10 days of brilliant entertainment ...

The Trouser Town theme for the ten day festival is a chance for Hebden Bridge to look back at its rich industrial heritage, when local mills made thousands of pairs of trousers every day, and celebrate the town’s recovery after the devastating Boxing Day floods.

There are lots of free family activities as the festival has been busy building partnerships with local organisations so Northlight Studios host free Build your Town from Clay and Trouser Town trouser making sessions on Saturday, June 25 from 11am.

The same day from noon is a one off Hebden 1916 event – supported by Hebden Royd Town Council - with plenty of free dressing up games, crafts and period photography for the kids, while the grown ups can investigate which local folk lived in their house a century ago as part of the Who Lived In Your Street programme funded by a Heritage Lottery Fund grant,

Budding tailors can pop down to the marina for some Trouser Town bunting making with floating artists Crafts Afloat on Saturday June 25 and Innovation Cafe joins in the fun with a unique evening performance of True Tale with storytellers focusing on the Trouser Town Theme starting at 7pm.

Arts Festival Artistic Director Helen Meller said: “The local response to the Trouser Town theme has been overwhelmingly positive. “Added to that we have a very strong bill of visiting artists and performers that we think makes this year’s programme one that reflects the vibrancy of our town that is getting back on its feet after the traumas of the last six months.”

The festival’s growing national reputation has attracted some top class acts including superstar poet Simon Armitage reading poems on rain and water at Calder High on Monday 27 June. A partnership with the Yorkshire Festival brings in quirky Americana act A Hawk and a Hacksaw to the Trades Club on Tuesday June 28,

Legendary stand up Arthur Smith is At Your Service at Hebden Bridge Picture house on Friday July 1, and the same night dance fans can check out a set from internally renowned DJ and producer James Lavelle at the Trades Club..

Multiple BBC2 Folk Award winner Kate Rusby closes the festival on Sunday July 3 at the Picture House.

Tickets for all events are available at the festival ticket office which is open in Hebden Bridge Town Hall from 9am-5pm daily.

You can download a full programme of events at www.hebdenbridgeartsfestival .co.uk