The Tour de Yorkshire Festival starts today and is set to feature over 200 performances and exhibitions taking place throughout Yorkshire.

The festival runs until the final day of the Tour de Yorkshire international cycle race on May 3 and showcases Yorkshire’s vibrant arts and culture scene.

The first few days of the festival include performances from pianist Jessica Wei Zhu at Leeds College of Music, Northern Ballet’s ‘Elves and the Shoemaker’ at Harrogate Theatre, Arthur Miller’s classic, ‘A View from the Bridge’ at the Alhambra in Bradford and ‘The Unremarkable Death of Marilyn Monroe’ at Barnsley Civic.

Northern Ballet are also set to bring their show to Huddersfield.

Gary Verity, chief executive of Welcome to Yorkshire, said: “As we saw in last year’s incredible Yorkshire Festival, our county has an amazing array of art and culture, and the Tour de Yorkshire Festival is the perfect platform for artists of all kinds to show off their talents.”

The festival culminates over the Tour de Yorkshire weekend with special events at the start and finish locations of the race bringing a carnival atmosphere to what promises to be a memorable weekend. Taking part will be Leeds-based band Hope & Social, veterans from last year’s Yorkshire Festival, who will be sharing their musical skills.

A spokesman for the band said: “Last year’s Yorkshire Festival was an incredible experience for us, working with 1,500 people across the county on our Tour of Infinite Possibility. We’re thrilled to be joining in once again with this year’s Tour de Yorkshire and inviting the good, good people to come bang the drums, sing the songs, and make as much racket as we possibly can.”

For more information on the Tour de Yorkshire Festival, and for a full, up-to-date programme, visit www.tourdeyorkshirefestival.com