The Guide for West Yorkshire

With Christmas around the corner, Bradford's getting into the spirit of the season

Here are just a few things to keep you busy in Bradford, Wakefield, Kirklees and Calderdale between Friday 13 November and Sunday 15 November 2009

Christmas

Saturday 14 November
BRADFORD CHRISTMAS LIGHTS SWITCH-ON
Centenary Square, Bradford

A 'fun-filled evening of festive family entertainment' is promised as the Christmas season gets underway in Bradford.

An amazing performance by world-renowned international theatre company Grupo Puja is followed by the switch-on of the city's Christmas lights.

The show starts at 530pm and features a team of aerialists and bungee performers. There will also be pre-show entertainment from 430pm and the Christmas lights will be switched on after the performance.

The event will end with a 'spectacular' light and firework display.

Traditional Skills

Saturday 14 November
THE ROUGH GUIDE TO RAG RUGS
Tolson Museum, Huddersfield
01484 223830

An exhibition showing how scrap material and traditional skills can produce not just useful items but also beautiful and original works of art.

The exhibition at the Tolson Museum in Huddersfield , which opens on Saturday, celebrates 21 years of the West Riding Ruggers.

It includes traditional and contemporary rag rugs made by members of the Ruggers, a group of rag rug makers who have turned this traditional craft into an artform inspired by places from around the world as well as special celebrations at home.

Traditional Yorkshire-style rag rugs bring the exhibition closer to home and will stir older visitors' memories of making similar rugs from old sacking, a peg and scraps of material to put in front of a fire or at the side of the bed.

The exhibition is on show until April 2010.

Family

Sunday 15 November
A KING WITH DONKEY'S EARS?
Square Chapel, Halifax
01422 353073

Theatre of Widdershins returns to Halifax with their latest production for young children.

The story is based on a Greek myth, concerning King Midas after his greedy phase of wanting to turn everything to gold.

Backed by an original score, puppeteer Andy Lawrence brings his puppets to life as the story unfolds.

For more information, visit the Halifax Square Chapel website

Nature

Saturday 14 November
COPPICING @ DOGLEY NATURE RESERVE, HIGHBURTON

Enviroyouth, a practical conservation group for 14- to 25-year-olds, are taking part in a coppicing session at Dogley Local Nature Reserve and you're invited to come along.

Coppicing involves cutting off trees and shrubs to ground level to stimulate regrowth and to let more sunlight reach the woodland floor.

Any young person wanting to join in should contact Andy Wickham, Countryside Officer for Denby Dale on 01484 222960 or 07773 386550.

Stout footwear, outdoor clothing, waterproof and a pre-packed lunch will be needed. Pick up points will be 945am at Skelmanthorpe Council Offices or 1030am at Huddersfield train station.