THE countdown is on for a festival celebrating Leeds Road in Bradford.
The Leeds Road Festival is set to take place between August 29 and August 31.
Organisers said the “vibrant” event will “celebrate the cultural richness of Leeds Road and its thriving community”.
Leeds Road, which runs from Bradford city centre to near the border with Leeds, is home to hundreds of businesses – and the festival will help to promote them.
The event will kick off with a launch dinner at Jinnah Restaurant’s marquee on the Friday, with celebrations continuing throughout the weekend.
Businesses including Aagrah, Akbar’s and Pakeezah will host individual events on the second day of the festival.
The initiative will also feature live music, art exhibitions, stalls and performances, and community events at Attock Park and Bradford Moor Park.
Bradford East Labour MP Imran Hussain said: “I am delighted to see the countdown for the Leeds Road Festival commence.
“Over the last six months, I have worked closely with the festival team and local businesses, offering my full support to ensure they receive the resources needed for this incredible initiative.
“This festival marks the beginning of something amazing for Bradford and, as we move forward, I am confident it will become an annual event, providing a lasting legacy for the City of Culture.”
Saleem Akhtar, from Jinnah Restaurant, said: “I’m delighted that we have set up Leeds Road Festival to celebrate this amazing corridor of food, fashion and retail.
“The festival will highlight our local businesses and amazing community in this year of culture for Bradford.”
The festival comes as the Love Leeds Road campaign gets underway. As reported by the Telegraph & Argus yesterday, videos have landed on social media celebrating Leeds Road as part of the campaign.
However, a number of residents have contacted the Telegraph & Argus to criticise the Love Leeds Road campaign – branding it a “waste of money” and expressing concerns about well-known issues along the route, including crime, speeding drivers and problem parking.
A Bradford Council spokesperson said: “The Love Leeds Road campaign is being managed by Bradford Council and the contract is being delivered by Bradford-based design agency Out of Place, which specialises in branding.
“The £66,320 contract has been externally funded with money from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and West Yorkshire Combined Authority.”
