Explore Birmingham's vibrant summer scene with a lineup of festivals celebrating music, food, and culture. From the Mostly Jazz Festival to the Birmingham Mela, discover events that bring communities together and boost the local economy.
00:00Summer in Birmingham isn't just a change in weather, it's a shift in tempo.
00:08From early June, music drifts through public parks, street corners fill with chatter and the smell of sizzling food catches you at every turn.
00:17Moseley Park's Mostly Jazz, Funk and Soul Festival runs from the 11th to the 13th of July.
00:24It's one of the city's most established music events showcasing both international talent and home-grown acts.
00:30The setting alone makes it worth the visit, a private tree-lined park you wouldn't know existed unless someone told you.
00:37So, not far from there, Victoria Square will transform for the Colmore Food Festival on the 4th and 5th of July.
00:44It's a chance for local restaurants to get out of the kitchen and onto the streets, in a city where hospitality jobs have taken a knock in recent years.
00:53It also puts a spotlight on the sector's recovery.
00:56The following weekend, the 12th of July, Digbuff Place hosted the Birmingham Craft Brew Festival.
01:02Independent breweries from around the UK set up shop at the Custard Factory, offering pints and tasters alongside street food and DJs.
01:10With tap rooms booming post-lockdown, this one's much about industry as it is about fun.
01:17Then there's the Birmingham Mellor on the 19th and 20th of July in Smedic.
01:22It's billed as the UK's biggest South Asian festival and it earns the title.
01:27Music, dance, food and community stalls cover every inch of the park.
01:31For many Brummies, it's the social highlight of the year.
01:34The same weekend, Solihull Summerfest brings Pop and Indy to Tudor Grange Park.
01:40Not technically Birmingham, but it might as well be.
01:43It draws a strong local crowd and again, you'll see everything from small traders to security crews getting a slice of the seasonal economy.
01:52Looking ahead to August, the Perk Summer Series lands at the new Irish Centre.
01:58On the 23rd and 24th, expect Irish folk legends, community groups and a festival atmosphere that nods to Birmingham's deep Irish roots.
02:07These kind of events aren't just nostalgic, they remind us where the city's working class character was forged.
02:13June has its moments too. The Summer Festival of Music, hosted by the University of Birmingham from the 8th to the 26th, blends orchestras, folk and choral performances across a mix of venues.
02:26It's a reminder that not all live music needs amps and lasers to leave an impact.
02:31Meanwhile, Herbert's Yard in Lungbridge is offering a steady run of outdoor dining and casual gigs throughout the summer.
02:38It's the sort of spot that embodies the shift towards smaller, community focused events.
02:44No frills, just food, music and a place to sit.
02:50Together, these events shape a summer that isn't just for fun.
02:53It's a living, breathing map of what this city is proud of.
02:58the Durham, so we'd like to invite him to begin.
