After such a fantastic weekend, the next three days promise to be equally wonderful as Balsall Heath Community Festival brings together so many more people to celebrate Balsall Heath! A quick summary, flyers below, offering joy and fun in gardens, exhibitions and in our fabulous Faith Centres across Balsall Heath from 6th to 8th July!
Community Festival so far in pictures
Day 1 – Anawim is 40
We started our Festival with a party at Anawim, a visit to the Fire Station and drama at Pickwick Park!
Crowds at Retrofit Balsall Heath Drama Pickwick Park, the start of #BHCFest26!Firemen Louis reads about the history of Balsall HeathAll ready for guests at Anawim’s 40thBell is rung every day to ‘Call to Muster’ at the New Fire Station – hope to see the fire engine at an event later this fetsival!New Fruit and Nut Village Garden at AnawimJoy ceremonially planting the fig tree with Fruit and Nut VillageWatering in the new fig treeAward Ceremony, singing, poetry and tree planting with Fruit and Nut Village at Anawim.
Day 2 – History on the Lane
We talked to shop owners, passers by and local organisations like Friends of Balsall Heath Park as the next history interpretation panels were installed bu Balsall Heath Local History Society. Find out more on our history trail across Balsall Heath.
‘Our history is important, all of it.’
Shops and so much more, down ‘The Lane’BCC street cleaner loves us celebrating our history, cleaned all around our new sign.Entrance to Balsall Heath ParkAnawim staff with the new heritage panel outside their HQBy Balsall Heath Park, so much historyInstalled outside Anawim before their 40th Celebration
Day 3 – East West Procession and more!
Litterpicking at Balsall Heath Park to start our procession, with Peter, creator of the Retrofit Balsall Heath mobile model home.Last read through of the script for the Three little pigs playLitter managed!Start of the ProcessionAli guides a young wood carverArt and Crafts at Seven Street ParkCarnival Exhibition in Seven Street ParkParty begins at Seven Streets ParkBanners on display in the parkTrying on a new necklaceMore woodcraft in the ParkMore woodcraftFlag makingDrumming to George Street ParkChilling in Calthorpe ParkA short stop for Change Kitchen delicious foodTea and cake breakThe mobile model Retrofit Balsall Heath House on the move!Drumming workshop starts A grand evening in Calthorpe ParkCarrying the banner3 Little Pigs Retrofit Balsall Heath drama at George Street Park
Balsall Heath Local History Society bring the Carnival back to life in a touring exhibition, ready for Balsall Heath Community Festival! #BHCFest26. The Festival runs from 3rd to 13th July and the FREE Touring Carnival Exhibition will be at many of the venues across Balsall Heath.
A Symbol of Hope
‘The Carnival was never just a Carnival. It was a symbol of hope, an agent for change and a showcase for our rich cultural diversity. It is part of our heritage and our community identity.’
When it started in 1977, the procession wound through streets which were still pockmarked with bomb sites and derelict housing. The area was only just beginning to recover from damage inflicted over thirty years previously in the Second World War. The City Council had cleared a huge swathe of older housing but the neighbourhood as a whole was in an appalling condition: poor housing; high unemployment; dreadful health statistics.
However, it was rich with the biggest asset of all – residents who were committed to rebuilding the community. Hundreds of people created the Carnival and thousands of people took part in it. The success for nearly fifty years reflects our achievement in becoming the thriving Balsall Heath of today.
Balsall Heath Community Festival is not the same as the old Carnival but it has risen from its ashes. But the Festival is again a symbol of hope as all parts of the community have come together to celebrate and to reaffirm our identity as diverse, creative and enterprising.
Balsall Heath for Balsall Heathans
For nearly five decades the Balsall Heath Carnival has been the beating heart of our community – a glorious celebration of diversity, creativity, working together to celebrate our community. Balsall Heath Local History Society volunteers have been looking through the archives – literally thousands of photos and films, artwork and crafty creations, seeing the carnival through the people who have lived it. From the legendary floats of the 1970s and 80s to all the music, dance and glitter of more recent carnivals.
Expect fabulous and fantastic costumes, unusual sporting competitions, artwork extraordinaire and the moving, funny and proud stories of the people who have made it happen year after year.
Whether you’ve marched in the processions, cheered from the pavements or entirely new to the Carnival, this exhibition is a love letter to the resilience, unity and a bit of craziness that is Balsall Heath.
Get involved
There’ll be activities for young and old, reliving activities from the Carnival and Fair of the past, as well as opportunities to find yourself in the photos and document your own stories of the carnival.
From July 3rd to 13th, 2026, let’s celebrate Balsall Heath! For Balsall Heath Community Festival we are shifting from a single one-day event to a community led week of wonder! We’re working with local organisations – schools, charities, faith centres, everyone and everyone to celebrate everything Balsall Heath and everyone Balsall Heathan.
What’s happening?
We’re coordinating over a week of fun, heritage, and innovation. While the full schedule is brewing, here is a sneak peek at what’s in the works:
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.
Whether you’re an individual or a local organisation in Balsall Heath get involved – it’s a great platform to:
Find out more about fellow Balsall Heathans and Raise Your Profile – Benefit from collective publicity and the relaunch of the Heathan to reach hundreds of local residents.
Meet People and build Partnerships – Meet your neighbours, connect directly with schools, faith centres, and other local organizations
Shape the Future – We want to know what you think about Balsall Heath and we need your help to show the best of Balsall Heath and prove why Balsall Heath deserves continued investment
Many activities are already funded by individual groups, but if we pool our ideas maybe we can unlock even more small-scale funding together. We’re also hoping to feed into the updated Balsall Heath Development Plan with Balsall Heath Alliance so our new Council and Councillors can work with us.
Ready to jump in? Contact Marcus at ma****@********************co.uk to find out more. Let’s show Birmingham what Balsall Heath can do when we work together!
Here’s some images from Balsall Heath Carnival over the years, from which the Community Festival has been inspired:
