Outdoor Dewsbury Festival

A festival celebrating Dewsbury’s countryside, waterways and parks opens this weekend with a family-friendly trip to the beach.

There’s no need to travel to the coast though – the beach will be in the heart of the town centre.

Street performers, story tellers, a sand sculptor and more will entertain visitors throughout Saturday as the town hosts Dewsbury on Sea.

The free event – now in its 15th year – is the first of this year’s Outdoor Dewsbury Festival.

For nine days, the town will be buzzing with activities designed to get people of all ages enjoying the great outdoors.

Nature lovers can look forward to guided walks, bushcraft sessions, bat box building and woodland crafts. There will be boat trips on the Calder and Hebble Navigation, angling taster sessions and canoe trips on the River Calder.

In the town’s parks, youngsters can join in with urban tennis, a cycling club and a host of sports.

The festival, funded by Dewsbury Area Committee, ends with a day trip to Stirley Farm and Castle Hill.