Not sure what things to do in Birmingham this weekend? Well, whatever the weather’s like, however your mood is, we’ll always have you covered here at Secret Birmingham. Be it the best restaurants and gigs, cultural events, or bottomless brunches, we’ve got your weekend sorted below.
Big, bold and budget-friendly: Birmingham Weekender brings large-scale performances, creative installations and accessible programming to the city centre across the bank holiday weekend — all free to attend. Events will take place across landmarks including the Bullring, Victoria Square and New Street Station, produced by Birmingham Hippodrome in partnership with Global Streets and Without Walls.
If you fancy a mini adventure just outside Birmingham this weekend, head to Telford for hundreds of hot air balloons, night glows and family activities. The annual Telford Balloon Fiesta fills the skies over Telford Town Park’s QEII Arena with night glows, aerial displays, music, KidsZone and a community carnival on Sunday. Most activities are free, while Friday’s Night Glow requires a low‑cost ticket.
Go screen-free and lose yourself in 11 hours of music in a hidden Warwickshire woodland. Off Grid is a one-day electronic music festival taking place in a secluded Warwickshire woodland near Sutton Coldfield, featuring live sets from artists including Hannah Wants, Todd Edwards, Sam Divine and Majestic.
Take an immersive journey into Ancient Egypt at the NEC, at an exhibition which blends virtual reality experiences with immersive storytelling and authentic artefacts. The award-winning Tutankhamun exhibition (endorsed by British Egyptologist Dr Chris Naunton) is only in town until 13 September and this weekend is the last weekend you’ll get extra summer holiday activities included as part of your ticket price.
Catch free CBSO performances around Birmingham. If you fancy something a little different for your weekend plans, the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra returns for a city-wide takeover, with free pop-up performances across libraries, museums, the Botanical Gardens, the Bullring, and New Street Station. Plus, attend and pick up golden tickets that let you book a real concert for just £1.
Taste award‑winning Pershore plums and enjoy live music, classic cars and family fun on August bank holiday Monday. Swap the city for a summery day out to the Pershore Plum Festival celebrating the Vale of Evesham’s famous plum varieties with market stalls, cookery demos, live music, fairground rides and a classic car show. The event stretches from Abbey Park to Broad Street and includes month-long lead-up activities such as a shop-window competition and motorbike display.
If you fancy swapping the city buzz for something a little more floral, hundreds of thousands of dahlias will bloom at Webbs Garden Centre this weekend — an immersive PYO flower and picnic experience amid 60+ varieties. Flora Fields will showcase an estimated 200,000 flowers across the season. The immersive site offers PYO flowers, photographic installations, seasonal picnics, masterclasses and special events through the summer.
A playful ‘fictional museum’ that blurs Birmingham’s documented history and local folklore. The Museum of BAM is a new exhibition at nook gallery in Kings Heath that blends real and fabricated photographs, films and objects. It is free to visit, while limited-edition prints and a catalogue are available to buy. Highlights include a VHS of Birmingham’s first recorded bab, a dolphin ornament that may or may not have been donated by Joe Lycett, and a 35mm slide of an ‘Escaped Lion at the Lickey Hills’.
The beloved musical adaptation of ‘Mrs. Doubtfire’ is set to tour the UK and Ireland, launching at the Birmingham Hippodrome. The show promises to deliver a mix of cherished moments from the original film and exciting new music. With performances also planned in cities including Newcastle, Plymouth, and Glasgow, this heartwarming and hilarious production is sure to entertain families across the country.
Society is launching a month-long Beer Passport across August, inviting guests to sample six beer stops from its 38-tap lineup. Completed passports earn a complimentary pint and entry into a prize draw.
If your weekend plans involve eating well, pencil this one in for the weeks ahead: Birmingham Restaurant Festival returns for the whole month of August to make eating out more accessible for all. With 60 participating restaurants taking part—including the Michelin-starred Adam’s and The Wilderness—tuck into exclusive, great-value dinners and lunches from some of Birmingham’s best restaurants. Just book your table at as many participating restaurants as you like to take advantage of these exclusive menus.
