The best summer 2022 festivals in Birmingham and beyond

It’s summer time and that can only mean one thing - festival season is here and we’re ready for a summer of live music and entertainment.

Whatever your age, in and around Birmingham we are spoiled for choice when it comes to selecting where to create the happiest of memories.

If music, the arts, food and drink or a great family day out are right up your street, then check out BirminghamWorld’s guide to some of the biggest festivals in Birmingham and further afield.

Camp Bestival

August 18 to 21, Weston Park, Weston-under-Lizard, Shifnal, TF11 8LE

Camp Bestival will come to Shropshire for the first time ever this summer promising fun for all the family.

As well as activities for adults and the youngsters, there will also be live performances from Fat Boy Slim, Rang’N’Bone Man, Becky Hill, and Example among others.

Little ones will be able to get into the festival spirit with kid-friendly rave Big Fish Little Fish, kung fu and yoga workshops, and live appearances from Mr Tumle, MC Grammar, Horrible Histories Terrible Tudors and Braniac Live.

For more information and to buy tickets, click here.

Pairc Festival

August 26 to 28, The New Irish Centre Birmingham, 205 Wheelers Ln, King's Heath, Birmingham, B13 0ST

A huge three-day celebration of Irish music and culture will take over Birmingham for the August Bank Holiday weekend.

Bringing together the best Birmingham, Irish and Birmingham-Irish musical talent together for the celebration, the line-up will include performances from Imelda May, Finbar Furey, Nathan Carter, Hothouse Flowers, Beoga, Damien Dempsey and the Sharon Shannon Trio.

Hothouse Flowers had the most successful debut album in Irish history, whilst Beoga are famed as co-writers of Galway Girl.

A street food village will offer traditional Irish delicacies and there will be more than 50 market stalls featuring independent makers and producers.

If this sounds like thirsty work, then fear not as the Guinness will be flowing at the outdoor bars and beer tents.

For more information and to buy tickets, click here.

Camper Calling

August 26 to 28, Ragley Hall, Alcester, Warwickshire, B49 5NJ

Grab your motorhome and head to Ragley Hall for the return of Camper Calling.

The festival welcomes everyone, whether you have a tent or a camper to stay in, to enjoy a weekend of live music and fun in the summer sun.

There will be live music across the three days with sets from James, Basement Jaxx (DJ set), Shed Seven, Del Amitri, Scouting For Girls, The Selecter and more.

You can also enjoy entertainment on the carnival stage, visit the zen garden, or take part in activities such as pottery, the boat race, silent discos, and a graffiti workshop among other things.

For more information and to buy tickets, click here.

Sandwell and Birmingham Mela

August 27 to 28, Victoria Park, 35 Suffrage St, Smethwick B66 3QB

The Mela is Europe’s biggest South Asian music festival and will place at Victoria Park in Smethwick.

It’s an extra special year for the event as it reaches its tenth birthday and, to celebrate, there will be music, dance, food, arts and crafts all mixed in with the sights, sounds and spicy aromas of South Asia.

There are eight activity zones at the Mela featuring the main stage with the biggest artists, food village, shopping bazaar, Lidl, arts village, funfair, and the showcase stage for homegrown talent and visual arts.

For more information and to buy tickets, click here.

Moseley Folk and Arts Festival

September 2 to 4, Moseley Park, 93b Alcester Road, Moseley, Birmingham, B13 8DD

Moseley Folk and Arts Festival will treat the thousands of music who flock to the event for its 16^th anniversary.

Located at Moseley Park and Pool, the three-day event will see performances from the likes of Supergrass, Kurt Vile & The Violators and The Weather Station on the Friday.

Poet Laureate Simon Armitage, multi-BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards nominees Gilmore & Roberts and American blues musician Seasick Steve will be among the names to wow the crowds on Saturday.

Rock band The Coral – fresh from UK dates marking the 20^th anniversary of their self-titled debut album - and fellow rockers Jethro Tull take to the stage on Sunday as the big names just keep on coming.

You can upgrade your folk festival experience by booking one of the numerous refurbished private caravans featuring waiter bar service or by visiting the Black Swan backstage pub.

For more information and to buy tickets, click here.

Godiva Festival

Jule 2 to 4, War Memorial Park, Kenilworth Rd, Coventry CV3 6PT

See live performances from The Libertines, Tom Grennan and Bananarama at this year’s Godiva Festival.

The weekend event at Coventry’s War Memorial Park will also see performances from Katy B, The Feeling, A1 x J1, The Craig Charles Funk and Soul Club and more.

Visitors can also enjoy a host of family entertainment, a craft village, food and drink stalls, and a children’s fun fair.

For more information and to buy tickets, click here.

Beer Central Festival

September 16 to 17, Tea Works, 15 New Canal St, Birmingham, B5 5QX

Following a sell-out event last year Beer Central Festival is back for 2022.

Beer fans will be able to sample drinks from more than 30 different brewers as well as different ciders and non-alcoholic tipples.

Revellers will also be able to grab a bite to eat from the festival’s own food market and watch chefs cook live over an open fire pit.

Day and evening session tickets are available for both dates as well as full weekend tickets, and all tickets include entry, a festival glass, and all of your beer.

For more information and to buy tickets, click here.

Birmingham Pride

September 24 to 25, LGBTQ+ Village, Birmingham, B5 2TB

Birmingham will celebrate the LGBTQ+ community and its rich history with its annual pride parade and festival.

On September 24, thousands of people will take to the streets of the city centre for the annual parade.

The parade is a free event which starts at Victoria Square in the heart of the city centre from 11am and the parade starts making its way through the city from 12pm, making its way to the LGBTQ+ village where main festival activities will take place.

Across the weekend, there will be performances from Cheryl, Katy B, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Sister Sledge, Clean Bandit, Jax Jones, Raye and more at the Smithfield Live portion of the celebrations.

Additionally, there will also be a host of drag performances, the Village Street Party, and the free Community Village Green with family-friendly activities.

For more information and to buy tickets, click here.

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