Hebden Bridge Handmade Parade 2025

On Sunday 22 June 2025, the streets of Hebden Bridge came alive with colour, music, and imagination for the long-awaited return of the Hebden Bridge Handmade Parade. After a three-year pause, one of the town’s most beloved traditions was back and bursting with creativity.

This year’s theme, “Water, Woods, and Wilderness … The Calderdale Way”, paid tribute to the landscapes, wildlife, and culture of the valley. From dancing bluebells and canal boats to a cheeky Silly Goose and a giant beating heart, the parade embodied the sights, sounds and spirit of Calderdale itself.

Over 500 local people, artists, schools, and community groups helped bring the spectacle to life, joining forces with professional makers to craft giant puppets, dazzling costumes, and stilt-walking wonders. Live bands including Katumba, SkiBand, Fat Cat Brass Band, BLAST Furness Street Band, and the brand-new Handmade Fantasy Street Band (formed specifically for the parade) kept the rhythms rolling as unicycling geese, dancers, and drummers filled the town with joy.

The celebration didn’t end with the parade – everyone gathered in Calder Holmes Park for the traditional Picnic in the Park, complete with live music, family-friendly creative activities, and delicious local food.

Thanks to hundreds of volunteers, makers, and supporters, the Handmade Parade once again proved why it’s one of Hebden Bridge’s finest traditions – a vibrant showcase of community spirit, imagination, and shared pride in this beautiful valley.

Here’s a nice write-up of the event by the Yorkshire Post.

Thank you for the most gloriously inclusive event I’ve ever seen. From wheelchaired flower girls, to refugees, to gorgeous SEN kids and parents, it was a delight from start to finish. Handmade parade you absolutely delivered for Hebden Bridge. Can’t wait for next year to show again how our special valley welcomes and celebrates everyone x
– Racchhell Urchill

What an awesome event. Handmade Productions made some amazing puppets, which were complemented by the ones made by both the children and adults community workshop events carried out before the carnival.
Sorry to have missed out on those. But hopefully join in next time.
Happy, inclusive, fun and amazing.
Thank you, what a day
– Allie Gunton

We came to the parade today with our children and their friends, and we all loved it – in the midst of grim world news, it did me good to see neighbours and friends and strangers, all looking amazing, and celebrating creativity and life and the incredible natural habitats of this valley. We weren’t at the workshops this year but the children were absolutely certain that they want to join in next time! Me too! We all need some ways to feel connected and celebrate. Thank you so much, it was amazing.
– sbboh2

A day of joy for all to see, hear and sing together. A community together. Connections, celebrations and a whole lot of love. Thank you @handmadeproductionscic for this – we needed it
– hellohebdenbridge

Photos by Craig Shaw and Ian Hodgson.

Type: Parade
Location: Hebden Bridge
Date: Sunday 22nd June 2025
Organisers & helpers: Thingumajig Theatre, Happy Valley PRIDE, Making Friends community group, Calderdale Young Carers, Flame Oz, Schools (Ravenscliffe High School, Ferney Lee Primary, Riverside Junior School, Scout Road Academy), Crossley Mill Nursery

Events, News, Parades

Funded by:

handmadeproductionscic