The streets of Birmingham are about to be taken over by the largest free arts festival in the UK - Artsfest 2005.
 | | Artsfest performer |
It all kicks off in Centenary Square on Friday 9th September and continues throughout Saturday and Sunday. Over 115,000 people attended ArtsFest last year and enjoyed over 300 free performances in and around the city. Now in its eighth year, it offers the chance to see a variety of live entertainment and also gives local talent a platform to showcase their work - from singers and dancers to musicians and actors, as well as visual artists. Live entertainment
 | | Artsfest performer |
Performances will take place around the city centre at venues such as Symphony Hall, Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, The Mailbox, Brindley Place, St Martin’s Church and The Rep Theatre. There'll also be an Art Village in Victoria Square, Short Cuts, a Secret Garden, an Art and Craft Market, and Ask It! and Do It! areas. The main stage is in Centenary Square, featuring a host of live acts throughout the weekend. Highlights Artsfest kicks off with Reggae Rockz on Friday 9th at 7.30pm in Centenary Square. It's a whole evening of classic reggae, ska and 2-tone. Steel Pulse make a return to Birmingham, featuring songs from their latest album. The Beat and The Specials will also be performing.
 | | Artsfest performers |
There's always a centre-piece of Artsfest, and this year it's The Big Voice, on Saturday 10th September. One thousand singers will parade by torchlight along four routes through the city's streets and canals, all singing Hanacpachap cussicuinin, a 17th Century Latin American processional hymn. They'll eventually meet up in Centenary Square. As well as fresh local talent performing around the city, there's also the chance to see major organisations like the CBSO, the Birmingham Royal Ballet and Birmingham Opera Company. The BBC Big Screen in Chamberlain Square will be showing entertainment throughout the weekend, including performances from Artsfest, as well as films such as Edward Scissor Hands. For the kids
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It's not just for the adults - at Artsfest there are lots of activities for the children to get involved in. In the RBSA gallery tent, Victoria Square, there'll be a chance to get creative and make birds and butterflies in the origami workshop. There's also a chance to "have a go" on a potters wheel, see various children's shows and take part in the children's carnival 'Off our Trolley'. The City Gardens will be transformed into the 'Secret Garden' for the whole weekend, where a lot of children's activities will be taking place. Pictures galore
 | | Artsfest stalls |
As ever, the BBC Birmingham website team will be out and about taking pictures of the weekend. So come back and visit us to see our picture galleries. Road Closures Broad Street is closed from Sheepcote Street to Paradise Circus from 6.30pm on Friday 9th September to 11.30pm on Sunday 11th September. Buses will be diverted down Sheepcote Street and Cambridge Street. =========== Full listings For a full list of all Artsfest events, venues and times, you can visit the official Artsfest website.
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