Bournville Village Festival: everything you need to know, including Maypole dance time

Bournville will be transformed this weekend for its annual and historic village festival where families can have a wonderful day out in the sun.

Bournville Village Festival is returning this weekend and it will be a fun family day for residents and visitors - who can see some special acts, fireworks and so much more.

On Saturday (June 24), the historic annual village festival returns with their special attractions including the Maypole dance. It was first celebrated in 1902 for the Coronation of King Edward VII with a children’s festival which was held on July 2 that year.

The festival was such a success that the village - which only had 400 homes back then - became an annual affair with the Maypole at the centre of the event.

Since then, it has taken place on the last Saturday in June every year. It was suspended during the First World War but returned in 1919 and went on till 1939. During the Second World War, it moved to Rowheath Playing fields but, after the end of the war it returned to Cadbury Men’s Recreation Ground on Linden Road. Since the war, 2020 and 2021 were the only years the festival did not taken place.

When and where is the Bournville Village Festival?

It will take place on Saturday, June 24 at Cadbury Men’s Recreation Ground on Linden Road. The festival will run from 1-10pm on the day.

What to expect?

1. Bournville Maypole dance
2. BMX Biking show involving high flying jumps & tricks
3. Vander Superheroes’s Wheel of Death
4. A fun fair including food and drinks, activities and games
5. Fireworks display sponsored by Mondelez
6. Craft tent with some of the best local crafters around with a wide variety of crafts from jewellery to jams
7. Food and drinks

What Maypole Dances will take place?

The Bournville Maypole Dances:

1. Come Lassies and Lads
2. Heralds announce the arrival of the Festival Queen, preceded by the Retiring Queen
3. The Crowning of the Queen
4. Dance by the Petal boys and girls
5. Step by Step
6. The Gypsies’ Tent
7. Dance of the Gypsies
8. The Chain
9. The Queen’s Basket
10. The Barbers Pole
11. Merrily We Dance Around
12. Soldiers of the Queen
13. Finale

Where to get tickets?

You can buy it from the local shops at Hoot Hair, The Rest House, Green Meadow Supermarket, Evan’s of Bournville, and Rowheath Pavillion. For more information, visit the Birmingham Village Festival website.