I did not expect this to be such a great and well organised event....plus there was A LOT of free…read moresamples all over the place to keep us all more than entertained. From rum, to reggae reggae and from sparkling wine to scratchings it really was all covered here! I must have had every flavour of the scratching going.... special shouts to the guy that was selling those they were AMAZING. The only slight downside of this event was the £3 charge to take money out of the cash machines. If this had been less I probably would have walked away with more food but i'm not paying £3 for money....no way. 1.65 annoys me.....£3 is out of the question. Apart from the cash machine gripe....amazing atmosphere, good selection of traders, friendly people and lovely food. This is a winning event and one i will definitely be attending next year.

I had seen a lot about the Foodies festival coming to Birmingham before the fact, but I didn't…read morequite know what it would be like. Having visited the Birmingham Good Food Show, Birmingham Independent Food Fair and lots of other events - I have been to my fair share of festivals, but these guys were an unknown quantity. First, a little bit of information. The Foodies Festival has a great website where you can get a taste of the vendors on offer and the talks that run throughout the day. They were offering guided alcohol tastings, cooking demonstrations and a mix of local and international brands included in the ticket price (many of the demos were bookable before the day) and a choice of ticket package. Basic (including a show guide, entry and a chance to book tastings/talks) to VIP (which offered many other benefits including some freebies and a special VIP area only accessible with the wristband). Tickets varied in price, but seemed very reasonable for the range of things they were offering. The festival ran from Friday until Sunday in Birmingham's own Cannon Hill Park. We decided to head down on Saturday to see what it was all about. Parking (as per usual with Cannon Hill on a weekend) was mental and somewhat exasperated with the increase in the number of people heading there for the festival. As a top tip, grab a bus or a cab. If you want to make the most of the tastings and stalls, driving wouldn't be recommended anyway. As we only had an hour and a half (and a wedding to go to in the afternoon), we drove up just after 11am and manage to sneakily pop in a space near the nature centre. After getting through the gates, we were pleasantly surprised with the scale of the festival and the variety on offer. With recognisable Birmingham brands in attendance (such as Pip's hot sauce, Mrs Mills Cakes and Tan Rosie) and larger brands (such as Tabasco and Deliveroo), there was a fair amount of choice of stands to wander around. In terms of street food, you could choose from a vast choice of healthy, vegetarian, meaty and junky stands which were priced reasonably (considering the event). In terms of drinks, again, a good choice of local and international brands had a stall. You could have gin cocktails from an art deco jazz tent, cocktails served from a horse box, Pimms from a giant teapot and Captain Morgans from a pirate ship (amongst others). Apparently the processco and champagne stand was a hit, but we couldn't have too much as we had a busy day ahead. I opted for a gin cocktail from Langley's and a half pint from the local boys (Two Towers) as well as a delicious burger from Gone Burger (who we had previously tried at UK Burger Battle). We didn't catch any of the talks over the day, but it seemed like these went down well and were very popular. If this festival comes back next year, I would thoroughly recommend a visit. Food, sunshine, drinks and a great crowd. I was mightily impressed with my first "Foodies Festival" experience and wish we could have had longer to enjoy it.

If you like beer....sausage and dancing on tables this is definitely your jam....lovely times last…read morenight with some mates at brums Oktoberfest. This is exactly what you expect from a celebration of this sort...loads of Lang table, slightly over priced beer and food and VERY German music played live and by the coolest of looking djs....all very confusing but definitely added to the vibe. The beer we had was spot on as was the bratwurst and sourkrout....the tent was really impressive as was the setting of cannon hill park....the service was also friendly and attentive once they got in the swing if things....just remember your wallet as this is not he cheapest of evenings if you are planning a big drink....of massively oversized beers. Why can't all beers be a pint and a half!!

It was a rather pleasant Sunday afternoon when a bunch of 20 'Yelpers' descended upon a tent, in a…read morerather muddy carpark. It was also the day of the Bupa half-marathon. As such, many of the roads around Cannon Hill Park were blocked. I decided to avoid the traffic and walk the 2.5 miles from Harborne. After a couple of miner trespass issues, I found myself one of the first to arrive, and ashamedly felt rather smug at hearing of people's traffic woes. "Oktoberfest on 20th October* surely that's too late?" I hear you cry. Well, Brum's Oktoberfest have been running this event every weekend in a different city for the last month. I believe the Birmingham one is the end of their 'tour'. Entrance was free on Wednesday, £5 on Thursday, Friday and Sunday, and a whopping £10 on the Saturday. We (or rather Vicky O as CM) however, managed to blag some free tickets to the Sunday session. On entering we were greeted by buxom young women. It was later commented that their employment process probably included a series of questions involving 'hair colour' and 'cup size'. The tent housed long wooden tables with Bavarian blue and white diamond check print plastic tablecloths. The 'serving wenches' (I apologise if you feel I'm being sexist, but I'm trying to represent the sexist nature I felt in the organisation of the event) all had numbers on their backs. However in the VIP area, we served by a pleasant gentleman in a t-shirt (no lederhosen for him). Being in the VIP section meant that we were close to the stage, with a dance floor and had mud covered wood under our feet rather than just the bare mud. We're obviously here for some beer drinking. They serve only one beer, which is an Oktoberfest style from 'Festival Brew'. It costs £3 for a half pint, £8.50 for 1.5pt or £11 for a 2pt pour. Note no standard 1pint measure. There were also cider and wine available, but I didn't really pay attention to those. The beer was served in plastic jugs. Which is disappointing, but necessary at these kinda events, in case it all kicks off. Unsurprisingly, there have been lots of people posting how 'ripped off' they felt from the event. It has rained quite a lot recently. Ok so paying premium prices to sit at a rickety table, under a tent, in a muddy puddle filled carpark, is not everyone's idea of fun. The food was basically bratwurst, with fries or sauerkraut, and pretzels. There was a weisswurst on the menu but I didn't see anyone having this. They possibly missed a trick by not serving currywurst. I think currywurst would go down really well with British punters. I like currywurst, I might make currywurst for dinner tonight. Mmmm #currywurst The music drifted between a band playing trad German songs and getting everyone to sway, to those classics one remembers from holiday entertainment discos in the 80s. In fact the event had an atmosphere of a family function about it. It was like your girlfriend's, brother's, wife's, uncle's wedding. Despite all the extortionate prices, the cheesy music and the mud, I found the event rather enjoyable. I'm not sure if this is down to the company, and we could have enjoyed ourselves anywhere else? Or if it was the booze, which I'm sure did help. Or does standing on a rickety bench whilst swaying back and forth really put a smile on anyone's mouth? There seemed to be a united Yelp rendition of 'You Could Be Mine'. After which, I decided that it was time to merrily walk back to Harborne. Stopping of for a pint on the way back. Advice to anyone looking at attending next year, or another similar elsewhere: * Don't go with any pretentions of getting an authentic Bavarian experience. * Wear comfy shoes that you don't mind being covered in mud. * Expect to pay large amount for the beer * Don't take any food or drink with you as they make you throw it away at the entrance * Loosen up and enjoy it for what it is Advice for the organisers: * Lower drinks prices - I would have probably stayed for more had it not been so expensive. * More toilets - there was reports of huge queues for both ladies and gents Saturday night. * British weather is wet, more ground covering is required. * Currywurst. *Munich's Oktoberfest runs from late September to the first Sunday in October. This year it finished on 4th October.

This is a community and arts festival that takes place in Moseley every late June/early July. I've…read morebeen here three years in a row now, and there seems to be more and more events each time. The main festival day clutters the streets of Moseley (and surrounding venues) with stalls and activities such as morris dancing and live cooking. The arts and crafts stalls are more on par with Moseley Arts Market (and some of the stall holders are often the same, which is a little bit of a let down for me.) Other stalls are set up by the community, selling car boot-type items such as toys and vinyl. It's a great place to hunt for hidden gems and sought after records. For me, the highlight of last year's fest took place in Moseley Park & Pool, where a free live jazz band played to chilled out visitors in the blaring sun. (If you get too hot, you can always cool down in the ice house underneath Moseley Park!). In addition to the main festival day, other venues open their doors for specific events throughout the seven days. These venues include Zen, Birmingham Buddhist Centre, O'Neils and The Fighting Cocks, which all put on unique celebrations, from yoga sessions to beer tasting. I think the most obscurest event as part of 'Moz fest' has to be ginger fest, which tooks place in The Prince of Wales a couple of year's back. It's a mini festival within a festival that allows red heads to unite. Let's hope it returns this year!

Local event based in the Moseley area, Moseley festival is quite a well-known event which occurs…read moreeach year. I've only been twice and both times I went to the festival I quite enjoyed it. The streets become jam packed and the residents from the area take part either by setting up a stall or taking to the streets. The fact that they have so many events which take place during the seven days; makes the festival more interesting. It can become a little repetitive each year but I guess many festivals similar to this become slightly repetitive too. When you attend the festival, be prepared to leave the event with at least an item you've purchased from one of the many stalls. You'll have a continuous temptation to buy something and you'll find many hidden treasures. When I last went, I bought a couple of things including some vintage looking candle holders. They were absolutely magnificent and I just couldn't resist. Also, if you do I recommend you take a look at all the other mini events taking place across the city in association with Moseley Festival.

Can't think of anywhere to take the kids over the summer holidays? But you still want to have a…read moregood time yourself? Then CoCoMAD Festival is definitely for you; And best of all, it's free (subject to donations for the bands and organisation). This yearly music festival takes place in Cotteridge park every July, and it's a very popular destination for families alike, who can lap up the sun while listening to some great local music. Well known Brummie band Misty's Big Adventure usually perform here (but I don't think they are this year), as well as returners Tempting Rosie, and other unmissable Birmingham talents. The general public are also invited every year to take part in the acoustic open mic tent, so the experience really does incorporate the whole community. There are also tonnes of activities for children to get involved in. such as folk instrument making, tree climbing, and a range of other events. CoCoMAD also houses several different arts and crafts stalls for kids and grown-ups alike, such as wood carvings, face painting and dark age jewellery. And of course, no festival would be complete without organic food stalls, from the likes of Soul Food Project and other local food specialists. I highly recommend the hog roast that can be purchased from the festival. It's truly delicious! CoCoMAD really does provide the perfect summery vibe, and it's always buzzing with people and vibrancy every year. The highlight of CoCoMAD is of course the float, which marks the beginning of the festival by circling roads surrounding the park. Children can get involved by help designing a float too!

This is one of my favourite annual events. It's an outdoor community festival set in the lovely…read moresurroundings of Cotteridge Park and it really does have something for everyone. The focal point is a main stage providing live music that ranges from local bands to church choirs, plus the occasional dance troupe or drumming act, which most of the visitors settle down in front of on rugs and with picnics. Around the outside of the park there are tens of stalls selling all kinds of different and interesting food, and also plenty of activity for the kids - face-painting, magic shows, balloons, etc. If the weather is nice this year when it's held in July I would heartily recommend spending an afternoon here. Great fun.

The Filipino Barrio Fiesta happens once a year during the summer days in Woodgate Valley's Country…read morePark. They provide a huge stage for karaoke singers, performances and other little treats that will entertain you during your visit to this cultural event. It lasts for a few days in which you can explore around the stools, try some Filipino delicacies, purchase clothing, buy exotic ingredients and just soak up all of the Philippines culture even if you're just passing through as it's open to all members of the public. It's very family friendly as they hire out bouncy castles, miniature rides and all sorts for a great family experience and generally just a far east cultural experience.

Well... Birmingham University... Being an Ex-UCE (now BCU) Graduate, I haven't actually had call to…read morevisit the campus very much in my 10 years in Birmingham. I have been down to see friends and head to "Astronomy Live!", but this week was my first trip to Bramall Music Building. First thing to note (if you haven't been before) is that the campus is gorgeous. Being an old "red brick" University, the architecture and greenery is something to behold (especially if you are used to a concrete jungle of a campus like my BCU Perry Barr). On the particular night we visited the sun was shining and the students were out on the grass playing with Poi and soaking up the last of the days rays. After meeting with friends at a coffee shop on site (it was a chain, unfortunately, so nothing to report there), we wandered through the Campus to the clock tower area. Bramall Music Building is a fairly new development on Campus (meaning it's been renovated to still be in keeping with the historic buildings surrounding it), so it's still clean, fresh and shiny. Upon entry through the glass doors you walk into a small (but perfectly formed) bar and seating area. The bar was serving bottled beers, wine, spirits, soft drinks and various snacks. Two bottled beers (Birra Morretti) at the venue was £7, which I didn't think was too bad considering it was a music venue. We grabbed out tickets and waited for the announcement to head in. Upon entry, I was struck by how much it was like Symphony Hall... Just much smaller. The staging area is very generous and the seating has been designed so everyone gets a decent view of the performance. There are two levels of seating, but again, you would get a brilliant visual and aural experience no matter where you are in the hall. We were there for a performance of the Mugenkyo Taiko Drummers on Tuesday night. The venue was designed for live drumming! Loud, clear and exciting - the performance was mind blowing. Even the artists themselves commented on how fantastic the venue was for live sound. The staff were also pretty good the whole time, although there was a bit of a mix up when it was announced there was to be "no Flash Photography" rather than "no photography" during the performance; hence my illicit photos. I might have had a tiny telling off! All in all, if there is a performance on that you fancy at Bramall, grab a ticket. It's hosting a whole range of different events over the next few months; so keep an eye out and immerse yourself in a treat for the ears!

I attended Birmingham uni a while ago but being a student of science I never ventured here but last…read morenight we attended the Mugenkyo Taiko drumming concert. The Elgar Concert Hall is very much like a mini Symphony Hall and the acoustics are first rate. The sound was all encompassing yet not overbearing, the staff friendly sorting out a confusing mis-print on our tickets with no fuss. The small bar and coffee area is well stocked and relatively reasonably priced. The major plus point for me was the seating. Normally I find I have major butt ache by the end of a concert or play but not so here! Kudos to the uni for considering the comfort of their patrons here!

The great thing about Yelp is that it's not always about stuffing our faces with food or trying out…read morefancy cocktails. There is the opportunity to experience a bit of culture as well, which Dan G. gave us tonight with tickets to the 'Best of BE FESTIVAL'. The tour has gone around the country showcasing some of the best award winning acts from last year as a teaser for the upcoming festival at the end of June. The event this evening was held in the Bramall Building on the campus of the University of Birmingham. We started things off with a chat with fellow Yelper Oli, who told us all about the festival. The event itself began at 7:30PM and featured the following three performers: 1. Grumelot theatre company: Staged #sobrejulieta, a one-woman version of Romeo and Juliet in English and Spanish. Very avant garde with the audience in the role of Romeo. 2. Squarehead Productions: Presented The Whistle, a circus/juggling act from Ireland. Our senses (and lack of) were used in the performance. 3. TIDA: Performed Quintetto, an Italian comedy theatre show that was put on mainly with audience members who hilariously controlled lighting, sound, and acting. After the three performances a Q&A with the performers took place followed by a debate on how Brexit would change UK and Eurpean arts. Overall, a fantastic and varied night of the intersection between artist and audience.

Really enjoyed tonight's performances. Was great to learn about BeFestival and see some of the best…read moreaward winning performances from previous years. Was great to see such a wonderful setting too on campus and the actual hall itself. There's nothing more fun then some audience participation. The performance art version of Romeo and Juliet was my personal favourite. Fantastic choreography and loved the part where she left the theatre. Lots of trying to figure out if it was live or shot before hand. I'm going with the intended meaning of it being live ha! Looking forward to the actual festival in July now!

If there's anywhere you should be at the beginning of September to celebrate the end of Summer it's…read moreThe Mosely Folk Festival! What a fantastic festival, if you want to soak up some cool vibes and chilled atmosphere it's situated off Mosely high street in Birmingham, down the side of an alley way is Mosely Park and where The Jazz and Folk Festival take place every summer. I've been going to the Mosely Folk Festival now every year since 2013, I was really skeptical regarding Folk music and thought it's all fiddles and banjos, old style folk songs and long fuzzy bearded men! but I've loved it ever since for its variety of old and new style folk, its community spirit and relaxed chilled atmosphere as well as the music. There's also been some unknown acts appear here who have made it into mainstream, one being Wolf Alice. I tend to go for the whole of the three day festival. Friday's are the cool trendy Folkers i.e. Mumford and sons style acts, Saturday is a combo of new and old and Sunday being the last day is more chilled and relaxed with traditional Folk and yes some fiddles! There's always some audience participation of a good ole Dosey Doh! In hay, music workshops or Morris Dancers around and anything goes with fashion. There are two seating areas on the grass; the rows in front of the two main stages are for blankets only and further back is for chairs. Along the sides of the seating areas are shops, a kids play area, face painting, cocktail bars, beer tents, street food vendors even a massage area Last year. The outside porta loos are also kept clean. All you need is a fold up chair, picnic blanket, hamper or rucksack filled with a couple of snacks and an umbrella for our unpredictable weather! Tips: Usual rules apply, no alcohol in bags and security checks on the gate, Deposit for a beer glass ( made of plastic )

I finally got to the Moseley Folk Festival last September, after three years of saying "I'm going…read moreto go this year!" and not making it. I'd heard the vibe was really relaxed, and even a bouncer I know who works on the door told me that "It's just full of drunken hippies." Which of course, is great! And he was right! Before the festival, I'd been to Moseley Park many times, and I kept wondering how such a popular festival fits so many people into one space. Once you actually go, you'll understand how it works, and you'll see the entire grass disappear, as people set up camp. I only went on the Saturday, but the atmosphere for that one day was amazing, with the music in equal good measure, from local talents Pram and Ben Calvert, to international stars William Mason and Tinariwen. However, if I'm honest, I don't really remember much of Tinariwen's set, because the high dosage of scrumpy cider had began to kick in. The only problem with the festival was the amount of wasps that kept trying to steal my cider, other than that, everything was top notch!

Only popped in quickly to July's food and ale festival but it didn't disappoint!…read more The chicken wrap from Open sesame (Persian street food company) - just wow! Succulent, well seasoned and spiced chicken combined with salad, humous, olives and pomegranate. Mmmmm get in my belly! The cloudy start to the day meant it wasn't quite as busy as usual. But I'm sure when the weather brightened up after I left it would've picked up. If you haven't been before I definitely recommend you pop down to the next one in September (they are once a quarter)

The Bournville Food and Drink Festival is a lovely event, with several organized throughout the…read moreyear. Plenty of food vendors all around (both street food and things for purchase to take home like cheese, chocolate, and hot sauce), and lots of local drink to sample! Great music and just buzzing with people. During the day, great to bring the whole family and dog-friendly. Make a deposit for a souvenir glass, and keep it for the next festival or return it for your money back!