The Festival of Light may be planned for Saturday — but fun begins in Huddersfield on Friday as the Huddersfield Hat Fringe Festival kicks off its three-day run.

The festival, held at 23 venues across the town centre, offers free live music from local bands including Eastern European Jewish style Klezmer group Klonk! and dreamy punk outfit Cafuné, while arts and craft lovers will be left happy thanks to pop up shops and workshops in the Packhorse Centre, Packhorse Gallery, St Peter’s Gardens and Huddersfield Art Gallery.

Poetry and theatre will also be celebrated through a children’s play at Audrey Spencer School of Dance, several spoken word performances at Bar 1:22, and the CITP shop in the top floor of Byram Arcade, and there will be a poetry read-a-round at the bowling pavillion at Greenhead Park.

Click below for pictures from the Festival of Light over the years

Make sure you don't miss thing this Friday with our Huddersfield Hat what's on guide:

  • Museum Curiosity Shop, pop-up shop, Packhorse Centre, 9.30am-5pm
    Find unusual Christmas gifts at this pop-up shop filled with curious museum objects and gift ideas — served by costumed staff.
  • ARTbound ARTfair, 60 John William Street and 8 New Street, 10am-5pm
    A three-day art fair showcasing affordable works by local artists.
  • Live music at the Vulcan, St Peter's Street, 6pm
    Enjoy the Vulcan's in-house live band - visit facebook.com/thevulcan for information.
  • Two Herons and a Hare, Coffee Cabin, Queensgate, 6pm-7.30pm
    An evenuing of entertaining collaborations between Huddersfield poets and musicians: Adam Strickson with Harrison and Dearman, and Robin Bowles with Alison lock.
  • CryBabyCry, The Parish Pub, Kirkgate, 8pm, £3 on the door
    A Parish gig for the rock and roll trio described as The Black Keys meets Nancy Sinatra.
  • Robert Sharp, Blue Rooms, Byram Arcade, 8.40pm
    Enjoy a set by the singer/songwriter.
  • Captain of the Lost Waves, Blue Rooms, Byram Arcade, 8.40pm
    A music box of tales from the Captain's travels through time and cosmic skies and seas.
  • Band night featuring Vital Statistics, Th'Alma, 4 Edge Hill, Linthwaite, 9pm
    Th'Alma hosts this five-piece covers band.
  • Band night featuring The Inner Mind, The Clarence, 23 Towngate, Newsome
    The Clarence hosts Huddersfield's reggae band, The Inner Mind. Check times/prices with venue.
  • Klonk!, Coffee Evolution, Church Street, 9pm
    Billed as 'kick-ass gypsy funk', Kronk! are a klezmer collective from the Colne and Calder valleys.
  • The Suitcase Dwellers, Blue Rooms, Byram Arcade, 9.20pm
    Enjoy a set from this acoustic, blues-tinged band from the hills of Yorkshire.
  • Leo Brazil and his Twitch, Blue Rooms, Byram Arcade, 10pm
    Politically charges blues/punk/gypsy/folk at the Blue Rooms.

The Huddersfield Hat Festival Fringe runs until Sunday.

On Saturday, Huddersfield will welcome the main Festival of Light entertainment, including a Frozen sing-along, a firework display accompanied by Hade Edge Band, a live performance from Huddersfield rockers Stems, and a headline set by DJ Yoda.

For more information about this year's festival, visit our dedicated page.