Birmingham Events and Festivals

(Birmingham, West Midlands, England, UK)

Birmingham has a number of lively festivals and events which take place throughout the year, in and around central Birmingham. Residents like to party and the area's extensive calendar of festivals and events includes lively street fairs, carnivals, parades and numerous sporting events. Local newspapers and leading magazines regularly publish the latest cultural events and Birmingham festivals, and also contain up-to-date listings of events nearby the city.

The city's helpful tourist information office is always a useful source for current events and festivals. Many of the these draw enormous crowds of both participants and spectators, and provide tourists with a wide range of things to see and do whilst staying in the exciting city of Birmingham.

National Public Holidays

• 1st January - New Year's Day
• Good Friday / Easter Monday - late March or early April
• First and last Monday in May
• Last Monday in August
• 25th December - Christmas Day
• 26th December - Boxing Day

(If Christmas Day, Boxing Day or New Year's Day falls on a Saturday or Sunday, the next weekday becomes a public holiday).

Calendar of Festivals and Events 2014 / 2015

January

• Athletic Season of Events - January to February, the National Indoor Arena (NIA)
• National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain - Symphony Hall, Birmingham, England

February

• Spring Fair Birmingham - early February, the NEC Arena
• National Boat, Caravan and Outdoor Show - mid-February, the NEC Arena
• International Craft and Hobby Fair - mid-February, the NEC Arena

March

• Crufts Dog Show - early March, the NEC Arena
• All Englnd Open Badminton Championships - mid-March, the National Indoor Arena (NIA)
• Birmingham Pride Gay and Lesbian Ball - mid-March, Birmingham International Convention Centre

May

• Concertos - early May, Symphony Hall
• Birmigham Pride Festival and Parade - late May, Birmingham's Gay Village
• British International Motor Show - late May / early June, the NEC Arena

June

• DFS Classic International Women's Tennis - mid-June, Edgbston Priory Club

July

• HMV Birmingham International Jazz Festival - mid-July, throughout the city

August

• Fireworks Fantasia - early August, Canon Hill Park
• Birmingham International Festival - early August, various venues throughout Birmingham
• Antiques for Everyone - early August, the NEC Arena
• Birmingham Carnival - early August, Handsworth Park
• Birmingham Badminton Bonanza - mid-August, Birmingham NIA
• Summer Concert - late August, Symphony Hall

September

• NLC Floodlit Cricket Match - early September, Edgbaston Cricket Ground
• ArtsFest - mid-September, Birmingham city centre
• Flora Birmingham's Women's Run - mid-September, Birmingham city centre
• Gardeners' Weekend - mid-September, Kings Heath Park
• Walsall Illuminations - mid-September / late October, The Arboretum, Walsall
• The Ski and Snowboard Show - late September, the NEC Arena
• Birmingham Readers' and Writers' Festival - late September / early October, Chamberlain Square

October

• Black History Month - throughout October, Birmingham
• National Wedding Show - early October, the NEC Arena
• Horse of the Year Show - mid-October, the NEC Arena
• Sportsfest and Star City 10K Run - early October, Star City

November

• Remembereance Day - early November
• Birmingham Film and Television Festival - throughout November, central Birmingham
• International Classic Vintage Motor Show - mid-November, the NEC Arena
• Supreme Cat Show - mid-November, the NEC Arena
• International Motorcycle and Scooter Show - mid-November, the NEC Arena
• British Indoor Rowing Championships - mid-November, the National Indoor Arena (NIA)
• Christmas Lights Switchon - late November, central Birmingham
• BBC Good Food Show - late November, the NEC Arena
• Birmingham International Tattoo - late November, National Indoor Arena

December

• Clotheshow Live - early December, the NEC Arena
• Christmas Markets - early December, central Birmingham
• New Year's Eve - December 31st