Tag: Celebrate Erdington

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CELEBRATE ERDINGTON: Erdington High Street Community Market is back on Saturday 26 September – 10am to 4pm

Words by Ed King

Erdington High Street Community Market is coming back to the Town Centre on Saturday 26 September, held on the pedestrianised area by Wilton Market and B&M Superstore – from 10am to 4pm.

Stalls will be presenting a range of unique and handcrafted items, with a chance to pick up something special that you won’t find in the shops.

Regular and new traders will be selling items from originally designed and handmade jewellery to vibrant clothing lines, crystals and healing goods, original artwork from local artists, colourful and crocheted gifts from local crafters, and homemade treats and sweets from local bakers.

Stall selling crystals and well being goods at Erdington High Street Community Market / Photograph by Ilona Zielinska

There will be lots of free children’s activities at the High Street Market too, with a free bouncy castle, arts and crafts workshops from Arts All over the Place, facepainting and glitter tattoos, henna and mehndi designs, and the return of the popular inflatable football shooting range.

Community groups including Erdington litter Busters, Aquarius, and Surgeons Children’s Trust will also be hosting stalls offering advice, guidance, and links to local services – with some fun engagement activities for younger children.

Children playing on bouncy castle at Erdington High Street Community Market / Photograph by Ilona Zielinska

Live music will also be played throughout the market day, with the popular steel pan drummer The Mighty Jamma back on the High Street – celebrating the end of the summer with reggae classics and pop tunes with a calypso twist.

Organised by the Erdington Business Improvement District (BID), the Erdington High Street Community Markets have been running since February 2026 – held on last Saturday of every month.

A couple browsing the stalls at Erdington High Street Community Market / Photograph by Ilona Zielinska

The events are part of the CELEBRATE ERDINGTON and LOVE YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY campaigns, to encourage positive use of the Town Centre and bring a lively programme and arts and culture to the High Street.

A spokesperson for Erdington BID explained: “Erdington Town Centre, as with much of Birmingham, has markets and stall traders at the heart of its history – but they are just as important today.

“Our monthly High Street Community Markets are a celebration of the skills, talent, and entrepreneurs that Erdington has – such as being the birthplace of the Hoodrich clothing international phenomenon.”

A couple browsing the stalls at Erdington High Street Community Market / Photograph by Ilona Zielinska

They added: “Plus, they’re just a whole lot of fun – with some truly unique purchases on offer, crafts you won’t find anywhere else, and a load of free children’s game and activities.

“They’re a great way to spend your Saturday, to support and love your local community, and we really hope to see as many people as possible on the High Street again this month.”

CELEBRATE ERDINGTON will also be hosting a weeklong festival of events and activities all across the Town Centre from Tuesday 27 October to Saturday 31 October – giving local families something free and fun to do during the half term holidays.

Watch out for more CELEBRATE ERDINGTON events being announced through the pages of Erdington Local and on the CELBRATE ERDINGTON Facebook page – click here.

A couple enjoying a hot drink at Erdington High Street Community Market / Photograph by Ilona Zielinska

CELEBRATE ERDINGTON is supported by the Cultural Action Area, Birmingham City Council, and the West Midlands Combine Authority.

PICTURE GALLERY: Erdington High Street Community Markets / Photographs by Ilona Zielinska, Ed King, Darren Dodd, and Bianca Pirvuceanu

Erdington High Street Community Markets are held on the last Saturday of every month, on the pedestrianised area outside Wilton Market and B&M Superstore, with the next event scheduled for 26 September – running from 10am to 4pm.

For more information on the Erdington High Street Community Markets and other events held across the Town Centre, visit: www.facebook.com/CelebrateErdington

 

 

 

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NEWS: Volunteers wanted for Central Square clean up and hand crafts decorations – 12noon on Thursday 24 September

Frontage of Central Square shopping centre on Erdingotn High Street / Photograph by Ed King

Words by Ed King

Erdington Business Improvement District (BID) is calling out for volunteers to help with a clean up of the Central Square atrium on Thursday 24 September – starting from 12 noon.

If you have a couple of hours to spare, and would like to help make the High Street a bit brighter anc cleaner, then please head over to Central Square at midday on Thursday – or email Erdington BID at: erdingtonhighstreet@hotmail.co.uk

The Central Square clean up team will be sweeping up rubbish from the concourse, wiping down the pillars, and putting up battery powered fairy and festoon lighting.

Hand crafted decorations made by Arts All Over the Place / Photograph by Ed King

Once cleared, the BID and any volunteers will then assist Arts All Over the Place – a local arts and crafts group – to hang handmade decorations they have been producing in weekly workshops at their community space in Central Square and from the High Street Hut outside Wilton Market.

All equipment will be provided, and Erdington BID will arrange for light refreshments for all volunteers from shops and outlets on Erdington High Street – such as House of Chai or the recently opened Love Patties.

Hand crafted decorations made by Arts All Over the Place / Photograph by Ed King

A spokesperson for Erdington BID told: “Sometimes a good clean up can make a place that feels forgotten come back to life, and we want to see Central Square become the hive of activity that it once was. So come and join us – great a broom and a bin bag and let’s do something positive.”

They added: “Erdington High Street is facing two possible futures, and we firmly believe there is enough community spirit to make it a bright one. But we need to chip in; we need to see and say the positive more than the negatives. And if we do it together it will transform our Town Centre.”

CELEBRATE ERDINGTON – events and activities across the Town Centre from 27-31 October

The Central Square clean up and hand craft decorations are part in preparation for a weeklong programme of events and activities taking place at Central Square from Tuesday 27 to Saturday 31 October, as part of the CELEBRATE ERDINGTON October programme.

Arts and crats workshop at the High Street Hut – led by Arts All Over the Place, as part of the CELEBRATE ERDINGTON programme of events and activities / Photograph by Ed King

CELEBRATE ERDINGON events will also be taking place at St Barnabas Church, Oikos Café, the High Street Hut, and on the wider pedestrianised area from B&M down to the Village Green.

On Saturday 31 October, there will also be a special Halloween themed High Street Community Market – with a friendly competition for the best dressed ghouls and goblins.

Poster for weekly arts and crafts sessions at the High Street Hut – led by Arts All Over the Place, as part of the CELEBRATE ERDINGTON programme of events / Photograph by Ed King

CELEBRATE ERDINGTON is a campaign to encourage positive engagement around Erdington Town Centre – led by Erdington BID and supported by local community groups and partners including Erdington Lunar Society, Erdington Artists Conversations, Erdington Arts Forum, PFG Consultancy, and Arts All Over the Place.

CELEBRATE ERDINGTON is further supported by Birmingham City Council and the West Midlands Combined Authority.

Follow the CELEBRATE ERDINGTON campaign on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/CelebrateErdington

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LOCAL AMBASSADORS: Free creative writing and community journalism workshop – Saturday 26 September, from 11am to 1pm

Words by Ed King

Erdington Local is expanding its LOCAL AMBASSAODRS team and will be looking for new members to join their free monthly creative writing and community journalism workshops.

Held at Oikos Café on Erdington High Street, on the last Saturday of each month – between 11am and 1pm, the next LOCAL AMBASSADORS workshop will be on Saturday 26 September.

The workshops are completely free, and no previous experience is necessary – just a keen interest in creative writing, journalism, and media.

All ages are welcome to attend the LOCAL AMBASSADORS workshops, although under 16s will be asked to attend with adult supervision.

Places are limited and will be allocated ahead of each workshop, with free refreshments provided.

Click here to contact the LOCAL AMBASSADORS team and reserve your spot.

The Erdington LOCAL AMBASADORS are a group of writers and creatives who are regularly published in the Erdington Local monthly newspaper – submitting stories and features about everything from UFOs and gothic fiction to local profiles, local sports teams, mental health, community events and activism.

The monthly workshops are led by Portland Jones, who currently writes a regular series in the Erdington Local monthly newspaper about living with unseen disabilities – as well as working with new and emerging writers, helping them shape their stories and navigate the editing process.

LOCAL AMBASSADORS pages in Erdington Local – May to June ’26 edition

Portland lives with prosopagnosia – a serious memory impairment she now has after suffering an undiagnosed stroke – and also runs the Inkwell Writing Group, using creative writing to help people in recovery.

During the LOCAL AMBASSADORS workshops, Portland will help those taking part to find what interests them – and learn how to tell their stories to other, in a way that grabs a reader’s attention.

Inviting people to join the workshops, Portland explains: “Your voice matters. Get involved by writing for your local newspaper and help shine a light on the people, places, stories, and issues that matter most in your community.”

She adds: “You will find out how to spot local stories that matter, how to write clear news reports and community features, understand the basics of local journalism, and work with others to celebrate and support your area.

“Meet new people, build your confidence, and tell the stories that make our community special.”

LOCAL AMBASSADORS pages in Erdington Local – August, September ’26 edition

The LOCAL AMBASSDORS workshops will also feature guest speakers from the local media and creative industries, as well as a look at the history of news and journalism and where digital media could take journalism in the future.

There will also be practical exercises with attendees set mini-assignments, where the LOCAL AMBASSADORS will go out and actually report on a local news story.

There will also be a chance to have your work published in the Erdington Local monthly newspaper, helping to build a portfolio for anyone looking to take their writing and journalism to a more professional level.

Oikos Cafe on Erdington High Street / Photograph by Ed King

LOCAL AMBASSADORS is hosting its monthly workshops at Oikos Café on Erdington High Street to support the CELEBRATE ERDINGTON and LOVE YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY campaigns – encouraging positive engagement in Erdington Town Centre.

For more information, or to secure a place at the LOCAL AMBASSAODRS workshop on Saturday 26 September email: la@erdingtonlocal.com 

Follow the CELEBRATE ERDINGTON campaign on Facebook: @CelebrateErdington

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NEWS: Erdington High Street Community Market cancelled due to severe weather warnings

Words by Ed King

Erdington High Street Community Market has cancelled its event on Saturday 29 August.

The decision was made by Erdington Business Improvement District (BID) – who organises the monthly markets – after severe weather warnings from the Met Office and various forecasters.

Several outlets have been warning of severe weather conditions throughout the week, with the Met Office issuing rolling warnings against potential flooding, thunderstorms, and winds reaching up to 45 kmph.

Severe weather warning sign with lightning cloud / Image taken from Adobe Stock Images

Stall holders were contacted earlier today (Friday 28 August) after days of organisers monitoring the weather and exploring potential sites to relocate the event. But in the interest of public safety, it was decided to cancel the August event – with the next Erdington High Street Community Market scheduled for Saturday 26 September.

A spokesperson for the Erdington BID told: “It’s been a difficult decision to cancel, but after consulting with our stall holders and events team we’ve concluded that the weather could be too much of a safety concern or deterrent.

“This is the first time we’ve ever had to cancel hosting something on the High Street since we started our new programme of community events in February 2025. It feels awful to think we won’t be there on Saturday [29 August] but the forecasts are really bad.”

A dramatic silhouette of modern structures under a menacing sky / Image taken from Adobe Stock Images

They added: “We will be back with the Erdington High Street Community Market on Saturday 26 September, and we’re lining up alternative locations if we have such bad weather forecast again.

“Plus, we’ve got a lot more events planned up and down the High Street from September and across the months running to Christmas, and we hope to see everyone back on the High Street soon.”

A red umbrella turned inside out and torn by strong winds / Image taken from Adobe Stock Images

Organised as part of Erdington BID’s Celebrate Erdington and LOVE YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY campaigns, to encourage positive use of the Town Centre and bring a lively programme and arts and culture to the High Street, the Erdington High Street Community Markets have been running since February 2026 – held on the last Saturday of every month.

Erdington BID is also working with several local community groups and stakeholders on their events programme, promoting the pedestrianised area of the High Street as the new ‘Erdington Creative Quarter’ – with support from Birmingham City Council and the West Midlands Combined Authority.

For more information on the Erdington High Street Community Markets and other events held across the Town Centre, visit: www.facebook.com/CelebrateErdington

 

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NEWS: Erdington High Street Community Market on Saturday 29 August – 10am to 4pm

Words by Ed King

Erdington High Street Community Market will be hosting its next event on Saturday 29 August, bringing an array of stalls and free family entertainment to Erdington Town Centre.

Running from 10am to 4pm, local stall holders will be selling handcrafted gifts, unique clothing lines, original artwork, children’s toys, homemade baked treats, and much more.

Community groups including Erdington litter Busters, Erdington Artists Conversations, Aquarius, Erdington Local/Local Ambassadors, Arts All Over the Place, and Kharis Church will be hosting stalls offering advice, guidance, and links to local services.

Erdington High Street Community Market / Photograph by Ilona Zielinska

And The Mighty Jamma will be back, playing live steel pan drums throughout the event – sending the summer out in style with a day of reggae classics and pop tunes with a calypso twist.

There will also be loads of free children’s games and activities, including a bouncy castle, an inflatable football shoot out, facepainting and glitter tattoos, henna and mehndi designs, kids karaoke session, and arts and crafts workshops.

All the children’s games and activities are completely free and suitable for a variety of ages – although the bouncy castle is reserved for younger children only.

Erdington High Street Community Market / Photograph by Ilona Zielinska

Organised by the Erdington Business Improvement District (BID), the Erdington High Street Community Markets have been running since February 2026 – held on the High Street between Wilton Market and B&M Superstore, on the last Saturday of every month.

The events are part of the Celebrate Erdington and LOVE YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY campaigns, to encourage positive use of the Town Centre and bring a lively programme and arts and culture to the High Street.

Erdington High Street Community Market / Photograph by Ilona Zielinska

A spokesperson for Erdington BID explained: “Erdington Town Centre, as with much of Birmingham, has markets and stall traders at the heart of its history – but they are just as important today.

“Our monthly High Street Community Markets are a celebration of the skills, talent, and entrepreneurs that Erdington has – such as being the birthplace of the Hoodrich clothing international phenomenon.”

Erdington High Street Community Market / Photograph by Ilona Zielinska

They added: “Plus, they’re just a whole lot of fun – with some truly unique purchases on offer, crafts you won’t find anywhere else, and a load of free children’s game and activities.

“They’re a great way to spend your Saturday, to support and love your local community, and we really hope to see as many people as possible on the High Street again this month.”

Erdington High Street Community Market / Photograph by Ilona Zielinska

Several local community groups and stakeholders are promoting the pedestrianised area as the new ‘Erdington Creative Quarter’ – with support from Birmingham City Council and the West Midlands Combined Authority – and have plans to host regular events and activities on the High Street.

Watch out for more events being announced in across Erdington Tonw Centre from September, with a special programme of Christmas events and activities to follow.

PICTURE GALLERY: Erdington High Street Community Markets / Photographs by Ilona Zielinska, Ed King, Darren Dodd, and Bianca Pirvuceanu

Erdington High Street Community Markets are held on the last Saturday of every month, on the pedestrianised area outside Wilton Market and B&M Superstore.

The next Erdington High Street Community Market is scheduled for 29 August – running from 10am to 4pm.

For more information on the Erdington High Street Community Markets and other events held across the Town Centre, visit: www.facebook.com/CelebrateErdington