Festival of the Dead to Light Up Lister Park
Event information
Date:
30 October 2026 & 14 November 2026
Time: 16:30 - 21:00
Type:
Concert and live music , Festivals and fairs
Location:
Lister Park , Northcliffe Park
Address:
North Park Road, Bradford, BD9 4NS
Address:
Bradford Road, BD18 3BX
A spectacular lantern parade celebrating life, remembrance and community will take place at Lister Park on Friday 30 October, bringing together schools, community groups, artists and residents from across Bradford.
The Festival of the Dead sees schools and communities from across the district creating handmade lanterns to celebrate life at Bradford’s iconic annual parade.
This year’s event promises to be bigger than ever, with live music from Peace Artistes, Drum Machine and Banda da Rua, alongside performances outside Cartwright Hall as visitors gather from 4.30pm. The lantern parade will then set off at 5.30pm, illuminating the park with hundreds of handcrafted lanterns.
Visitors can enjoy food and drink from a range of food vendors offering hot drinks, burgers and doughnuts, while Cartwright Hall galleries will remain open later than usual. A dedicated quiet space inside Cartwright Hall will also be available for anyone wishing to experience the event in a calmer environment.
Families can even create their own hand-painted lanterns on the day at special workshops inside Cartwright Hall. Places must be booked in advance via Ticket Tailor and cost £6 per lantern. https://buytickets.at/cecilgreenarts
The Festival of the Dead project brings together the University of Bradford, Cecil Green Arts and Bradford Death Cafés to create opportunities for communities to come together through remembrance, creativity and shared experiences.
The project is funded by Arts Council England and supported by Bradford Museums & Galleries, with Cecil Green Arts also supported by Bradford Council.
The celebrations will continue with a second Festival of the Dead parade at Northcliffe Park on 14 November 2026, with further details to be announced.
Event Details
📅 Friday 30 October 2026
📍 Lister Park, Bradford
⏰ Gather from 4.30pm | Parade departs at 5.30pm
👨👩👧👦 Open to all ages
🏮 Lantern parade, live music and performances
☕ Food and refreshments available