Balsall Heath Community Festival
We’re coordinating over a week of fun, heritage, and innovation, and it’s all FREE!
- Heritage & Art – We’re unveiling our history interpretation boards with Balsall Heath Local History Society, hosting workshops, carnival exhibition and a local history trail. Also our Festival begins with the legendary Colouring Competition!
- Family & Youth – Get ready for a massive Summer Celebration at St. Paul’s, “Second Saturday” at The Old Printworks, with ‘Seeing Rhonda‘ exhibition and free sports and games at Calthorpe Park with Saheli including chair tennis crochet and archery. Retrofit are also running pre-festival workshops (like one on Spark Green Park, 1st July from 3pm)
- Homes & Neighbourhoods – Fruit and Nut Village is working with Friends of the Earth Postcode Gardeners, Friends of our wonderful Parks, Birmingham Open Space Forum and Retrofit Balsall Heath – Look out for the East West Retrofit Procession!
- Health & Wellbeing – Join us for community meals, a Faith Trail and specialized workshops with our partners at Saheli, MIAH Foundation and Anawim. Anawim are coordinating the Faith Trail, happening at different locations across Balsall Heath – see dates and times below.
Here’s the festival daily breakdown:
Anawim is 40! 12-4pm
228 Mary St, Balsall Heath, Birmingham B12 9RJ
A wonderful afternoon of celebration at Anawim’s on 3rd July, 2026, marking an incredible 40th anniversary! It’s a special opportunity to honour a journey from humble beginnings to a city-wide mission, Please contact Anawim first if you would like to go. Or maybe you’d be interested to join a 40 40 40 challenge (you don’t have to run!)
Contact co************@*******co.uk
Retrofit Balsall Heath at Pickwick Park,
12:30-2:30pm B12 8LS
Get your Festival going at this free family event at the site where so many Carnivals have gone before! We will be doing a pop-up Retrofit Balsall Heath model house “street drama” to kick of #BHCFest26!
Contact re******************@***il.com
Balsall Heath Trail installed
Trails are at the heart of 2026 celebrations in Balsall Heath and a wonderful way to experience our streets, and on 4th July we’re installing four more at Mary Street, Highgate Road, Balsall Heasth Park and Ladypool Road to add to existing panels at Calthorpe Park, Seven Streets Park and The Old Tramworks The Balsall Heath Local History Society has been deep in the archives, uncovering fascinating stories of Balsall Heathans and Balsall Heath. Working with local partners, we have produced a series of historical interpretation panels that will be installed across Balsall Heath in 2026. Blending community memories, archival photography, linking via QR to our resources the interpretation panels will be maintained and updated as well as added to online. If you think there is a story we’ve missed let us know.
At Home with Friends at Seven Streets 11-2pm
Clifton Rd, Balsall Heath, Birmingham B12
This unique Pocket Park was host to the first Balsall Heath Carnival, and will be hosting the carnival touring exhibition this year alongside family activities supported by Fruit and Nut Village.
East West Retrofit Procession 11 – 5pm
We’re inviting local residents to join us in a procession from east to west; from Balsall Heath Park to Calthorpe Park, on Sunday 5 July. We’re going to be carrying banners made in workshops with local artist Jane Thakoordin celebrating the strength and resilience of Balsall Heath’s vibrant community.
Retrofit Balsall Heath are leading collaborative event across Balsall Heath Green spaces.
Contact re******************@***il.com
Faith Trail at The Buddhist Centre 3pm
11 Park Rd, Birmingham B13 8AB
The Faith Trail are three days visiting some of Balsall Heath’s fantastic Faith Centres! The Buddhist Centre offer a warm welcome for all. A wonderful opportunity to connect, share some peaceful reflection and enjoy some light refreshments together.
Contact co************@*******co.uk
Faith Trail at Al Abbas
17 Clifton road B12 8SX
Al Abbas 12.15 with an introduction to the extensive work of the mosque. It is the holy month of Muharram, so come and learn about its significance. prayers at 1.10 and a tasty lunch will be served at 1.30, finish 2pm. Warm welcome to all.
Faith Trail at St.John & St.Martin
31 George St, Balsall Heath, B12 9RG
Carnival Exhibition and sharing event at St.John and St.Martin Catholic Church 2pm to 4pm
Contact co************@*******co.uk
Apna Ghar Kitchen Garden Tour 10-1pm
21 – 22 Clevedon Rd, B12 9HD
Fruit and Nut Village free tour of their garden, cynotype sun fun and more family activities:
- Forest Garden & Kitchen Garden Tour
- Edible Perennial Plant Propagation / Tea
- Picnic lunch provided by Apna Ghar
Please let us know if you’re planning to come!
Contact fr****************@***il.com
Faith Trail Balsall Heath Church Centre 11-1pm
100 Mary St, B12 9JU
Carnival Exhibition is on tour here – meet up, have a chat, find out more about the Church Centre and the people who use it.
Contact ma****@********************co.uk
Faith Trail at Guru Gobind Singh Gurdwara 1pm
221 Mary St, Balsall Heath, B12 9RN
Join and share at Guru Gobind Singh Gurdwara – food and a talk about the tenants of the Sikh faith.
Contact co************@*******co.uk
Tours of Moseley Road Baths
497 Moseley Road, B12 9BX
A special guided tour, limited places, booking essentional. FULLY BOOKED. Due to popular demand we are looking to arrange more visits in September – contact ma****@********************co.uk if you’re interested.
POSTPONED Liz Berry and Memories of Balsall Heath at St.Paul’s Venture Hall – it’s too HOT!
A special slideshow, film and presentation night alongside our Balsall Heath Carnival Touring Exhibition
Contact ma****@********************co.uk
Forest Sound Garden 7-9pm
Clevedon Road / Bus 35 /
Opposite Apna Ghar B12 9HD
Join us at Reaside Forest Garden for intimate acoustic music performed by….William William Rogers & Kate Thompson, Emily Churchill & special guests.
Contact fr****************@***il.com
Balsall Heath Second Saturday 11-4pm
The Old Print Works, 498-506 Moseley Rd, B12 9AH
Believe in Balsall Heath activities, Balsall Heath Local History Society Carnival Exhibition and Heritage Trail, Fruit and Nut Activities and all our local partners will be there for Family fun.
- Children’s Author Session: My Rice Is Best with Selina Brown. 11am-12.30pm, Courtyard, OPW
- Carnival Futures: Creative Conversations with ITZATNA Arts. 11am-3pm, Director’s Office (Courtyard), OPW
- Craft Design & Technology for under 11’s. 11am-3pm, Upper Gallery, OPW
- Balsall Heath Carnival in Changing Times. 11am-4pm, Director’s Office (Courtyard), OPW
- The Old Print Works Market. 11am-4pm, Courtyard/Lower Gallery, OPW
- Banner design workshop with WMPSC. 11am-4pm, Lower Gallery/Courtyard, OPW
- The Original Art Club. 11am-4pm, Courtyard, OPW
- Balsall Heath Local History Society. 11am-4pm, Lower Gallery/Courtyard, OPW
- Creative activities at The GAP. 11am-4pm, Drawing Room (Courtyard), OPW
- Change Kitchen. 11am-4pm, The MIX Cafe
- Seeing Rhonda. 11am-5pm, Upper Gallery, OPW
- Pasta Maker Printing Press Pigeon Party! with Jane Thakoordin. 11.30am-1.30pm, Lower Gallery, OPW
- Create Your Own Anime Character with Esca09. 12-4pm, Lower Gallery, OPW
- Woodwork with MAKE & TADA! 12.30-2pm, Lower Gallery, OPW
- Mapping Balsall Heath Through Islamic Art. 12.30-3.30pm, MIAH Gallery, 496 Moseley Road
- Balsall Heath Repair Cafe, 12.30-4pm. The Mix Cafe, OPW
- Play with Clay with Sundragon Pottery. 1-3pm, Lower Gallery, OPW
- Waffle Poetry. 1-3pm, The Transfer co-working space, OPW
- A Green Vision for Balsall Heath. 2-4pm, Director’s Office (Courtyard), OPW
- Climate Justice and Palestine Solidarity: Deepening the Connections. 3-4.30pm, Lower Gallery, OPW
Contact in**@****************rg.uk
Together St.Paul’s Summer Celebration 11-4pm
10 Malvern St, Balsall Heath, B12 8NN
Stalls, music, refreshments, farm activities, facepainting, and fun for all the family!
Contact 0121 464 1888 stpaulstrust.org.uk
Saheli Fun Day 11-2pm
Calthorpe Park, Balsall Heath, B12 9LF
Free sports and games including chair tennis, crochet, archery, serving free food, no register
Contact in**@*******co.uk
The second to last day of our Community Festival! An opportunity to visit our Heritage Trail all across Balsall Heath. Please contact us, let us know what you think – we’re already looking to Balsall Heath Community Festival 2027 – what would be the fiftieth year of Balsall Heath Carnival!
Saheli Family Fun
Corner of Cheddar &, Edward Rd, Balsall Heath, B12 9LF
Saheli Hub is hosting activities in their hub and at Calthorpe Park as part of #BHCFest26 alongside our Carnival Exhibition – there will be a mapping game and opportunity to find yourself in our catalogues of Balsall Heath Carnivals! Sähëlï Hub is a friend dedicated to improving health and wellbeing in the community, by providing innovative services that educate, motivate, inspire and empower.
