AS the summer months draw nearer, there’s plenty of fun lined up for Bradford and West Yorkshire. You’d be mad to miss out on keeping it local.

If you follow my award-winning Yorkshire blog on Instagram @thelittlelifeofshazzap you’ll know that I’m a massive fan of championing all things going on locally. So here’s a round up of events coming up across the Bradford district and beyond:

* It’s panto time at Tickles Music Hall on Ivegate, where families are in for a treat. Panto Ever After brings an affordable panto to town; Alice In Wonderland will run at Tickles for two nights only. Join Alice and your other favourite characters including the White Rabbit, Queen of Hearts and the Mad Hatter himself in this fun-filled family show. Expect the unexpected with plenty of twists, toe-tapping tunes, and a story sprinkled with magic. Book your tickets at pantoeverafter.co.uk and escape down the rabbit hole in Wonderland this summer. Recommended ages are four to 12.

* I’m a massive fan of The Piece Hall over in Halifax. Unless you’ve been living under a rock the last two years you’ll know that the highlight of the year is the Live At The Piece Hall Summer gigs and this year they are bigger and better, welcoming acts such as Tom Jones, Blondie, Bryan Adams, Noel Gallagher just to name a few.

Nicky Chance-Thompson MBE DL, CEO of The Piece Hall Trust, told me: “I’m so excited about the 2024 season which is our biggest, best and most diverse summer programme to date.

“I’m incredibly proud of the line-up we have secured this year as we’ll be welcoming some absolute legends of the music world with rap, pop, dance and rock all on the bill and, for the first time, an international comedy star too! There’s some hard work to do turning this stunning heritage site into one of the UK’s premier venues - but it’s very worth it to see the reaction of artists and audiences who completely fall in love with its unique beauty. All our independent stores remain open during the build, so it’s the perfect time for a browse and a peek behind the scenes of what it takes to put on live events of this scale and calibre.”

* Over in Wibsey from June 8 is the annual Wibsey Scarecrow Festival. This year’s event is on the 80th anniversary of D Day and the theme will be 1940s. It’s set to be a cracking weekend of family fun.

* This 1940s weekend in Brighouse is in full swing today and tomorrow (June 1 and 2) with over 90 stalls, 1940s themed music, displays of vintage and military vehicles, vintage bus rides and Battle of Britain memorial re-enactments. 

I love that everyone gets involved and the whole of Brighouse gets transported back in time to the 1940s. It's a lovely family day out. visitbrighouse.co.uk/1940sweekend/

* There’s plenty to do for free at local parks - one of my favourites is Bowling Park where I spent summer days as a child. The park has a bowling green, a children’s play area, fitness equipment, a tennis court and walking routes. And even at the age of 31 I enjoy scaring myself silly exploring haunted Bolling Hall and grounds. As a kid I spent hours at Ilkley Lido and I still love heading there. Skipton in summer, when plants on the main street are in full bloom, is great for watching the world go by with an ice-cream. Enjoy making memories this summer.