining music and drawing.

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

OUR STORY

Nebula Girls Group

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

A photo of an Alpaca puppet
FREE Artist Award Part of The Beacon

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

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

Shadmanny

Bradford South Asian Festival

A taste of South Asian wedding culture.

Part of The Beacon

Stick in the Wheel

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

What's on - Lister Park

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

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

The Big Beacon Family Welcome

Join us at Lister Park for an afternoon of family fun.

A young boy pulls another young boy who is sat in a makeshift cart across some grass
FREE Part of The Beacon

Play Bradford’s Mobile Adventure Playground

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

Part of The Beacon

The Cocoa Butter Club

It's time to lotion up baby!

A man lit up in blue sings into a microphone in a cap and red sunglasses
Part of The Beacon

BBC Introducing at The Beacon

BBC Introducing

The BBC’s music discovery platform takes over The Beacon for an open mic night of live music.

Part of The Beacon

Hindu Sangh Culture Event

Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh (UK)

Find out about Hindu and Gujarati traditions at The Beacon

Part of The Beacon

Hot Caribbean Beatz in the Park

Join us for an evening of Caribbean music at The Beacon

FREE Part of The Beacon

Art and Play Day

Cartwright Hall Art Gallery

Have a go at different art techniques - for little artists and their grown ups.

Part of The Beacon

A Somali Village in Lister Park

Friends of Bradford Art Galleries and Museums

Find out about this popular attraction at the 1904 Great Exhibition

FREE Part of The Beacon

The Baton of Hope

The Baton of Hope is the UK’s­ largest ever suicide prevention initiative.

Part of The Beacon

Blankets & Wine Bradford

Kenya comes to Manningham! Celebrate African music and culture across two stages in Lister Park.

Part of The Beacon

Khooghi

Come on a journey as Kauser weaves together her history with the life and songs of Pakistani folk legend.

Part of The Beacon

Share and Care

Bradford New Church

Hands-on sustainable arts and crafts for all ages.

Part of Our Patch

Sip and Paint

Creative Flare

Chill, create, and connect with friends.

Families queue to get on an old American school bus in a park
FREE Part of The Beacon

Share Your Story: On Board at The Beacon

National Literacy Trust in Bradford

The Bradford Stories Bus is coming to The Beacon for a one-day story spectacular.

Part of The Beacon

The Invite

Mind the Gap

Mind the Gap’s new immersive theatre experience invites you to a surprise party, with music, movement… and cake.

FREE Part of The Beacon

Poetry Takeaway

The Poetry Takeaway serves high quality, personalised Poetry to our diners, written, performed and wrapped up to Takeaway.

A collage of various materials including cardboard, feathers and googly eyes
FREE Part of The Beacon

Let’s Make

Lou Sumray

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

Part of The Beacon

Otherhood

Old Bird Theatre

A story of radical love and found family.

A photo of an Alpaca puppet
FREE Artist Award Part of The Beacon

STATUESQUE at Lister Park

Chicks on Sticks & Naomi Parker

Costumed characters, free family workshop and a community parade.

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

The Beacon locations

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Wibsey Park

Wibsey

3 April to 5 May 2025
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Bowling Park

Bowling

22 May to 22 June 2025
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Cliffe Castle Park

Keighley

10 July to 10 August 2025

Lister Park

Manningham

28 August to 28 September 2025

The Beacon is supported by The Paul Hamlyn Foundation.