Words by Erdington Local editorial team
Erdington High Street will be hosting a series of free events and activities from Tuesday 27 to Saturday 31 October, as part of a weeklong programme to give local families, shoppers, and visitors to the Town Centre something to do across the half term holidays.
Arts and crafts sessions, creative writing workshops, poetry workshops, free face painting, free portrait illustrations, a live music jam, a local history slide show, and stalls from local crafters and traders will be just part of what’s happening – with pop up events in Central Square and around the High Street Hut, outside the entrance to Wilton Market.
Locals can also contribute to the A to Z of Erdington, which is being compiled by PFG Consultancy and will be released as a coffee table book and online gallery in the New Year, at daily workshops being held by the High Street Hut from 12noon to 4pm.
There will also be free teas and coffees at both locations each day, with hot food also being served at Central Square – encouraging Erdington locals to sit and socialise on the High Street, whilst enjoying the free entertainment.
The week will culminate in a special Halloween themed High Street Community Market, taking place on the pedestrianised area between B&M and the Village Green – with stalls from local traders and community groups, alongside a range of free children’s activities.
For a full breakdown of what’s happening and where, see below – or visit www.facebook.com/celebrateerdington for more details.
Starting from 11am and running until 4pm, the events are being promoted as part of the Celebrate Erdington campaign – led by the Erdington Business Improvement District (BID) to promote the Town Centre.
(Read Erdington Local’s recent feature on the Celebrate Erdington campaign – click here.)
Programmed by community arts and wellbeing group, Arts All Over the Place, many of the Celebrate Erdington events will be led by local people, such as Erdington poet Joe Cook and musician Jan Stachula – showcasing the creative and community talent Erdington has on doorstep.
Aside from providing free entertainment and fun reasons to visit the High Street, Celebrate Erdington wants to increase the positivity about Erdington Town Centre and the wider constituency.
Edington Town Centre Manager, Ed King, told: “Celebrate Erdington is a call to arms to do just that, to champion our local area – and show people Erdington Town Centre has a vibrant community at its heart.
“We’ve been running events in Erdington Town Centre for years and they are endorsed and enjoyed by the thousands who have come and spent an afternoon with us on the High Street.
“And whilst the echo chamber of negativity, mostly online and via social media, can be a loud distraction, Celebrate Erdington is our even louder response to that – and help fill in the blank spaces with free, family friendly, fun. Especially during the holidays.”
Celebrate Erdington is led by Erdington BID and Arts All Over the Place – working with Cultural Action Area partners including PFG Consultancy, Erdington Lunar Society, Erdington Arts Forum, Ceol Agency, Erdington Artists Conversations and Erdington Local.
Celebrate Erdington is further supported by Birmingham City Council and the West Midlands Combined Authority.
Celebrate Erdington – events programme (all listed events are free)
Tuesday 27 October:
- 11am – 1pm / Free arts and craft session (Central Square)
- 11am – 3pm / Biscuit decorating workshop (Central Square)
- 11am – 3pm / Outdoor art exhibition (Central Square)
- 1pm – 3pm / Poetry workshop (Central Square)
- 12noon – 4pm / Free facepainting and henna decorations (High Street Hut)
- 12noon – 4pm / A to Z of Erdington workshop (High Street Hut)
- 12noon – 4pm / Stalls from local traders and community groups (High Street Hut)
Free teas and coffees available at both Central Square and the High Street Hut
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Wednesday 28 October:
- 11am – 1pm / Free arts and craft session (Central Square)
- 11am – 3pm / Nature crafts workshop (Central Square)
- 11am – 3pm / Outdoor art exhibition (Central Square)
- 1pm – 3pm / Drama and creative writing workshop (Central Square)
- 12noon – 4pm / Free facepainting and henna decorations (High Street Hut)
- 12noon – 4pm / A to Z of Erdington workshop (High Street Hut)
- 12noon – 4pm / Free portrait illustrations by local artists Nicholas Sims (High Street Hut)
- 12noon – 4pm / Stalls from local traders and community groups (High Street Hut)
- 5:30pm – 7:30pm / Celebrate Erdington drinks reception – with classical music and soprano performance from Jeanne Conard Jones (St Barnabas Church – a ticket only event)
Free teas and coffees available at both Central Square and the High Street Hut
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Thursday 28 October:
- 11am – 1pm / Free arts and craft session (Central Square)
- 11am – 3pm / Biscuit decorating workshop (Central Square)
- 11am – 3pm / Outdoor art exhibition (Central Square)
- 1pm – 3pm / Pottery workshop (Central Square)
- 12noon – 4pm / Free facepainting and henna decorations (High Street Hut)
- 12noon – 4pm / A to Z of Erdington workshop (High Street Hut)
- 12noon – 4pm / Stalls from local traders and community groups (High Street Hut)
- 6pm – 8pm / Local history slide show (Central Square)
Free teas and coffees available at both Central Square and the High Street Hut
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Friday 28 October:
- 11am – 1pm / Free arts and craft session (Central Square)
- 11am – 3pm / Biscuit decorating workshop (Central Square)
- 11am – 3pm / Outdoor art exhibition (Central Square)
- 1pm – 3pm / Music workshop (Central Square)
- 12noon – 4pm / Free facepainting and henna decorations (High Street Hut)
- 12noon – 4pm / A to Z of Erdington workshop (High Street Hut)
- 12noon – 4pm / Stalls from local traders and community groups (High Street Hut)
- 6pm – 8pm / Live music open mic and jam session (Central Square)
Free teas and coffees available at both Central Square and the High Street Hut
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Saturday 28 October:
- 10am – 5pm / Erdington High Street Community Market Halloween Special – with stalls from local traders, community groups, face painting, a bouncy castle, arts and crafts, street games, dance workshop, biscuit decorating workshop, and more (pedestrianised area between B&M and the Village Green)
To find out more visit www.facebook.com/CelebrateErdington
