Local Events

Lord Mayor’s Family Show

The Lord Mayor's Family Show takes place on Monday 25th May, 12noon-6pm. It's a free family day out with music, entertainment and activities in Birmingham City Centre.

Artist Ian Cook

Popbang workshops

Artist Ian Cook shot into the limelight a couple of years ago when he started creating art work using paint and radio control cars. He painted a Pudsey Bear for Children in Need using this technique. Since then he's had many high profile commissions, including doing a portrait of Lewis Hamilton.

Ian will be at the Bullring Shopping Centre creating artwork all week, Monday to Sunday.

He'll be in the outdoor space (by the Disney shop) on Monday and Tuesday, and then moves inside to a vacant unit (next to Cult Clothing) from Wednesday to Sunday.

Portrait of Lewis Hamilton

There'll be free workshops for the kids from Wednesday to Sunday, on a first come, first served basis. Ian will be on site from 10am – workshop bookings will be taken from 11am and the first workshop starts at approximately 11.40am.

Kids will get a chance to do colour circles and a self portrait using Ian’s techniques. Each workshop will last approximately 40 minutes.

Puppet theatre

Dynamics 09 International Puppet Festival runs from 23rd May until 18th July. It's the largest puppet festival in England, with 18 different shows on offer in more than 30 locations featuring the best UK and international puppeteers.

On 27th May at 2.30pm, Sea Legs Puppet Theatre will be performing The Selfish Giant at the Library Theatre. Tickets are just £1.00. For more information call 0121 3032323.

Sarehole Mill

Get Walking Festival @ Sarehole Mill

A walking festival to celebrate national Get Walking Day 09 takes place on 30th May at Sarehole Mill. The Ramblers is calling on everyone in Birmingham to slip on their trainers or shoes and join them – no matter what age or ability.

It's a family event with lots of entertainment and activities (not just walking!), and free goodies and refreshments, between 2pm and 5pm (for youngsters and the young at heart).

The event is organised by the Ramblers, with the support of Shire County Park Rangers and Sarehole Mill. For more infomration see:

Mr Elephant @  Kings Heath

On Saturday 23rd May, Mr Elephant will be celebrating its 2nd birthday with an all inclusive festival-style, 12 hour event in Kings Heath. Free workshops, acoustic, dance and live stages, reflexology, art activities, prizes, stalls etc.

A budding DJ at last year's event

The programme of workshops will be an opportunity for people to try out an exciting range of creative practices. Try your hand at drumming, mask decorating, animation, beatboxing, VJing and "poodle making". (Where suitable, over 18's will see their creations in action and even get to perform in the evening)

All events from 3pm to 7pm are free. Thereafter, there is an entrance charge of £7 adv for the evening performances.

BBC Springwatch activities

Head to the BBC Public Space during half term for lots of different Springwatch activities. There'll be nature-friendly things to do every day between 11am and 3pm.

Enjoying the first signs of spring

Monday: See if you can guess the different plants just from their smell, then listen to story telling throughout the day. Tuesday: Activities include colouring-in for the kids.

On Wednesday find out how to identify birds and trees in your garden with the Birmingham and Black Country Wildlife Trust. Take a short nature walk with The Ramblers (2 short nature walks - 30 minutes each, leaving The Mailbox at 11am and 2pm).

And on Thursday build your own nest box with Sandwell Valley Council and Sot's Hole. Friday is a water-themed day, with activities by Birmingham City Council.

Matthew Boulton: Selling what all the world desires

Starting 30th May (until 27th September) at the Gas Hall, Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery.

A lily on a pond in Sutton Park

This exhibition marks the 200th anniversary of the death of Matthew Boulton, the great industrialist whose factory at Soho in Handsworth was one of the wonders of late eighteenth-century Britain.

Covering all aspects of Boulton's life, the exhibition includes items from the collections of Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, Birmingham Archives and the Birmingham Assay Office and loans from The National Gallery, the Royal Collection and the Victoria and Albert Museum.

Local Parks

Don't forget local parks often have events and activities on during school holidays.