Ilkley and Bradford have been successful in a bid to co-host the official Yorkshire Day civic event in 2025.
Held on 1st August every year and led by the Yorkshire Society, Yorkshire Day celebrates this great county’s heritage, history, landscape, culture, and its people.
Each year a different city is chosen as official hosts of the event, with Rotherham having the honour this year. With Bradford being City of Culture in 2025, it makes perfect sense for the city to host the Yorkshire Day celebrations as well.
This will be the third time Bradford has hosted the celebrations, having previously done so in 1997 and 2005. For the first time in Yorkshire Day history, Bradford will co-host the event with Ilkley, home of the unofficial Yorkshire anthem ‘On Ilkla Moor Baht ‘at.
Cllr Alex Ross-Shaw, Portfolio Holder for Regeneration, Planning and Transport said; “Not only is Bradford the host of UK City of Culture 2025 it is also the youngest city in the UK, the home of a UNESCO world heritage site, the curry capital of Britain, the world’s first UNESCO city of film and of course it’s home to one of the warmest receptions you could ever hope for in Yorkshire. Full of Yorkshire and Bradford pride, 2025 will be the year for Bradford District to showcase its heritage, culture and hospitality to the rest of the country and the world.”
Helen Rhodes, Manager of the Ilkley Business Improvement District said, “We’re delighted to be working with Bradford Council planning the joint hosting of Yorkshire Day 2025. Ilkley, named as The Times Best Place To Live In The UK in 2022, has a wealth of attractions from the famous outdoor lido, the iconic Cow and Calf rocks, moorland and many historical attractions. The opportunity to have a joint event will give us the ability to highlight the true diversity of the Bradford district.”
Phillip Bell, Chief Executive of the Yorkshire Society said, "We are delighted Bradford wants to make the Yorkshire Day Civic Celebration a key part of its UK City of Culture 2025 activities. Our official civic celebration event has grown year on year and is now an important part of the Yorkshire calendar. I am sure Bradford will make Yorkshire Day 2025 a genuine day to remember and the official civic celebration a fitting centrepiece for it."
Bradford and Ilkley’s Yorkshire celebrations will commence on Friday 1st August 2025 and will showcase the food, music and culture of Bradford, whilst also taking in the breathtaking beauty of Ilkley Moor via Bronte Country, Howarth.
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