Festivals and shows

Birmingham is home to many national, religious and spiritual festivals including a St. George’s Day party. The Birmingham Tattoo is a military show that has taken place in the city for several years. The currently biennial Caribbean- style Birmingham International Carnival was originally the Handsworth Carnival, held in Handsworth Park from 1984, but now takes place in the August of odd- numbered years, parading through the streets of Handsworth to Perry Barr Park. Birmingham Pride takes place in the ‘gay village’ and attracts up to 100,000 visitors each year. The city also hosts an annual arts festival (Artsfest) during September, where people can enjoy many of the regions’ arts, free.

The city’s largest single-day event is its St. Patrick’s Day parade (Europe’s second largest, after the one in Dublin).