What's On At Dean Clough For The Halifax Heritage Festival And Beyond?

Ever walked around your town and wondered about the stories hidden in the old buildings? Well, this month is the perfect chance to find out. As part of the Halifax Heritage Festival, the historic Dean Clough mill complex is throwing open its doors with a whole series of events, tours, and activities. It’s a brilliant opportunity to explore the fascinating past of Halifax, and there’s something for the whole family to get stuck into. From special bus tours to creative trails for the kids, it’s all happening right on the doorstep.

A trip back in time (without a time machine)

Kicking things off for the Halifax Heritage Festival, Dean Clough has some special attractions planned. If you’ve ever wanted to properly understand the history of the enormous mill, the Crossley and Dean Clough Heritage Bus Tour is a must. Running on Saturday, 13th September, with sessions at 10am and 12:45pm, this tour is a deep dive into the legacy of the Crossley family. Think of them as the original titans of industry in Halifax; their 19th-century carpet manufacturing business was once the biggest in the entire world, and it was based right here. The tour itself explores how their business shaped the town's industrial history, starting and ending with a short talk at Dean Clough itself. It's a bit like a history lesson, but on wheels and way more interesting.

For the younger explorers, there's the Dean Clough Children’s Heritage Trail, running every day from Friday, 12th September to Sunday, 28th September. It's a self-guided trail, so you can go at your own pace. Just grab a map from the D Mill reception and let the kids lead the way. It’s a fun and educational journey around the site, and there’s even a free prize draw to enter afterwards. A perfect way to keep them entertained while they accidentally learn something cool about their local history.

And for a bit of evening entertainment, how about a dose of nostalgia? On Tuesday, 16th September at 6:30pm, the Crossley Gallery is hosting 'An Evening of Halifax Nostalgia'. This is a special collaboration between the Projected Picture Trust and Halifax Heritage Tours. It offers a rare chance to see historical footage of Halifax, screened using vintage cinema projectors. The Projected Picture Trust looks after the UK’s largest collection of historic cinema equipment, so it’s a proper glimpse into the past. This is one of those unique events that brings history to life.

More than just a one-off festival

While the Halifax Heritage Festival is the star of the show this month, Dean Clough is a popular visitor attraction all year round. It’s packed with artistic workshops and public gallery exhibitions. The award-winning destination is known for being a fantastic day out for the whole family, with free parking at weekends and great public transport links just minutes away.

The galleries have a constantly changing programme of exhibitions, so there's always something new to see. Plus, there are some brilliant permanent exhibitions that are always worth a visit. You can see the incredible Dean Clough LEGO Model, which is just as cool as it sounds, or explore The Lost Workers Exhibition and The Doug Binder Gallery. There are also a number of permanent trails you can follow any time. The Dean Clough Art Trail and Dean Clough Heritage Trail are great for grown-ups, while the Dean Clough Art & Discovery Trail is perfect for families wanting to explore the site's art and history together.

So, what’s actually on the calendar?

Here’s a full rundown of 'What's On' at Dean Clough over the coming months. There are loads of brilliant events, exhibitions, and trails to check out.

Exhibitions

Entry is free and all are welcome.

The Gallery Opening Times:

• Weekdays 09:00 – 17:00
• Saturdays 09:30 - 16:00
• Sundays 10:00 – 16:00

What to see

• Anthony Earnshaw: The Imp of Surrealism – until Sunday, 28th September 2025 | Crossley Gallery, D Mill
• Nudrat Afza (photographer): Kehillah – until Sunday, 19th October 2025 | Photography Gallery, D Mill 2nd Floor
• Kate Sully: The Upside Down – until Sunday, 5th October 2025 | Upstairs & Mosaic Galleries, D Mill 1st Floor
• Ian Cale: OST – Saturday, 18th October 2025 to 8th February 2026 | Crossley Gallery, D Mill

Events

Here is a list of upcoming events at Dean Clough:

• 6-week Creative Writing Course – Wednesday, 10th September until Wednesday, 15th October, 10:00 – 12:00 | The Art School at Dean Clough, Fletchers Mill
• Healthy Minds: Light Up For Hope – Wednesday, 10th September 2025, 17:00 – 18:30 | Crossley Gallery, D Mill
• Dean Clough Children’s Heritage Trail – Friday, 12th September to Sunday, 28th September 2025 | Collect from D Mill reception
• Crossley and Dean Clough Heritage Bus Tour – Saturday, 13th September 2025, 10:00 & 11:45 | Bowling Mill Courtyard / Crossley Gallery, D Mill
• Piano Club – Sunday, 14th September 2025, 10:30 – 12:00 | Crossley Gallery, D Mill
• Wedding Showcase at The Arches – Sunday, 14th September 2025, 12:00 – 15:00 | The Arches, E Mill Courtyard
• Projected Picture Trust present… An Evening of Halifax Nostalgia – Tuesday, 16th September 2025, 18:30 | Crossley Gallery, D Mill
• Square Lens Alliance Gathering – Thursday, 18th September 2025, 18:30 – 22:00 | Crossley Gallery, D Mill
• Lucy’s Little Bake House Quiz Night – Thursday, 18th September 2025, 19:00 – 21:00 | Lucy’s Little Bake House, Bowling Mill Courtyard
• Psycho Storm – Friday, 19th September 2025, 17:00 – Late | The Arches, E Mill Courtyard
• Artisan Markets – Sunday, 28th September, 26th October, & 23rd November 2025, 10:00 – 15:00 | D Mill Courtyard
• Halifax Philharmonic Club: Notos Piano Quartet – Friday, 17th October 2025, 19:30 | Crossley Gallery, D Mill
• Padres Tacos Takeover – Friday, 24th October 2025, 17:00 – 21:30 | Stod Fold, D Mill Courtyard
• The Halifax Bierkeller – Saturday, 8th November 2025, 19:00 – late | The Arches, E Mill Courtyard
• Halifax Philharmonic Club: Elmore String Quartet – Friday, 14th November 2025, 19:30 | Crossley Gallery, D Mill
• A Christmas Carol Rewritten – Wednesday, 3rd until Saturday, 6th December 2025, 19:30 (+ Sat matinee) | The Viaduct Theatre, D Mill
• Halifax Philharmonic Club: Ariel Lanyi – Friday, 5th December 2025, 19:30 | Crossley Gallery, D Mill
• True North presents… Barrie Rutter OBE: Jingle Bells – Wednesday, 10th December 2025, 18:00 | True North Restaurant, Bowling Mill Courtyard
• Loafers present… A Celebration of the Travelling Wilburys – Friday, 12th & Saturday, 13th December 2025 | The Viaduct Theatre, D Mill

Address: Dean Clough, Halifax HX3 5AX, UK