The month-long celebration launched with a bang last weekend, with more events designed for families popping up around the town this week, including a programme of global music, dance, storytelling and craft activities.
Cultural extravaganza, the ‘Welcome Back Festival’, is running until September with special events springing up across the town centre to welcome people back into the heart of the town.
Events previously announced, which are taking place on Thursday 12 August, include:
A hilarious and thrilling interactive tennis event by comic theatre company, Fairly Famous Family, complete with live commentary and slow motion replays. Come down to Time Square for performances at 11.30am, 1pm and 2.45pm.
An enchanting interactive puppetry event begins in Time Square and then continues throughout the town centre as pod puppets, Hodman and Sally, venture out into the world in search of fame, fortune and friendship. Shows will begin at 12pm and 1.30pm in Time Square and at 3.30pm at the Old Marketplace at Golden Square.
Paperwork Theatre will also return to the town centre with their very special characters to help treasure hunters start their dark digital quest to search for magical objects from 1pm to 5pm.
The extensive schedule for the second weekend, starting on Saturday 14 August includes:
Eternal Taal, an award winning female-orientated entertainment team made up of Dhol Drummers and Bhangra Dancers, who will be bringing their Bhangra Indian music to the town centre. Performances start at 11.30am at Time Square and 1pm at the Old Marketplace at Golden Square.
Gypsies of Bohemia, an acoustic group will perform their foot stomping rhythms and put their own unique spin on modern pop favourites by Britney Spears, Blondie and Girls Aloud like you’ve never heard them before. The group will be performing at 12.30pm in Time Square and 2pm at the Old Marketplace.
Klaus and the Iaf-tones, a 10 piece Bavarian party band performing dance floor fillers we all know and love to sing along to, at 1.30pm in Time Square and 3pm in the Old Marketplace.
Between musical performances, a dancer will delight audiences with dances from around the world.
For those more creative, drop in craft activities will be available all day from 10am at the gazebo on Buttermarket Street near Halifax.
Storytelling sessions will also be taking place in Time Square every hour from 11am to 3pm.
‘Twisted’ digital maps are also situated throughout Time Square so treasure hunters can follow the treasure hunt style adventure at any time during the festival, whatever the weather. Begin by scanning the QR codes on the posters at Time Square to hunt for magical objects, unlock passwords, and follow the digital map which transforms the town centre into a fantasy realm.