Hebden Bridge – Handmade Parade 2025

Unless we say otherwise, all workshops and rehearsals will be held at Handmade Productions, Unit 5, Victoria Works, Victoria Road, Hebden Bridge HX7 8LN.

Are you a creative adult? Please join our Making It Together volunteer sessions!

In these sessions, we will be making new props for the Hebden Bridge Handmade Parade, using lantern-making techniques and working with withies and tissue.

There are two groups of three sessions of these. The first three are in May, on Tuesday evenings at the Handmade Productions workshop:

Tuesday 6 May, 6–8.30pm
Tuesday 13 May, 6–8.30pm
Tuesday 20 May, 6–8.30pm

The next group are in June:

Wednesday 4 June, 6–8.30pm
Wednesday 11 June, 6–8.30pm
Wednesday 18 June, 6–8.30pm

It is essential to book these free sessions – please email Lisa at volunteer@handmadeproductions.org.uk

Spaces are limited so please only book if you are committed to attending. You can book to come to as many sessions as you like, or just one. We will be delighted to have your company either way!

We have lots of jobs that don’t require a big commitment but make a huge difference to the parade. Volunteer jobs include:

• Carrying a small piece of artwork on a stick
• Operating a medium-sized puppet
• Pushing a wheeled structure
• Face painting
• Staffing the information desk in the park
• Litter-picking

If you are interested in volunteering, please email volunteer@handmadeproductions.org.uk

We are looking for a stewarding team for this year’s Hebden Bridge Handmade Parade.

If you have stewarded before and would like to join us, get in touch. If you have never done this before but enjoy outdoor events and would like to be involved in the delivery of the parade, get in touch.

We are also offering two training sessions on where you will learn about the role and about crowd management:

Saturday 7 June, 1.30–3pm (in person)
Tuesday 10 June, 6–7.30pm (online)

Stewarding duties on the day will involve:

• Walking with the parade
• Assisting with crowd management
• Being part of the Handmade Team
• Helping us to deliver a safe event
• Helping out with the finale event in the park
• Data gathering
• Info and signposting

We welcome people from all backgrounds, abilities and age groups. This role will be paid at the Calderdale National Living Wage.

Contact volunteer@handmadeproductions.org.uk to get involved

Let’s celebrate the summertime together! If you fancy dancing through the streets with us, here are some dates for your diary.

We are running four public workshops:

Saturday 7 June 10.30am–1pm AND 3–5.30pm
Sunday 8 June 10.30am–1pm AND 3–5.30pm
Saturday 14 June 10.30am–1pm AND 3–5.30pm
Sunday 15 June 10.30am–1pm AND 3–5.30pm

Our regulars will know that you’ll probably need at least two sessions to make a spectacular costume from scratch. If you’ve not been before, then you’re in for a treat. The workshops are filled with inspiration, and all the materials and equipment you’ll need to make yourself look amazing on parade day.

We’ll have a team of artists ready to help you get creative, whether you’re a complete newbie or a professional artist. Expect the sessions to be BUSY and probably very silly.

We want to keep these sessions accessible to all, so if you can’t afford to pay, please come anyway. If you’re able to chip in, then £5 per person will cover the costs of materials on your first session – then any extra visits are free.

We can cover the rest of the workshop costs because of the generosity of our lovely community. Every year we have audiences who prefer to enjoy watching the parade and happily donate to help make it all possible.

We’re forming a brand-new parade band, and we want YOU to be a part of it!

The band will be a mix of:
* Grooves and percussion – whether you’re a seasoned player or a total beginner, we’ll get you drumming together.
* Music reading – from simple to harder notation for those who fancy it, but no pressure if you prefer to play by ear.
* Free-improv madness – expect big sounds, spontaneous riffs, and a whole lot of fun.
We’re excited to be joined by members of the Calderdale Fantasy Orchestra, so expect an eclectic mix of instruments and a carnival of sound. Whether you play brass, woodwind, strings, percussion, or just want to sing, stomp and clap along, come and see what it’s all about!
No prior experience needed—just bring your enthusiasm and an open mind – and an instrument if you want (as long as it’s portable and paradable).

Suggested donation: £3–5 per session.

All Street Band sessions will be on a Friday evening 6.30-8.30pm at the Handmade workshop – plus on the Saturday lunchtime before the parade.

Friday 9 May, 6.30–8.30pm
Friday 16 May, 6.30–8.30pm
Friday 23 May, 6.30–8.30pm
Friday 30 May, 6.30–8.30pm
Friday 6 June, 6.30–8.30pm
(NB no session on Friday 13 June)
Friday 20 June, 6.30–8.30pm
Saturday 21 June, 11am–1pm
Sunday 22 June: arrive 10.30am for the parade 12 noon–1pm

Please note: 14s and over are welcome but must be accompanied by an adult at all times (the adult can join in or sit in and watch). 16s and over are welcome to join unaccompanied.

We are looking for delicious food for our picnic in Calder Holmes Park from midday to 5pm.

Please note:

• No generators
• No meat
• No plastics

To apply for a stall please complete this form.

For further info, please contact daisy@leeway.org.uk

Join Handmade Parade choreographer Gil Burns for some ridiculously silly dancing! Learn a simple parade routine and be a part of creating further moves and ideas towards our group of Bluebell Warriors performing in the parade.  Gil leads the dancers on the day using a combination of hand signals and demonstration, so come along to rehearsals and learn the moves – then you’ve nothing more to worry about, other than maybe losing your headdress … But we’ll work on that!

Gil’s dancers have appeared in many parades over the years and love to express themselves through performance and dance.  They work as a team and look after each other but, above all, they have LOTS of fun.

Ages: 16+ (11+ welcome but must be accompanied by a DANCING adult).

There are three dance workshops, which will be held on a Thursday evening at the Handmade workshop:

Thursday 12 June, 6–8pm

Tuesday 17 June, 6–8pm

Thursday 19 June, 6–8pm

£3–5 suggested donation

Please mail Gil on gil@gilburns.co.uk or call/text/WhatsApp 07905 779271 if you’d like to get involved!

Do something amazing … walk on stilts and perform at the Hebden Bridge Handmade Parade.

All sessions 5.30–7.30pm at the Handmade Productions workshop.

Our experienced teachers Jess and Rowan are DBS checked and have taught many young people to stilt walk.

We are running workshops both for complete beginners and experienced stilt-walkers:

Wednesday 11 June, 5.30–7.30pm (beginners only)

Saturday 14 June, 5.30–7.30pm (beginners only)

Monday 16 June, 5.30–7.30pm (beginners and improvers)

Wednesday 18 June, 5.30–7.30pm (beginners and improvers)

Saturday 21 June, 5.30–7.30pm (beginners and improvers)

Sunday 22 June, parade day performance: arrival 10.30am for parade at 12 noon.

 

Places on this popular course are limited, and booking is essential.

Book via Eventbrite

Learn to Stilt-Walk – Course for Complete Beginners: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1345220313169?aff=oddtdtcreator

Stilt-Walking Course for Improvers: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1345219460619?aff=oddtdtcreator

The Handmade Productions workshop is wheelchair accessible, but please note it is a big open space which can get cold and the toilet on site is not wheelchair accessible.

On parade day, Sunday 22 June, there will be one portable disabled toilet at the Handmade Productions workshop and a Mobiloo in the park.  There are also disabled toilet facilities at the café in the park and at Hebden Bridge station which is adjacent to Calder Holmes Park.

Please contact projectmanager@handmadeproductions.org.uk with any questions or requirements regarding access.