A colourful acrobatics-and-rock extravaganza will be at the heart of this year’s Christmas lights switch-on in Bradford.

The city has a reputation for putting on unusual events for its annual festive extravaganza and this year is no different.

In an extravaganza called Maure, 12 acrobats will perform daring feats while dangling from a giant mobile suspended 100 feet above City Park.

The acrobats, part of Argentinian group Voala, will swoop down on the crowds to scatter a colourful array of confetti and streamers.

The show will be accompanied by a rock concert, with British rock band Duchamp Pilot belting out guitar-driven original music, as well as a host of lighting and pyrotechnic special effects.

Maure is the brainchild of Argentinians Roberto Strada and Gaston Iungman and has so far been performed in Montreal, Stockholm and Paris.

The fun begins at noon on Saturday, November 16, with Christmas-themed street theatre. The Maure Christmas Lights show will start at 5pm.

Councillor Susan Hinchcliffe, Bradford Council’s portfolio holder for culture, said: “Bradford is quickly gaining a reputation for putting on spectacular events and visitors to this year’s Christmas lights switch-on certainly won’t be disappointed.

“I urge everyone to come down to City Park and make the most of this wonderful performance.”

Ilkley’s festive extravaganza is planned for November 23 at The Grove. Town crier Chris Richards will be the special guest pushing the plunger to switch on the lights, in his final function before he retires.

The next day, it is Keighley’s turn to celebrate, with the lights switch-on – dubbed the Christmas Cracker – from 4.30pm.

Then on November 30, attention turns to Bingley, where television presenter and gardener Katie Rushworth will be doing the honours from 4.30pm.