Bradford's Capital of Culture bid hits the road this weekend at a fun day in Keighley, aimed at drumming up more public support.

A range of family events will be held in the town centre and BBC Look North weatherman Paul Hudson, who is from Keighley and a keen supporter of Bradford's culture bid, will be at the pedestrian area between Airedale Shopping Centre and Keighley Bus Station from noon to 1pm.

The event is aimed at promoting the 2008 culture bid, which was submitted to the Government in March and is currently being scrutinised by officials at the Department of Culture, Media and Sport.

From 11am to 3pm there will be entertainment for all the family, including Dance for Life - a programme promoting health and fitness in the district - the Pan African Drummers, dance act MAPA and music from Keighley-based Herr Jen's Oompah Band.

Keighley town crier Michael Walton will be announcing details of the Capital of Culture bid and there will be an appearance by the Keighley Cougars mascot, Freddie.

Children from the Yorkshire School of Performing Arts, Stage 84, will be performing a "word snake" around the town centre. The youngsters will each be holding up large letters making up the words One Landscape, Many Views - Bradford's official Capital of Culture slogan.

And giant letters and figures spelling out Bradford 2008, which have been decorated by schoolchildren across the district, will also be on show. The letters, currently touring the district, were used to launch Bradford's bid at a high-profile photo call in London starring Pop Idol sensation Gareth Gates.

Councillor Anne Hawkesworth, executive member for the environment, said: "Events like this help to build up support for the Capital of Culture bid right across the district. We need to get as many people as possible behind the bid to raise its profile both locally and nationally."

l Members of a panel chaired by Sir Jeremy Isaacs, former chief executive of Channel 4, will visit Bradford district this summer to assess it before drawing up a shortlist of around six cities out of the 12 bidding for the coveted culture title.

One of those - chosen by Prime Minister Tony Blair - will win the European Capital of Culture 2008 title.