The City Centre transformed with hundreds of stalls and entertainment from around the world Bradford International Market Festival 2006 will once again be the event of the year in Yorkshire.

This festival of fun, food and music flava has grown in reputation and stature following the huge success of the 2004 event. On that occasion over 650,000 visitors wandered through a traffic free Bradford City Centre, to sample Europe’s best street markets and be entertained by international musicians and performance artists.

The Market Festival attracts only the best, and this year promises some fantastic additions with a Champagne and Pimms Bar sitting alongside Bavarian Bier Kellers, purveyors of aromatic coffee creations and an exotic summer fruit smoothie bar. The return of a mile of market stalls from Germany, France, Holland, Belgium, Austria, Italy, Spain, Ireland and the UK will again be the focus of the event.

Say bonjour to the friendly French and Belgian traders who’ll be bringing fine wines, chocolates, garlic and lavender from Provence. Say buongiorno to delicious wines, pasta, cheeses, salami and clothes from the city of fashion - Milan. And it’s guttentag to some fantastic German produce including their famous beer, available at the amazing train bar.
Britain will also be represented with the very best we have to offer, with stalls from London’s famous Borough Market offering farmhouse cheese, Morecambe Bay potted shrimps and home-made sweets.
You’ll also be able to taste unique products such as burgers and sausages made from Lake District lamb, Highland cattle, wild boar, or venison farmed on Devon parkland. Why not sample a hog roast or savour Dorset scallops fried in butter, garlic and wine.
And throughout the four days, you’ll be able to watch chefs from some of the best Asian restaurants acrosss the region create some classic curry dishes.
Why not come along and strut your stuff Salsa style. And if you don’t know how, Helena and Nicolai of Fuego Latino will show you how.

With a giant fun fair, a Sports Action Zone, the return of the South Asian Lifestyle Market - Bradford Bazaar there’s definitely something for all the family to enjoy including over 60 hours of music, dance and theatre, choose any or all as your reason to visit.

LAUNCH PARTY 25th August: Light, music and firework spectacular, from 7.30pm, Centenary Square

From Friday evening through to Monday evening Bradford will be showcasing street performances by artistes from across the UK

Artizani

Syrovy enters the space and everyday objects conspire against him: newspapers become sails, there is a waterfall of cutlery, he dances with chairs and clothes confound him.

Farmer Giles who leans over his five bar gate and gives advice on any subject from farming (about which he knows little) to philosophy (about which he knows less).

Bread and Butter Theatre Company

The Van Dunk Brothers Armed with a trunk full of trunks, swimming caps, goggles, armbands and verruca cream, the boys will delight crowds with their award-winning dry land synchronized swimming display. Marvel as the boys perform the routine that won them the gold medal at the Olympic Games, World Championships and Burnley Baths Swimming Gala.

DJ Booth and the Wheels of Steel Presenting DJ Booth, Vince Vinyl and the ‘Wheels of Steel’ mobile disco and cabaret. Experience Saturday Night Fever and Sunday Night at the Palladium rolled in to one big glitzy ball of music, mullets and bingo-calling.

Dot Comedy

The Surrealist Painters and Decorators An artist spoofing the styles of the late greats, a painter & decorator doing his portraits in emulsion with a roller and a ‘nude’ model with an attitude problem.

The Dream Engine

The Conedancers A 21st Century maypole! A boy and a girl parodying every folk dance you have ever seen walk up the sides of a giant 8m high air-filled cone. They begin to dance, tumbling and turning around the cone. As their dance continues all inhibitions are lost and the show becomes louder and wilder, spinning together around the cone which begins to glow and change colour.

The Hot Potato Syncopators will swing you back to the golden age of the roaring 20’s with their tip-top-toe tapping renditions of dance band melodies and hot jazz classics. Be astounded as the incredible sound of the musical saw, lightening ukulele and the chest bass combine with quirky visual comedy to create a unique musical revue.

Stickleback Plasticus

St Joan’s Ambulance Accident prone and ready to serve, Joan and John, having failed the most basic of first aid courses, have set forth with crates of crepe bandage and piles of plasters. Using all available street furniture this cumbersome duo trip, fall and blaze a trail of self-destruction, turning the smallest obstacle into a mountain of trouble.

Village Disco is a small but perfectly formed 4 wheel mobile 12 volt sound system, with flashing lights, strobe and mirror ball - creating an intimate and interactive atmosphere. Village Disco explore the anti cool, encouraging the letting down of hair and letting go of ego in the pursuit of harmless ageless fun.

The Krape Twinz Taking requests from the crowds will be teddy boys The Krape Twinz, a brilliant guitar and sax duo excelling in jazz, Irish and rock ‘n’ roll.

Arabesque

Sloga Sioda Means silk fairies in Gaelic. This brand new show is being performed during the event.

Birdcage Is a beautiful and exotic aerial show starring tropical, playful ‘lovebirds’.

Worlds Smallest Café Be seated at the ‘smallest café in the world’ and enjoy a fast paced and funny free show that features a good helping of live music, magic, puppetry, mask and comedy. Be wowed by the disappearing wine trick, be nice to the cantankerous six foot tall ‘Maitre D’ puppet as he struggles to control his wayward café but most of all, beware of the flying pizza!

Wrongsize

The Stalkers Silent, seemingly serious characters, whose slow, sensuous, staccato movement is inspired by yoga and Butoh. They are always up to some mischief, doubtless snuffling food and drink.

Pink Two stunning Geisha- girl look-a-likes, on a mission. Surrounded by their naughty pet butterflies, they banter and catch their pets on the run. Watch out for them hiding in your hood! Naughty