Calderdale will take centre stage in our county this weekend as final preparations are made for Yorkshire Day.
Halifax was chosen as this year’s host for the regional festivities, which will include a parade and minster services, as well as craft groups and readings at our district’s libraries.
Mayor of Calderdale Coun Howard Blagbrough said: “Monday August 1 is about celebrating all things Yorkshire, and preparations are well underway to make this a memorable occasion.
“The eyes of the county will be on Halifax for the civic events, so let’s make our town proud, put on a stunning spectacle and show everyone how great Halifax is by lining the streets and getting involved in all the exciting activities.
“And it’s the perfect way to keep youngsters entertained during the summer holidays.”
The 200-strong parade on Monday will begin at 10am at Halifax Town Hall, travelling along Princess Street and Southgate, and Horton Street and Church Street, on its way to the minster for a service at 11am.
Afterwards, dignitaries from across the county will attend a Yorkshire Day lunch at the MBi Shay Stadium, with Angela Knowles, the original Calendar Girl, as the guest speaker.
Crossley Street will be closed to traffic from 6am to 10.30am, and the remainder of the route will be on a rolling road closure.
On Saturday July 30, 2pm, Bankfield Museum will hold a talk on George Walker’s book The Costumes of Yorkshire, which was published in 1814.
Children can have a white rose painted on their face on Yorkshire Day, from 1pm-3pm at the Children’s Library in Halifax Central Library.
Young visitors to the central library, 10.30am- 11.30am, and Brighouse Library, 2pm-3pm, can also make white roses, which will be used to decorate the building.
Rod Dimbleby will be at Elland Library at 2pm on August 1 telling stories and reading poems in Yorkshire dialect.
Weird Yorkshire will be celebrated with a display at the central library and Yorkshire and Proud of It collections will be on show at the central library and Hebden Bridge Library.
At Harvey’s restaurant a free Yorkshire pudding and onion gravy will be served with every main course and there will be 10 per cent off Molton Brown Rhubarb and Rose and Yorkshire’s own Brook Taverner,
Calderdale author Jean Illingworth will be signing copies of her Yorkshire themed books Harella, Growing Up in Sowerby and More, and Sowerby Tales.