by Dave Massey twitter.com/BrumHour
Twelve things to do in Birmingham in July
July in Birmingham, it could be worse, the kids could be off… Oh..
LEGO Discovery Centre Birmingham (From 5th July)
Arena Birmingham, King Edwards Rd, Birmingham B1 2AA
#BrumHour was a LEGO obsessed kid in the 80s, so much so, that my parents still have a LEGO replica of their 1970s house in their house!
There’s just one technical hitch when it comes to visiting the brand new LEGO Discovery Centre. which opens from 5th July at Arena Birmingham: You need to have a kid with you to enter!
The key focus of LEGO is of course getting kids to be creative, and this adventure will be just perfect for doing this. Adults, look out for the Adult Fans of LEGO (AFOL) special evenings throughout the year.
The LEGO Store at LEGOLAND Discovery Centre Birmingham opens Friday 29th June 4pm-7pm.
Book tickets here: birmingham.legolanddiscoverycentre.co.uk
Matilda (From 3rd July-8th September)
Birmingham Hippodrome, Hurst Street, Southside, Birmingham B5 4TB
Listen up Maggots! Roald Dahl’s child genius Matilda is in Birmingham until the end of the summer holidays along with mean headmistress Miss Trunchbull in Dennis Kelly and Tim Minchin’s multi award-winning musical adaptation of the much loved children’s book.
Tickets here: birminghamhippodrome.com/calendar/matildathemusical
BE Festival (3rd-7th July)
Birmingham Repertory Theatre, Broad Street, Birmingham B1 2EP
BE Festival (Birmingham European Festival) has become a staple in the annual Birmingham festival calendar and presents a “daring and innovative” programme of events across the week.
Find out more about the BE Festival 2018 festival here: befestival.org
Vladimír Kokolia – Epiphany (4th July-9 September)
Ikon Gallery, 1 Oozells Square, Brindleyplace, Birmingham B1 2HS
#BrumHour loves Ikon Gallery with its versatile gallery zones in a converted school. This summer sees the first UK exhibition by Czech artist Vladimír Kokolia and features several works from 2018 as well as older paintings.
Find out more here: ikon-gallery.org/event/vladimir-kokolia
Colmore Food Festival (6th-7th July)
Victoria Square, Birmingham B1 1BD
From Birmingham’s independent cafes, bars and restaurant such as Bar Opus, Chung Ying Central, Java Lounge, and Edwardian Tea Rooms plus Michelin starred Purnell’s Restaurant to national chains including The Square Peg (Wetherspoons), Starbucks, and Hotel Du Vin. Colmore Food Festival encompases great venues from across the Colmore Business District (ColmoreBID).
This year the festival is joined, for the first time by Coffee #1, Hookway’s, Loki Wine, Pinchos, Wayland’s Yard plus Michelin starred Adam’s Restaurant.
Here’s the 2017 Colmore Food Festival Video
Read more about the Colmore Food Festival here: colmorefoodfestival.com
EdinBrum (6th, 12th, 19th 26th July)
MAC Birmingham (Midlands Art Centre), Cannon Hill Park, Queen’s Ride, Birmingham B12 9QH
Prior to arriving at Edinburgh in August, MAC Birmingham plays host to a series of comedy nights on the first Friday and then subsequent Thursdays in July. Featuring:
Friday 6th July: Jo Caulfield and Hal Cruttenden, Thursday 12th July: Nick Doody and Jenny Collier, Thursday 19th July: Larry Dean and Mat Ewins, Thursday 26th July: Paul Sinha and Laura Lexx.
Also at MAC Birmingham Friday 13th July: Mrs Barbara Nice with Barbara Nice’s Summer Special with support from Clinton Baptiste.
Check out MAC Birmingham comedy page for details of these and upcoming comedy gigs: macbirmingham.co.uk/whats-on/comedy
Birmingham Cocktail Weekend (13th-15th July)
Venues across central Birmingham.
Birmingham Cocktail Weekend is BACK!
Buy a wristband online and collect it from The Edinburgh Gin Hub at Mailbox Birmingham and then head out to one of FORTY venues across our great city of Birmingham for specially created cocktails as special prices just for the weekend, including AC Hotels, The Birmingham Whisky Club, Buffalo and Rye, Gaucho, Malmaison, New Alexandra Theatre, The Pitcher and Piano, and Recess at Hilton Garden Inn.
Find out more here: birminghamcocktailweekend.co.uk
Birmingham Fest (13th-28th July)
Blue Orange Theatre, 118 Great Hampton Street, Birmingham B18 6AD and A E Harris, 109 – 138 Northwood Street, Birmingham B3 1SZ
Birmingham’s annual theatre festival Birmingham Fest returns for 2018 featuring, improv, music, comedy, poetry and spoken word including, Box of Frogs on Monday 16th July, and Poetry Slam by Ooh Behave! on Thursday 26th July.
Details here: birminghamfest.co.uk
Summer in Southside 2018 (14th-15th July)
Birmingham Hippodrome, Hurst Street, Southside, Birmingham B5 4TB
Summer in Southside is an annual free outdoor weekend festival of fun for all the family from Birmingham Hippodrome, including Pop-up performances, craft workshops, a picnic park, facepainting and street food.
More about Summer in Southside 2018 here: birminghamhippodrome.com/calendar/summer-southside-2018
Symphony Hall Inside Out (20th-21st July)
Symphony Hall, The ICC, Broad Street, Birmingham B1 2EA
If you think you know Symphony Hall then think again, from a Silent Disco in the VIP Lounge to conducting your own orchestra with The People’s Orchestra, there is also a gig in the Loading Bay with Gorillabot and food both days from Digbeth Dining Club.
Check out Symphony Hall Inside Out here: thsh.co.uk/whats-on/season/sh-inside-out
Birmingham Beer Week (20th-29th July)
Across Birmingham
Celebrating Birmingham’s beer scene and culture, Birmingham Beer Week is a typical Birmingham week in that it lasts ten days (like Birmingham Heritage Week). Last years Birmingham Beer week had 35 events across twenty venues and this year promises to be even bigger.
Find out more here: birminghambeerweek.uk
The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) (24th-28th July)
The Old Rep, 45 Station Street, Birmingham B5 4DY
Fun fact for you, The Old Rep, when it was Birmingham Repertory Theatre was the first stage in the world where Shakespeare was performed in “modern” day clothing.
The National Production Company presents The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged). 37 plays in about two hours!
Book tickets here.
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