Ahhhh... The great outdoors. Is there anything nicer than having the sun out and delicious smell of…read morefood floating in the air? Cue the CBD Food Festival! Located on Victoria Square, this centre of town foodie shindig is a must on the calendar every year for me. The local traders come in droves to show off their wares (from high street and michelin starred) and sampling starts from as little as a couple of quid for a taster dish. There is everything from Caribbean, Indian, British, Classic and Contemporary on offer at this once a year event. And that's just the food! There is also a great choice of beers and spirits on offer from local bars to tempt you into a tipple with your meal of choice. As well as foodie and drink offerings, a wide variety of entertainment is on offer throughout the festival. Think cooking demonstrations, live music and general tomfoolery from the stands. If you want a taste of what Birmingham is really about, I implore you to have a wander around the food festival. It's only on 2 days a year and if you walk away without trying at least a little something then you're a stronger person than I!

Last year's inaugural CBD Food Festival was a great success so it is bought back in 2012. Run on 2…read moredays, Friday 13th and Saturday 14th July in Victoria Square, it showcases the best culinary talents the Colmore Business District can offer. There are lots of restaurants with stalls that sell taster portions of their food so it's a unique opportunity to try food from the best restaurants that otherwise may be unaffordable. On top of this, some of the city's star chefs, including Michelin starred Glyn Purnell. Even more interesting are the cooking displays from the chefs including one of my favourites, David Colcombe from Opus plus some cocktail demos from city favourites Jekyll & Hyde. Like last year, the CBD Food Festival is on at the same time as the Birmingham Jazz & Blues Festival so the stage will also be set for some live music and this year there will also be performances from Birmingham Hippodrome.

There are so many puns to make about how this is Birmingham's hottest foodie event, but I shall…read morerefrain. Brindleyplace is hosting the second Birmingham Chilli Festival on 13-14 July 2012. The event is part of the citywide Food Festival. There will be stalls selling their spicy wares as well as the eagerly anticipated chilli eating competition. Visitors will get to enjoy live cooking/cocktail demos, spicy street entertainment and music. My husband made the mistake of nibbling on a naga during last year's festival. I'd like to say that he has learnt his lesson, but I suspect that he'll be making the same mistake again this year. If you see a bespectacled and beardy fellow wondering around Brindleyplace with smoke coming out of his ears, give him a wave!

One of the most traditional festivals in Birmingham, Mostly Jazz Festival should be a compulsory…read moreitem in your bucket list. It's an incredible event and a wonderful way of getting closer to what Moseley village is in fact. This is a very lively part of Birmingham. Many culture events, fairs and concerts are held in Moseley pubs, cafés and spaces open to art, in general. Such an eclectic festival like this wouldn't be held in a better place. I have been to Mostly Jazz Festival last year and it was the best choice in leisure for a very hot summer in Brum. The weather was amazing, which helped to enjoy the concerts outside. Moseley park is gorgeous and it has to be highlighted all amazing job done by the local community that keep the place preserved. Food and drinks are not a problem in the area. The festival itself caters for the public with plenty of choice. From curry to a simple ice cream for the kids. Refreshments and alcoholic drinks are also sold inside the venue. By if you want to have a look around, Moseley have plenty of bars, restaurants and cafés available and open during the whole three days of events. Sometimes it's much better to go for these places for a meal. We had more options of food and also caught up with the news about Wimbledon ( in the pubs) because the Festival is held at the same time the tournament is on. And what a vibe in the village. 2013 edition was pretty especial because we could see the legend Nile Rodgers ( and Chic) at the main stage of the festival and the experience was unique indeed. One of the best gigs I ever seen and according to Nile, one of the best audiences he had. ( You're welcome!). Mostly Jazz Festival is for everyone. families, young and elderly ones. Everybody in the same vibe, enjoying sunshine ( if you are lucky) and nice music. it is great to see kids running in the park with parents sharing their Pimm's without being worried about their security. It's a big family festival indeed. And everyone is more than welcome. After the gigs, transport is not a problem. Buses are running until late in the trajectory back to the city centre ( takes 10 minutes or less). But if you are young and still want to party, Moseley pubs and bars are going to be there to help you carrying on the night. I love it. And I think Birmingham should be proud of such a great event. If you still don't have the tickets for the event this year, hurry up! It's on days 11-13 of July!

This was my second year at Mostly Jazz festival and I am happy to report that the event just got…read morebetter. Tickets for the Friday and Saturday sold out fairly early this year, and I was gutted to have missed out, but I managed to secure a ticket for the Sunday. The entrance points were well managed meaning that there were no delays getting in. One good thing about this event is that you can bring in as much food and drink as you like (unfortunately no alcohol or glass bottles) which means that many people were tucking in to their own little picnics. For those who wanted something a little more substantial, there were a variety of street food vendors serving a selection of cuisines including pizza, Thai and Indian. The main bar was huge and I didn't have to queue at all. The event was busy but not overly crowded and there was a great atmosphere. The line up at Mostly Jazz is always great and this year did not disappoint. There were a selection of local and national acts keeping the crowd entertained, culminating with George Clinton on the Sunday night - a fantastic performance. I will definitely be booking this event again next year.

Every September, for one weekend, the streets of Birmingham city centre are transformed for…read moreArtsfest. You would expect the city to be awash with creativity but, unfortunately, it just doesn't quite hit the spot. For many of the city's artists, Artsfest feels tame and quite corporate. Yes, there are stalls set up for artists to promote and sell their wares, workshops are held and a music stage is erected in Centenary Square but it still lacks something. All that said, it is still a fun weekend for those with young children and is definitely something to take advantage of.

If the Artsfest was hosted in december it would be called the christmas market. A load of people,…read morebuilding stalls down the street, trying to sell you stuff you don't want. The only redeeming part of it is the live music from local bands which was pretty good last year, Birmingham has some of the best unsigned acts going and its great to see them on a big stage with a decent audience. Just the Artists never seem very arty, its just the council trying to waste money i think, make it seem like they are helping creative people when really they are like making the city a mess. If News of the World did an art exhibition it would feel the same as artfest. Very safe, no danger, boring as hell.

I have been to plenty of gigs in life but Supersonic Festival is, undoubtedly, a unique experience…read more This legendary Brummie music festival had its first edition in 2003, and in 2012, it's going to be celebrating its 10th edition already! Always held at Custard Factory, in Digbeth, Supersonic is known as its perfect combination of music, arts, films and craft. During three days, usually in October, bands from every part of the planet come to Birmingham to make some noise. As an underground festival, Supersonic keeps the line-up as much eclectic as possible, which means it's possible to check from jazz to grindcore bands and artists performances at this event. Bands such as Napalm Death, LCD Soundsystem, Broadcast and other important names of underground and experimental music already played at Supersonic. As a journalist, I have been covering the 9th edition last year and had the opportunity of spend the whole weekend in Custard Factory enjoying the best of this cutting edge festival. The reputation of this event has 100% to do with the competence of Capsule people that are responsible for its impeccable organisation. I would highlight that Custard Factory is a perfect place to held this kind of event. Plenty of pubs and food places nearby for a quick warming up. If possible, try to book a hotel in the area as well and make the most of it! There are attractions during the three whole days. Supersonic also presents several workshops, events for children. Foods and drinks are also available at the locale and the tickets for the gigs costs £80 for three days of event. The 10th edition will take place on 19-21 of October!

For me, this is the greatest festival to exist in Birmingham, and I'm so proud that, as a second…read morecity, we can maintain such an outstanding gem. Supersonic never ever fails to surprise me each year, and I recommend it everybody on the street (I literally do). I've been attending for three years now, and I've discovered so much new music. At last years festival, I purchased a Secret Chiefs 3 album on vinyl, after being mystified and astonished by their on stage presence. The years before the last one (2011), Supersonic used to drain the pool in the custard factory complex, and people could stand in it and watch the bands who performed at the back. I love how the festival organisers are always changing and using different spaces in the Custard Factory; It allows the experience to change and develop each year. (At the first year in 2003, Supersonic didn't drain the pool, and had bands performing on a stage over the water; Sounds dangerous!) If you really want to witness an eclectic mixture of experimental music, Supersonic is definitely the place for you. From metal to dub step to IDM to folk; everything is covered. I love to push my musical boundaries and explore my taste, and I know that true music fans do too. I guarantee that you'll be astounded by your new favourite acts.

This year will see the fifteenth edition of the Harborne Carnival, which literally takes over the…read moreentire high street of Harborne. The event was set up by Ron Hill in 1998, who took inspiration from the first Harborne charity fete in 1891, a carnival that had been revived several times, with the last in 1968. Last year's street party saw over 60000 attending what is often called the UK's second largest celebrations of its type. With the sun blaring, it was an absolutely perfect day out for friends and family alike. Taking to the streets are a wide range of floats and people, from dancers to old fashioned cars to bikes to brass bands, if you don't keep an eye on the road, you're sure to miss some of the most intriguing, artistic floats you'll ever see. Along with floats, the streets are also filled with fairground rides activities, and stalls which are all designed to raise money for local charities. The carnival is a hit with the kids, and the surrounding Harborne pubs are perfectly located for fueling the adults with alcohol to help them soak up the atmosphere. The smell of local grub sold on the street is also highly tempting, so be prepared to enjoy a jam packed, belly bursting event. My first experience of the carnival was last year, and I cannot wait for this years! Not long to go!

My friends and I only discovered the Harborne carnival last summer, which happened to…read morecoincidentally fall on my birthday, making all more reason to celebrate. The infamous high street is packed, whether it be floats or just people, it's seemingly one way traffic, but in all fairness, it's something that adds to the atmosphere if anything. Despite being a great day out, weather depending, you'll see your fair share of topless men/boys and drinking on the streets. With the pubs often closing for a few hours in the mid afternoon, people often take drinking outside, making the most of the Sainsburys towards the end of the street. Some people may find the off putting, but as my rating suggests, the day, overall, really is a laugh. I'd definitely recommend it, especially to anyone in their late teens, pushing 20. After all, it could fall on my birthday again, in which case you can buy me a pint..

Britain may not be the hottest place on the map (Ok, let's be honest -- Greenland and Norway are…read morepossibly the only colder locations outside of the North and South Poles), but the Latin American Festival held in Birmingham every year is heating things up. With chili. And salsa. Founded by a Peruvian, Annie Bazán-De-Fisher, the Latin American Festival has been going since 1992, and is progressively more entertaining every year, and is now the most successful and well-established Latin celebration in the UK. My favourite thing about it is the food. Oh come on, I'm not going to lie and say it's the interesting combination of cold weather and hothothot culture! The booths filled with little Latin lumps of yummy goodness have pleased my palate year on year. Fried plantains, yummy wild rice, and carne asada galore are enough to make anyone happy. The bands really are a fantastic part of the festival. Last year there was a group I can only describe as rock-ska mixed with Latin overtones. Really fantastic, and got the entire crowd dancing. The festival starts with the Inca Festival of the Sun, a parade of dancers, musicians and performers wending their way down Birmingham High Street to Victoria Square. There are llamas and traditional Andean costumes, plus more maracas than you can shake a...maraca at. There are also salsa dancing lessons, demonstrations by award-winning dance groups, Peruvian pan pipe shows, and photo ops with llamas and traditionally dressed Latin Americans. There are intricate and fascinating demonstrations of Incan spirituality and ancient mystic religious ceremonies of the Andes. The entire festival is free, and suitable for all ages. It ends around 7pm, and adults can go onto the Festival Celebration at Ipanema club. This normally includes vast quantities of tequila, sambuca and merengue dancing, lots of fun, club-inspired dance tracks. Definitely not suitable for children or chavs! The festival is good fun, and definitely something different for Britain's Second City.