CultureDale: Here are the events taking place in and around Halifax during September

CultureDale is celebrating Calderdale’s 50th anniversary year with a programme featuring locally-created events, festivals, exhibitions, performances and initiatives for everyone to enjoy. It began in April and will run until April 2025.

It is funded by Calderdale Council, the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, Arts Council England, National Lottery Heritage Fund and UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

Coun Danielle Durrans, Calderdale Council’s cabinet member for public services and communities, said: “Since its launch in April, Calderdale’s Year of Culture 2024 continues to wow local people and visitors with epic, homegrown events and activities.

“I’ve been really impressed with all the local talent and creativity that makes Calderdale so special.

“There’s still lots to look forward to right up until April 2025.

“September promises to be another exciting month of events, helping you to enjoy the last few weeks of summer.

“Inclusivity is an important part of the Year of Culture for us, and there’s truly something to get everyone involved – from celebrations of heritage and the positive contributions of refugees, to music, performances and a special weekend honouring Halifax’s Anne Lister.”

Here we take a look at some of the events taking place in September. For more details and the full programme, visit www.culturedale.co.uk

Heritage Festival

The Heritage Festival returns for its 10th anniversary from September 6 to 15.

Get involved with appreciating the rich history of Halifax and its surrounding areas, and enjoy tours, trails, talks, family fun days, open days, exhibitions, shows, festivals, music, free admission to beautiful heritage buildings and more.

Whether you’re new to the area or have always wondered about how the places you see every day came to be, this is your chance for an illuminating experience.

Visit https://discoverhalifax.co.uk

Heritage Open Days at Shibden Hall

Celebrate Heritage Open Days with free entry to Shibden Hall on Saturday, September 7 and Sunday, September 8. Advance booking is required.

Visit https://museums.calderdale.gov.uk/whats-on/events/heritage-open-days-shibden-hall

Heritage Open Day at Bankfield Museum

Bankfield Museum is always free entry, but will be open especially for Heritage Open Days on Sunday, September 8.

Visit https://museums.calderdale.gov.uk/whats-on/events/heritage-open-day

Wild Words - Ted Hughes and the Poetry of Calderdale

The rugged and beautiful landscape of Calderdale has inspired poets for generations, and most famously, the Poet Laureate Ted Hughes (1930-1998).

This new exhibition celebrates the poets and poetry of the region, including rare examples of Hughes’ work from the archives of the University of Huddersfield, and photographs from Fay Godwin (1931-2005), whose images accompanied Hughes’ words in Remains of Elmet.

The exhibition, which opens on September 7 and will run until March 1, will be accompanied by a series of poetry workshops and live events by current Calderdale poets.

Visit https://museums.calderdale.gov.uk/whats-on/exhibitions/wild-words

Sowerby Bridge Rushbearing Festival

The Rushbearing weekend on September 7 and 8 continues to be a unique local event for family and friends, which contributes greatly to the community spirit in the local area, and which Sowerby Bridge and the surrounding areas hold in high esteem.

The route over the weekend will go from Warley village through Sowerby Bridge on the Saturday, and on Sunday from Sowerby village with a church service and then over the tops to Cottonstones and on to Triangle and Ripponden.

Visit https://rushbearing.com

‘Carved Narratives - Telling Stories in Wood’ exhibition

A new exhibition featuring the wood carvings of Anthony Griffiths.

“People often ask me where I get the ideas from for my carvings, and the question has prompted the title of this exhibition. My off the cuff answer is usually ‘The ideas just come to me’, but with a little more thought I realise that many of the pieces have their roots in historical or mythical stories and their depiction in painting or literature.”

It will run from September 7 until October 12.

Visit https://calderdaleindustrial.co.uk

‘Wool, Silk and Cotton’

This Calderdale Interfaith initiative on September 9 aims to celebrate Calderdale’s textile heritage through a community textile art project.

In this project, individuals and groups are invited and supported (with provision of materials and design guidance) to produce decorative textile squares (12” squared) expressing some aspect of their cultural and/or local heritage in the design. The squares can be knitted, crocheted, embroidered or felted. They must mainly comprise wool, silk or cotton.

Towards the end of the Year of Culture 2024, a “Stitching Together” event will join the squares into a banner that will then become a lasting shared resource for Calderdale. It will subsequently be exhibited in community centres, schools, libraries and places of worship around the borough as a tangible expression of social cohesion and cultural life.

Visit www.calderdaleinterfaith.co.uk

Square Lens Alliance Gathering

An inclusive space where the creative industries come together to support each other, foster collaboration, fuel innovation and grow professionally.

Members of Square Lens Alliance are passionate about creating visual stories that entertain, inspire, challenge and believe in the power of collaborative effort.

On September 12, hear inspiring short talks, take part in workshops, watch inspiring short films and listen to captivating panel discussions from industry leading professionals, plus network with fellow creatives.

Visit www.deanclough.com/events/square-lens-alliance

The Beauty of Being Herd

After years of trying to fit in, Hannah’s waving goodbye to life as she knows it to live instead as a sheep.

The Beauty of Being Herd is Ruth Berkoff’s debut show on September 14 - a funny, tender, quirky tale with original songs, clowning and even a rave.

A show for anyone who’s ever felt like an outsider.

Ryburn 3 Step

Featuring Doug Eunson (melodeon, hurdy gurdy and vocals) and Sarah Matthews (fiddle, viola and vocals) on September 15.

Visit https://ryburn3step.org.uk

Cup of Culture

This workshop on September 19 is open to anyone with a disability and family carers.

Do you know about the Year of Culture? Come and meet like-minded people, enjoy refreshments, try out some activities and get to know arts organisations that are part of CultureDale.

Anne Lister Memorial Weekend

The borough is once again looking forward to coming together to commemorate the anniversary of the death of Halifax’s Anne Lister. Anne died on September 22, 1840 while travelling in Georgia, in western Russia, succumbing to the effects of an insect bite.

This year’s programme, which marks the 184th anniversary of Anne Lister’s death, takes place from Friday, September 20 to Sunday, September 22 and includes a range of events, walks, tours, community memorials and more.

See the full schedule at www.annelisterofhalifax.co.uk

Yorkshire Integration Festival

Migration Yorkshire’s 2024 Yorkshire Integration Festival will be held at The Piece Hall on Saturday, September 21.

The festival is a family-friendly celebration of the positive impact made by migrants and refugees in Yorkshire and Humber, showcasing the diverse range of cultures and customs that make our region a special place to live.

Little Amal is visiting Halifax as part of the festival. Little Amal is a 12-foot puppet of a 10-year-old Syrian refugee and a global symbol of human rights, taking a symbolic journey through the town centre as part of CultureDale and experiencing the best of the borough’s welcoming, resilient community.

The procession will start at Halifax Town Hall at 11am and proceed down to join the rest of the festival at The Piece Hall by midday. Other activities will also be happening in Northgate Courtyard from 9am.

Brass concert

A family-friendly afternoon concert featuring the Laiton Trumpet Quartet and Hebden Bridge Junior Brass Band with their conductor, Steve Robson, on September 29.

Laiton Trumpet Quartet consists of four young women – Grace Harman, Erin McLellan, Charlotte Nuta and Isabel Thompson – who have recently graduated from the Royal Northern College of Music and are embarking on a career in music. Isabel also plays with the Elland Silver Band.