Please note this post contains affiliate links.
The events on this list are made up from those who follow, network and share with #BrumHour directly.
To be considered for a future list please contact dave@brumhour.com
Deadline for November things to do: Friday 25th October at Noon.
Compiled by Dave Massey twitter.com/BrumHour
Nineteen things to do in Birmingham in October
Festivals galore, horses, comedy, tech, circus, and sculpture. Welcome to October in Birmingham.
Barry Flanagan (18th September to 24th November)
Ikon Gallery, 1 Oozells Square, Brindleyplace, Birmingham B1 2HS
Covering both main galleries at Ikon, this exhibition explores Barry Flanagan’s sculptures, covering twenty years over the 80s and 90s.
Find out more here: ikon-gallery.org/event/barry-flanagan
BEDLAM Festival (1st to 12th October)
Various venues across Birmingham
The mental health festival from Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust, with Birmingham Repertory Theatre, Midlands Arts Centre, Sampad South Asian Arts and new partner Geese Theatre Company is back for 2019. Look out for a full programme of events leading up to World Mental Health Day on 10th October.
See more here: bedlamfestival.co.uk
Horse of the Year Show (2nd to 6th October)
The NEC, North Avenue, Marston Green, Birmingham B40 1NT
The Horse of the Year Show has been held at The NEC since 2002 and is a key date in the equestrian calendar and features a retail village, displays, showjumping and even a chance to meet the horses.
Book tickets with BrumHour’s affiliate link >> HERE <<.
Birmingham Literature Festival 2019 (3rd to 13th October)
Venues across Birmingham
From workshops to hip-hop to afternoon tea or a talk from Jess Phillips MP find more about Birmingham’s annual Literature Festival on their website.
Discover more and book tickets here: birminghamliteraturefestival.org
Birmingham Weekender in Digbeth (4th to 6th October)
Around Digbeth, Birmingham
The FREE three-day weekend of arts and culture returns for 2019. This time Birmingham Weekender heads to Digbeth for the first time with over 50 events to watch and take part in.
Discover more here: birminghamweekender.com
Birmingham Comedy Festival (4th to 13th October)
Venues around Birmingham
Improv, Stan and Ollie, James Acaster, Reginald D Hunter, Henning Wehn, and two half-dayer events and an all-dayer, Pam Ayres, plus Jay Rayner who seems to dislike eating in Birmingham and Josh Widdicombe who just seems to dislike Birmingham.
See the full festival details here: bhamcomfest.co.uk
Birmingham Tech Week (7th to 13th October)
Venues across Birmingham
Birmingham Tech Week website says:
Birmingham Tech Week is a collaborative series of events taking place across the City (and wider Greater Birmingham Region), The week will highlight Birmingham’s burgeoning Tech Scene and focus on a number of innovative topics.
See the full programme here: birminghamtechweek.com
Private Peaceful (9th to 12th October)
The Old Rep, 45 Station St, Birmingham B5 4DY
National Production Company return to The Old Rep with this adaptation of Michael Morpurgo’s moving novel.
Book tickets >> HERE <<.
Samantha Pressdee: Covered (10th October only)
Blue Orange Theatre, 118 Great Hampton Street, Birmingham B18 6AD
Blue Orange Theatre website says:
The only thing crazier than Sammie was the welfare state supposed to be helping her! Getting your needs met in austerity Britain is a game of Russian roulette. Will she beat the system?
Get tickets here: blueorangetheatre.co.uk/project/samanthapressdee
Simplyhealth Great Birmingham Run: Half Marathon (13th October)
Central Birmingham.
A staple in the Birmingham event calendar, the Birmingham Half has helped many runners achieve their goals over the years whilst raising important funds for charity.
Find out more here: greatrun.org/great-birmingham-run
The Exorcist (15th to 19th October)
The Alexandra, Suffolk Street Queensway, Birmingham B5 4DS
The film terrified a generation of ODEON cinema goers on New Street, now Paul Nicholas, Ben Caplan and Sophie Ward help bring William Peter Blatty’s novel to life on the stage in this Bill Kenwright production.
Book tickets with BrumHour’s affiliate link >> HERE <<.
Fierce Festival (15th to 20th October)
Central Birmingham
Performance, politics, parties and pop is the mantra of this much adored festival. Think glitter, activism, challenging inclusivity.
See more here: wearefierce.org
Oktoberfest 2019 (18th and 19th October)
60 Hampton Street, Birmingham B19 3LU
Heading to a brand new venue for its 5th year Oktoberfest, Seasonal Markets is once again teaming up with The Old Crown, but this year they are heading to Jewellery Quarter. Think beer, music, beer, games and maybe some German wine and German style cocktails (?!?).
Book tickets >> HERE <<.
Festival of Enterprise (23rd and 24th October)
The NEC, North Avenue, Marston Green, Birmingham B40 1NT
Featuring over sixty speakers, Festival of Enterprise offers the you the chance to meet other small business owners, find out about funding, and grow your own business.
Full details here: festivalofenterprise.co.uk
Prime Time (23rd to 26th October)
Birmingham Rep, Broad Street, Birmingham B1 2EP
Birmingham Rep’s website says:
Comprising of three monologues by three different playwrights, this funny, moving and intimate production explores wide ranging experiences of women of retirement age.
This production from Women & Theatre is in association with Birmingham Rep and features Janice Connolly (friend of BrumHour!)
Tickets here: birmingham-rep.co.uk/whats-on/prime-time.html
Fast Forward Festival (24th October)
Midlands Arts Centre, Queen’s Ride, Birmingham B12 9QH
Midland Arts Centre (MAC)’s website says:
Fast Forward is a national disability and arts festival celebrating inclusion and challenging expectations around disability and the music industry.
Find out more here: macbirmingham.co.uk/event/fast-forward-festival-2019
Halloween at Mockingbird (23th October to 9th November)
The Mockingbird Cinema and Kitchen, Custard Factory, Gibb Street, Birmingham B9 4AA
Halloween films come to The Mockingbird featuring classics such as Ghostbusters, The Lost Boys, The Thing, Hocus Pocus and
Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark.
Book tickets >> HERE <<.
Circus 1903 (25th October to 2nd November)
Birmingham Hippodrome, Hurst Street, Birmingham B5 4TB
In October 1899, Birmingham Hippodrome was opened as Tower of Varieties and renamed Tivoli in 1900, before becoming The Hippodrome in 1903. Marking this 120 year history is Circus 1903, celebrates circus with live sized elephants from the creators of the models used in War Horse. This is just one act being brought to life for this show direct from London’s Southbank.
Roll up roll up here: birminghamhippodrome.com/calendar/circus-1903
Jazz Jamaica All Stars: The Trojan Story (25th October)
THSH Birmingham, Town Hall, Victoria Square, Birmingham B3 3DQ
THSH Birmingham website says:
Get ready to rocksteady with Gary Crosby’s sensational Jazz Jamaica All Stars with special guests Brinsley Forde, Noel McKoy and rising vocal stars Dem 3 in The Trojan Story – a live music extravaganza celebrating the legendary label and artists of Trojan Records.
This evening includes a performance from the new THSH Reggae Choir, plus Birmingham’s own Notebenders.
Book tickets here: thsh.co.uk/event/jazz-jamaica-all-stars-the-trojan-story
When not writing for BrumHour, or producing Interval Theatre for Brum Radio (Tuesdays 3pm) brumradio.com/intervaltheatre,
Dave Massey can be found eating crisps and claiming to be at the gym. And tweeting about Birmingham for #BrumHour.
