10 of the best things to do in West Yorkshire

Your guide to events you must not miss this week!
Wakefield LGBTQ Pride is returning on Sunday and promises to be bigger and better than ever!Wakefield LGBTQ Pride is returning on Sunday and promises to be bigger and better than ever!
Wakefield LGBTQ Pride is returning on Sunday and promises to be bigger and better than ever!

1 Wakefield Pride Wakefield, August 11Wakefield LGBT Pride celebrates the LGBT+ community. Join the party at 11am as Ben’s Music Foundation opens the day on the Community Stage at Trinity Walk. At noon, get your rainbow flags at the ready as the parade departs Trinity Walk and heads to Sun Lane. From 1pm Sun Lane is where the party is with stalls, food and drink and more entertainment. Don’t miss performances from Seann Miley Moore, Allan Jay, Soraya Vivan, Angie Brown, The Bleeding Obvious and The Revival Abba Tribute Band on the Main Stage. Round off Wakefield Pride by joining the official after party at Brick Works on Westgate from 10pm.www.wakefieldlgbtqpride.org

2 Family Sculpture Workshop: Homes and PlaceYorkshire Sculpture Park, West Bretton, Wakefield, August 10, 11am-4pmVisit the free family creative space in the Bothy Gallery, an historic part of the estate which was once the home of the Head Gardener. Inspired by Richard Woods’ ‘land art’ house drawings which are popping up in the landscape for this day. Construct and design your own sculptures and drawings about home and where you live. Drop by anytime between 11am and 3.30pm, space closes at 4pm. This event is suitable for wheelchair users and pushchairs and aimed at all ages. Why not take the opportunity to extend your creative making and achieve your Discover Arts Award by exploring YSP, finding out and sharing your visit with the Learning Team. A £4 contribution for the Arts Award activity sheet covers the certification costs.www.ysp.org.uk

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

3 Take It AwayThe Hepworth, Wakefield, August 8, drop-in 11am-4pmExplore the galleries with fun creative activities then return to the learning studio to sculpt your own Hepworth-inspired artwork to take home. This workshop is suitable for children aged two-12 years, who must be accompanied by an adult. You will be asked to collect an activity sheet from the Learning Studios and go up to the gallery before starting the activity. This workshop will be closed over lunch from 12.30-1pm. Last admittance to the activity will be at 3.30pm.www.hepworthwakefield.org

Bad Manners are appearing at the Leeds Ska and Mod Festival on Sunday.Bad Manners are appearing at the Leeds Ska and Mod Festival on Sunday.
Bad Manners are appearing at the Leeds Ska and Mod Festival on Sunday.

4 Seaside in Castleford Castleford Precinct, August 10, free entryWe all love to be beside the seaside, so get your flip flops ready and grab your buckets and spades for a day of free family fun! Seaside in Castleford offers a chance for children to have all the fun of the seaside close to home. You can find a large sand pit mimicking a beach, free donkey rides, Punch and Judy shows, funfair rides, street entertainment, children’s workshops, mobile catering units selling hot and cold food all running alongside the normal market.www.wakefield.gov.uk

5 Vintage Summer Fun Castleford Museum, August 12For the children of the 1940s, summer didn’t involve an Xbox, a WhatsApp group or endless hours on YouTube. So what did they do? Go and find out! Hint: it involved glass marbles, old clothes, lots of mud and a horse... This is a free drop in event and there is no need to book.www.wakefield.gov.uk/museums

6 Birstall Beach DayBirstall Open Market, Market Place, Birstall, August 10, 11am-4pmBirstall brings the beach to the community. A fun day out for the whole family. With stalls, games, tombola, fairground rides, donkey rides, face painting, giant deckchair, Punch and Judy, competitions, teddy bears picnic, design a postcard, giant peep board, plus much more. www.facebook.com/events/birstall-west-yorkshire/birstall-beach-day

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

7 Cycle SkillsNostell, Wednesdays during the school summer holiday, 11am-3pmWhether you dream of winning the Tour De France or free-wheeling without a wobble — Nostell’s the perfect place to learn cycling skills and love life in the saddle this summer. Enjoy a pedal around the parkland with friends and family or brush up on all-things bicycle and join guided rides with Wakefield District Cycle Forum. Take your own bike or borrow one — please take your own helmet if you have one. All ages and abilities are welcome.www.nationaltrust.org.uk/nostell-priory

Workshop for children at The Hepworth. Photo: Nick SingletonWorkshop for children at The Hepworth. Photo: Nick Singleton
Workshop for children at The Hepworth. Photo: Nick Singleton

8 Les MiserablesThe Alhambra, Bradford, until August 10Last few days to see Les Miserables at The Alhambra. This brilliant new staging has taken the world by storm and has been hailed “Les Mis for the 21st Century”. With scenery inspired by the paintings of Victor Hugo, the magnificent score of Les Miserables includes the songs I Dreamed a Dream, On My Own, Bring Him Home, One Day More, Master Of The House and many more.www.bradford-theatres.co.uk

9 An Artisan Afternoon with Sing GinNostell, August 10, 10am-4pm (adults only, no booking required)Artisan Afternoons launch on Saturday with a visit from award-winning Yorkshire gin distillery Sing Gin to the country house’s courtyard. Visitors can discover how the popular spirit is made from seven hand-crushed botanicals and learn more about the art of gin-making. Adults can also enjoy a bespoke tasting of the product, which aims to capture the ancient spirit of the Yorkshire Dales.www.nationaltrustorg.uk/nostell

10 Leeds Ska and Mod FestivalMillennium Square, Leeds, August 11, 3pm, under 16s to be accompanied by an adultFrom the Jam and Bad Manners will be playing alongside the hugely popular The Dualers as well as Death of Guitar Pop — dubbed the next Madness! The Dualers led by lead singer Tyber Cranston are a South London based Ska band which one can only describe as a mixture of UB40 and The selector rolled into one, they are selling out venues as soon as tickets go on sale! Another London based ska band who will be appearing at Leeds Ska and Mod Festival are Death of Guitar Pop lead by singers Oliver Hookings and Jonny Hicks, described as the 4th generation of Ska they are already being hailed as the new Madness, their influences are Madness (of course!) Ian Dury and The Clash amongst others.www.millsqleeds.com