Marking 100 years of Shibden Park, the four-day outdoor celebration brings together world-renowned artists, local talent and community creativity
West Yorkshire’s culture-rich borough of Calderdale has announced a new open-air festival of classical music, comedy, musical theatre, brass bands, interactive family performance and an imaginative community garden trail – all in the setting of Shibden Park. To mark its centenary as a public park, Calderdale Council is hosting ‘Stage at the Lake’, which will take place, day and night, from 13to 16 August.
‘Stage at the Lake’ highlights include:
Thursday 13th August
Theatre at the Lake
An opening celebration night of musicals, with stars of the West End stage, produced by acclaimed musical director Matthew J Loughran (Elf, Evita, Wicked, Les Misérables). Performing will be West End stars Laura Pick (Elphaba, Wicked), from Wakefield, and Halifax’s own Olivier Award-nominated stage and screen artist Emma Williams.
Friday 14th August (daytime)
Debut at the Lake
Budding young local talent will take to the stage in a showcase of the region’s emerging music scene. The programme, curated with Grassroots Music Network and CalderGroove Youth Music Collective, includes backstage opportunities for young people to gain experience in sound, lighting and production.
Friday 14th August (evening)
Laughter at the Lake
With a line-up to be announced, this will be a comedy night of some of the UK’s best-loved stand-up acts from the live comedy scene.
Saturday 15th August (evening)
Proms at the Lake
This special central performance by the English Chamber Orchestra and Halifax Choral Society will include timeless favourites from the classical repertoire. Taking place against the striking lakeside backdrop of Shibden Park – which was opened as a public park by the Prince of Wales in 1926 – visitors are invited to experience the best that Shibden Hall and Park offers in its centenary celebration year.
Sunday 16th August (evening)
Brass at the Lake
A fitting closing event celebrating Calderdale’s place in British film and music history, Yorkshire’s legendary brass band tradition is centre stage with an outdoor screening of Brassed Off, live scored by the world renowned Grimethorpe Colliery Band.
Marking 30 years since the film was shot at neighbouring The Piece Hall, the evening includes a special in-conversation for film fans, with guests to be announced.
Throughout (Thursday to Sunday)
Community garden trail
Running alongside the musical and comedy programme will be a community garden trail, ‘Seeds of Hope’, which includes an interactive performance by children’s and parents’ favourite, Mr Bloom & His Band, star of the CBeebies’ hit show Mr Bloom’s Nursery.
A year in the making, ‘Seeds of Hope’ is a new partnership between Calderdale Council and UNESCO, working with local groups and schools to create and design eight small-scale ‘parklet’ gardens. The mini-gardens will be united at Shibden Park throughout the festival, offering visitors a magical blend of nature and music.
After the event, the ‘Seeds of Hope’ parklets will be given new homes across Calderdale, an enduring legacy for local communities to enjoy.
“We’re proud to launch the programme for Stage at the Lake, which promises to be a fantastic celebration for Calderdale.
“This festival is about more than performances. It’s about celebrating us as a place, our heritage, our creativity and most importantly, our communities.
“Hosting it at Shibden Park in its centenary year makes it especially meaningful recognising the importance of protecting and valuing the spaces and stories that shape who we are in Calderdale.
“CultureDale showed what’s possible when we work together. This event builds on that momentum and ensures the energy and confidence from our Year of Culture continues to benefit local people, this is what lasting legacy looks like.
“We’re working with excellent partners to deliver a strong and diverse programme, while also creating real opportunities for our young people and local artists to develop their skills alongside some of the very best in the industry, It promises to be a very exciting event set against one of Calderdale’s most beautiful natural backdrops.”
‘Stage at the Lake’ is part of ‘Seasons of Culture – Nature 2026’, a cultural initiative from West Yorkshire Combined Authority that will see a series of events celebrate the region’s creativity, heritage, and communities through the lens of the natural world.
Fully accessible, ‘Stage at the Lake’ will feature a mix of ticketed and free events, with free entry for under-16s.
Sign up here for priority booking and be first to hear when tickets go on sale: www.stageatthelake.co.uk(external link)
For further programme updates and announcements follow @stageatthelake on Instagram.