Free family fun all summer long
is Born, Mary Poppins Returns and The Greatest Showman. The outdoor screenings start at 6pm on weekdays and at 1pm and 4pm on the weekend. There will be a limited number of deckchairs available at each showing so we recommend you arrive early to avoid disappointment! You’re also welcome to take your own seating if you so wish.
Multiple venues across the city, July 19-28
Known as one of Europe’s biggest free jazz parties, this festival features more than 150 performances alongside workshops, talks, exhibitions and masterclasses.
Running since 1985, it’s England’s longest-established jazz and blues festival. And almost all of it is free to attend.
Performances take place in shopping centres, streets and squares, bars, restaurants, clubs, hotels, art galleries, markets, libraries, parks, railway stations, canal boats, and sometimes even on buses and trains!
Rotunda Square, Bullring, July 19 and 20
BeatFreeks will be presenting music, film and dance performances throughout the weekend as the youth collective brings its summer festival to the city.
Founded in February 2013 The Beatfreeks Collective, based at the Zellig in Digbeth, is all about using creativity for good, creating a community of artists, activists, entrepreneurs, designers, technologists, researchers and more.
Midland Arts Centre, Edgbaston, from July 23 to August 31
Throughout the summer holidays, there will be drop-in art sessions for all the family on selected afternoons, supported by Players of the People’s Postcode Lottery. Taking place in the MAC foyer, these workshops are free and run from 12 noon to 4pm.
Bullring and Grand Central, July 25 and 26
Fancy some free food? Throughout the summer Bullring & Grand Central PLUS app users will have lots of foodie offers and discounts for restaurants and cafes across the centre on July 25 and 26. The app can be downloaded for free from Google Play and App Store. Keep an eye out for dancing butlers too – they will have lots of food to give away!
Victoria Park, Smethwick, July 20 and 21
Said to be the UK’s biggest Asian music festival celebrating South
Asian culture, get ready for two days of live performances and great street food.
Taking place from 12pm on the Saturday to 7pm on the Sunday, there will be something for all ages at this free event.
Birmingham Cathedral, Cathedral Square, August 6, 8, 13 and 15
Sing songs, play music games, make new friends and enjoy free refreshments and lots more at a series of free music clubs at Birmingham Cathedral. Aimed at families with primary school aged children, these sessions run from 10am to 12pm. All children must be accompanied by an adult.
Resorts World, NEC, Fridays in August, from 11am to 3pm
Each week will feature different circus skills workshops including juggling, plate spinning, diablos, globe walking, wire walking, hula hooping and more plus look out for walkabout performers in colourful costumes too. And Friday, August 9 will see Birmingham Youth Circus present their new show Project 42 alongside aerial workshops.
There will be limited availability at each activity and a parent or guardian must be present at all times.
Resorts World, Saturdays in August
Bonkas circus workshops return with all the fun of the circus every Saturday from 11am to 4pm during the summer holidays.
On Saturday August 3 and 10, there will be interactive shows and workshops to learn tricks and impress! On Saturday August 17 and 24, they’ll bring fun circus shows.
And Saturday August 31 will see a big finale, The Greatest Showman from Bonkas, with multiple interactive shows and a whole host of local performers. A circus themed hunt will also take place on the days of activity, with a small prize for each child who completes the hunt!
There will be limited availability at each activity and a parent or guardian must be present at all times.
Rotunda Square, High Street, Birmingham, August 24
Roll up, roll up... the circus is coming to town. The theatrical acts are the perfect way to kick-start your Bank Holiday weekend.
Dollman Street, Nechells, last Friday of each month
This 1.5 hectare site is an Aladdin’s Cave of memorabilia. It holds 80 per cent of Birmingham Museums’ stored collections, from red phone boxes to Austin cars and steam engines to 1950s toys and 70s costumes.
The collection centre is generally not open to the public except for open afternoon tours that take place on the last Friday of the month.
Booking is essential and you have to make sure you get in early – the July tour is already fully booked but you may stand a chance of getting onto the August one if you’re quick.