Celebrating Balsall Heath – Festival faces, figures and fun
Sadly the Festival is over for 2026, but the good news is we are already making plans for 2027, the fiftieth anniversary of Balsall Heath Carnival!
We had over 1600 participating in over 20 events and 40 workshops over the 10 days of Festival. Here’s a quick breakdown of some of what’s been happening (there’s too much to put in a single blog so apologies to events not mentioned!
Colouring Competition
‘I won an orange skipping rope!’
Miss Choudhury, a former winner
The colouring competition was well received and remembered – there were several occasions where I met proud former winners. Thanks to the many people who volunteered to support this, visiting local schools and organisations as well as walking streets to judge the entries.
Historic Interpretation Panels
‘These are great – it’s about our history, all of it, for everyone’
A comment and conversation with a BCC street cleaner captures the heart of the Historic Interpretation Panels project as well as helping with the installation, cleaning all around a corner of a Ladypool Road Car Park opposite the Congregational Church. Two local shops have offered to help maintain the space around this panel. Funded by Believe in Balsall Heath and led by BHLHS, what started as an idea for five heritage boards expanded into nine due to overwhelming local support. The collaborative approach to displaying our history built a real sense of local ownership and has been celebrated as part of a history trail in the build up, and during #BHCFest26. After the festival passersby can still stop and see our heritage, and many are diving deeper into Balsall Heath’s rich story by scanning the QR codes, sparking conversations both on the street and in The Heathan.
Festival events
‘We have to do [The Festival] next year’
With so many events over 10 days indoors and outside, all over Balsall Heath, it is impossible to single out any, so here is a photo gallery covering some!
Working together
‘We were really happy with the event. We are a very small volunteer group and we were too busy to get on with all our usual work! The attendance was good and much boosted by the involvement of our local partner organisations. It was lovely to share our lovely little pocket park with people that may have never been there before’ Friends of Seven Street Park
Much thanks to Together St.Paul’s who funded the Festival. Also thanks to all the partner organisations who contributed time, organised and ran all events, and all the volunteers without whom the festival would not have happened.
From colourful windows and rich local history to lively events in our green spaces, this year proved what makes Balsall Heath truly special: our people. A massive thank you to everyone who showed up, volunteered, and brought the energy. Here’s to the connections made, the stories shared, and a festival season we won’t forget anytime soon. See you all next year!
