Birmingham’s biggest carnival returns to streets of Harborne: Lineup & times

It’s the biggest carnival in Birmingham - packed full of entertainment, live music and community fun.

Harborne Carnival 2023 is a huge outdoor street festival - with only Notting Hill in London being greater in size. The popular Brummie high street will be packed full of entertainment, live music and community fun all day on Sunday, June 25.

The event is being held in support of charity Heart Research UK Midlands, and sponsored by HCA Healthcare UK and National Express West Midlands. There will be everything from fairground rides to arts and crafts, children’s activities,, local community and charity stalls and much more.

The carnival will be starting at 11am and going on until 5.30pm.Some audience favourites from last year will be returning, including Lucas D and the Groove Ghetto, Got2Sing Choir, Bhangra Smash Up and Dancers and Average White Horse Band.

A new addition for 2023 is Vivid Soul, a seven-piece Birmingham-based function band featuring exceptional musicians with a rock-solid rhythm section, punchy horns and stellar vocals. There will also be plenty of food and drink options available to suit all tastes.

Harborne Carnival made its long-awaited return last year after being cancelled due to Covid-19 in 2020 and 2021, in time to celebrate its 25th anniversary. Last year also marked the start of a three-year partnership with local charity Heart Research UK Midlands which saw all profits raised from the day going towards supporting the charity’s pioneering medical research and local community projects. Through sponsorship and income on the day, last year’s carnival raised over £24,500 for the charity.

Heart Research UK Midlands works hard to raise and spend funds in the community, to combat the fact that in the West Midlands, cardiovascular disease causes nearly 20 deaths every day. In Birmingham, 62% of adults are overweight or obese, which is a risk factor for developing coronary heart disease. This can in turn lead to heart attack.

John Lloyd, Regional Executive for Heart Research UK Midlands, said: “We’re so pleased to be continuing our partnership with the Harborne Carnival. Supporting our local community is incredibly important, especially when considering the burden of heart disease in the area.

“We’d like to thank HCA Healthcare UK and National Express West Midlands for their kind sponsorship of the carnival, we couldn’t do this without them.

“The Harborne Carnival is a fantastic event and a great way for the community to come together and have fun, whilst also supporting the heart health of the Midlands.”

Paul Burgess MBE, Harborne Carnival Chair, said:“It is always a great pleasure to be able to say the Harborne Carnival is on again. Each year it gets more difficult to organise and the costs go up on everything. However, with the great support of the National Lottery Fund and Heart Research UK and their sponsors we can showcase what is great about living and working in Harborne and the surrounding areas.

“A huge shoutout to local people, businesses, charities, community groups, schools, the BID and so many others. Come and have a great day out and let’s raise some money for some great causes set up to help local people.”

Main Stage Entertainment at Harborne Carnival

• 13.00: Lucas D and the Groove Ghetto
• 14.00: Got2Sing Choir
• 14.30: Bhangra Smash Up and Dancers
• 15.30: Vivid Soul
• 16.30: Average White Horse Band