BD is Lit festival to return in October and November

The bi-annual light programme, BD is LIT, returns to the district through October and November.

A festival weekend will take place in the city centre on Friday and Saturday, November 3 and 4.

BD is Lit will take place over the next two months (Image: Bradford Council)

For this year’s event, Bradford Council, Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture, The Leap and Science and Media Museum have come together to commission a range of local and national artists to create new, joyous and striking light artworks.

Ten new commissions, revealed in October, will shine a light on topics such as sustainability and celebrating local heritage.

Local artist Letty McHugh creates Joy in Unexpected Places in Keighley, bringing beautifully designed and crafted neon installations to often overlooked and unexpected buildings across the town.

The Bekun by Fayakunu will pop up in the mirror pool over the weekend of November 3, as artist Kasim Tariq works with a range of local artisans to create a reconstruction of the Lister Mills Chimney.

Summat Creatives Speed of Light pulls together a team of inclusive artists and cyclists to bring to life an empty shop unit in Shipley that pulls power from your energy pledges for a sustainable future.

Summat Creatives Speed of Light is one of the many artists at the festival (Image: Bradford Council)

The return of South Square Arts Centre's annual Winter Windows programme will bring festive joy to windows across Thornton throughout November.

Walk this Way is a light and music installation created as a site-specific piece over Shipley Market, led by Dr. Rob Eagle.

Window Vipers is a unique installation that will turn the windows of a city centre building into the Nokia classic game SNAKE, for the audience to play over the weekend of November 3.

Cllr Sarah Ferriby, Bradford Council’s Portfolio Holder for People and Places said: ‘We’re delighted that BD is LIT is back for its second iteration.

"It’s such a good alternative to Bonfire Night and with its multi-sensory offering – it is an opportunity to bring people together across the district, celebrate our spaces and shine a light on some of our unexpected places.”

The festival has proven popular in the past (Image: Newsquest)

Shanaz Gulzar, Creative Director at Bradford 2025 said: “With autumn nights bringing darker evenings, BD is LIT allows us to explore our city and district in a new light.

"There are some incredibly exciting commissions this year that seek to surprise and delight residents while recognising the diversity and history of our city."