FESTIVE events, featuring a donkey, brass band and even an African snail, will be taking place at Bradford's markets.

Two free festive family friendly workshops, delivered by Sponge Tree, will take place in the Market Event Space at the Oastler Market in Bradford city centre in the run up to Christmas.

The first workshop on Saturday will have a ‘Feed The Birds’ theme, where children can get creative and make their own bird feeder with a variety of recycled and eco-friendly materials. This is a great nature inspired activity for children 3+ and would make a great handmade Christmas present.

The second workshop on Saturday December 17 has the theme of ‘Stick Christmas Trees and Stars’, where children can craft handmade baubles to trim up the home or give as a gift to loved ones.

Both workshops will run from 10.30am to 4pm, there will also be free face painting inside Oastler Market when the workshops are on.

ZooLab will be delivering an ethical animal encountering experience in the Oastler Market Event Space on Saturday December 10 between 12pm -3pm. From stick insects, tarantula, scorpion, corn snake, giant millipedes, cockroaches, giant African land snail, tree frog and a rat you can see them all and handle them in this workshop. Delivered by an experienced ZooLab ranger, this session is family friendly, interactive, educational, fun and engaging for children of all ages.

Tour of building site that will become new Darley Street market

Tilly the donkey will be offering free rides for children on Saturday December 17 between 11am and 2pm. Families will need pick up their free tickets from participating traders inside the Oastler Market. Tilly will be with her handler outside the market’s main entrance on John Street.

The Salvation Army Band also be in the Oastler Market on Saturday December 17 between 10am-12pm getting shoppers in to the Christmas spirit by performing a medley of festive favourites.

The Falling Stars Theatre will be delighting shoppers with pop-up performances of The Snow Queen on Wednesday December 21 every hour between 11am-4pm at the Oastler Market Event Space. The theatre performance follows with the magical journey of Grace who is on the quest to save her beloved granny from the clutches of the evil Snow Queen. During the adventure Grace meets an assortment of fantastical and wondrous characters.

Santa will be taking time out of his busy schedule to make special appearances in his grotto on the Oastler Market Event Space on Saturday 10, Saturday 17, Saturday 21, Friday 23 and Christmas Eve Saturday 24 December from 11am to 3pm. He will also be doing walkabouts down to meet children at the Kirkgate Market.

Kirkgate Market will have the Salvation Army Band bringing festive cheer to shoppers by performing on Saturday December 10 between 10am -12pm at the display space inside the market. There will also be free face painting at the Kirkgate Market on Saturday December 17 between 11am – 3pm.

Keighley Market will also be getting people into the Christmas spirit with a series of festive activities, workshops and events.

The market hall has been trimmed up with a Christmas display and there will be festive workshops for children on Saturday 10 and Saturday 17 December, from 10am to 4pm.

Santa and his elves will be in his grotto at Keighley Market on Saturday 17 and Sunday 18 December between 10am and 3pm, there will also be face painting and a tombola raising money for Sue Ryder Manorlands Hospice and Dementia Friendly.