International Day of Birmingham arrives with full programme of ‘extraordinary events’

The International Day of Birmingham is a two day event and continues into Friday September 25

The International Day of Birmingham is back once again, and it’s bringing with it a full programme of extraordinary events showcasing the best of the second city.

The annual International Day of Birmingham (IDOB) celebration has grown to include a bonus second day of revelry on Friday 25 September.

At the heart of the festivities, ten of the city’s grandest rooms in the Grade II-listed Council House have been transformed into a cultural palace open to all under the banner The House That Brum Built.

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Attendees will be given a free and limited edition Brummie Passport designed by Draw My City artist Stacey Barnfield, and collect stamps whilst exploring the building and its extraordinary programme, unlocking exclusive offers at IDOB supporters Bullring Birmingham.

The creative talent behind the passport, a future collectors item, as well as the Colour Palette Company has also produced a one-off Birmingham’s Colour Palette print to mark the special day in the city’s calendar.

Free Events

• The Archers at 75 – Celebrating one of Britain’s best-loved radio dramas and its remarkable Birmingham connections.
• Birmingham United: celebrating football in Brum – PJ Ellis and Hijab Shah explore the city’s football culture and the people who have made it part of Birmingham life.
• Hot Ones: Bonehead x Pip’s Hot Sauce – A distinctly Birmingham take on the global hot-sauce phenomenon.
• Desert Island Dinners with Jess Phillips and Ed James, and Dan Lee and Lyle Bignon – Food, conversation, and Birmingham stories.
• Birmingham Surrealists – Sally Chidlow brings a little creative chaos to the Council House, including what promises to be the world’s biggest game of Exquisite Corpse.
• BAM! BAM! – Wander through the fictional museum devoted to Brum. Through photographs, films, found objects, and fabricated artefacts, you decide where documented history ends and folklore begins. Grab yourself a selfie with Mr Egg.
• Fokawolf – Feted Brummie subversive artist Fokawolf presents an exclusive exhibition of never-before-seen work, featuring hot satirical takes on the burning issues of the moment.
• City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra Woodwind Quintet – Live performance in the Council House.
• Birmingham Botanical Gardens – A little greenery in the Glass Corridor of the Council House, with plants for sale, horticultural experts on hand, and a Birmingham Soundscape by Martyn Stewart.
• Nortons Digbeth pop-up Irish pub – Located in the Council House reception space with Guinness, classic Brummie cobs, an Irish whiskey menu, and Barry’s Tea on tap.

Ticketed Events

• My Own Private Birmingham – an elegy for the overlooked – An interactive creative writing workshop with award-winning author Catherine O’Flynn.
• Tat Vision: Wearable Birmingham Landmarks Workshop – Create your own Birming-homage out of cardboard and paint with Tat Vision.
• Rag Market to Riches – Richard O’Gorman brings his transformation and makeover magic to the celebrations.
• Felt Tipsy with Tat Vision – Art, creativity, and Birmingham eccentricity collide from one of the city’s best-loved artists and performers.
• Benny’s Babbies: The Reunion – Cold War Steve, Kit de Waal, Mike Gayle, and Catherine O’Flynn revisit the joyful, satirical world of one of Birmingham’s most recognisable works of art.
• Birmingham Royal Ballet – Performing the Act II Swan Lake pas de deux to coincide with their latest production showing at Birmingham Hippodrome.
• The Big Brum Night Out – Featuring drag queen Yshee Black, Bing0121, comedians Lindsey Santoro and Tal Davies, Birmingham Royal Ballet, the Jetz Quartet, DJ Cheese Dip, and free Dim Sum from Chung Ying.

Full programme at idob.co.uk.

Mockingbird Cinema will also put Birmingham on the big screen, with features, shorts, archive gems and filmmaker Q&As. Better still, all screenings are free.

Friday 25 September

• 12:00 – 13:00 – Reel Brum Showcase
• 13:00 – 14:00 – City On Screen
• 14:00 – 15:00 – Joe Lycett’s United States of Birmingham
• 15:00 – 15:30 – Rise Of The Mixy
• 15:30 – 17:00 – Made In Birmingham: Reggae Punk Bhangra plus Q&A
• 17:00 – 17:30 – Joe Lycett Shorts: Ray, Linda, Dating Mark Silcox
• 17:45 – 19:30 – Moon, with introduction from Trevor Beattie