September is my favourite month. Not only is it my birthday (8th), autumn is finally on the way and Strictly starts next week. Cosy nights, fires and better clothes. I am hygge.

But there’s too much going on in Bradford this month to stay indoors just yet. There are lots of people working really hard to improve the city’s image, raise its profile and provide plenty of good reasons to be proud of our city. So let’s do what we can to spread the word, get involved and discover another side to Bradford. Move away from the computer and embrace the real world. Just make sure you put a scarf on first.

Here are some of the things I’m looking forward to this month:

• Bubble Up Festival 7-9 September A water weekend celebrating Bradford’s founding beck and the city’s creative spirit with arts workshops, music, mass dance, sand sculptures and a giant water slide down Darley Street. It starts on Friday evening with a party at the Media Museum. Free tickets are needed for some events.
• Heritage Open days 8-16 September Some of the city’s most historic buildings will be open to visitors over the next two weeks in this annual event. Visit Bradford Cathedral – the oldest building in the centre and take a bell tower tour.
• Saltaire Festival 7-16 September including a beer festival at Saltaire Brewery, open house and gardens, tour of the model farm, classic cars, activities for kids and a continental market on the 14-16.
• Little Germany Guided Walk 10 September around Bradford’s historic merchant district.
• Wur Bradford’s Oastler Market Photography Walk 27 September (this is now fully booked but look out for other events in the market soon).
• Bread + Roses Bradford’s newest café has a poetry evening 8 September as part of the Bubble Up Festival and a celebration of Bradford author JB Priestley/ pie and pea night 13 September.
• Denso Marsden Nature Reserve in Baildon has lots of events and outdoor workshops. 8 September has an introduction to bird watching and 22 September a creative writing course.
• A Northern Soul documentary film from Hull followed by Q&A with the director and star at the Pictureville cinema 20 September.
• BBC Music Day 28 September at the Media Museum.
• Zip Slide across City Park on 29 September to raise money for Age UK.

Check out Visit Bradford‘s website and sign up for Bradford Council’s regular emails for what’s on in the city.

If you know of any other events this month please share in the comments below. Happy Autumn!