Artsfest 2008

ArtsFest is an annual free festival which takes place from Friday 12th until Sunday 14th September and is billed as Birmingham's biggest and most vibrant cultural festival.

ArtsFest celebrates the astounding wealth of creative talent existing in the West Midlands and promotes the region as the bustling cultural centre it is – full of high quality, innovative, cutting edge arts and entertainment activities. ArtsFest is a festival for the young and old alike.

The weekend encompasses many events such as:
SATURDAY:
Light Night which takes place in Birmingham City Centre on Friday from 4pm until late. This will see Birmingham's buildings artistically illuminated. Light installations, street performers and light trails throughout the City Centre, with a night carnival procession from the Pavilions to Centenary Square. The Council House will house installations and art exhibits, and other venues will be hosting performances and workshops across the city from choral music to comedy, and lantern making to light shows. There will be a Reggae Rockz concert in centenary Square.
DholFest which takes place at The Fountain Stage @ Victoria Square on Saturday from 12-1.30pm which will see over 500 dhol drummers attempt to break the current world record for the number of drummers all playing together.
Classical Fantasia on The Stage @ Centenary Square on Saturday from 8-10pm with performances from BRB, CBSO and Birmingham Opera Company as they share the stage in a stunning finale to Saturday's events, accompanied by fireworks.

SUNDAY:
KerrangFest at The Stage @ Centenary Square on Sunday from 12.30-10pma day of the region's unsigned bands, with Envy and Other Sins, The Metros, MIDAS, The Mexicolas, Jake Flowers, The Riptides, My Alamo, The Subkicks, The Elements, and headline act The Levellers.

BOTH DAYS:
Brindleyplace Family Zone at Brindleyplace, off Broad Street on Saturday from 11.30am-6pm and Sunday from 11.30am-5pm. With youth performances, play areas, workshops and storytelling all weekend, this is the place to come with young children. Concludes with the a Children's Parade on Sunday at 4pm.
The Pavilions World Music Stage at Pavilions Shopping Centre on Saturday 11.30-5.30 and Sunday 11.30-4.30 featuring music and culture from around the world, including African drumming, South American music and Irish dancing.


For more information, see the Artsfest website.

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