Start for North Solihull's inaugural cultural festival

LINE-UP: Activities include (from left) a screening of Channel 4 documentary One Mile Away, Warwickshire Wildlife Trust events across local parks and the Castle Bromwich Heritage Festival, featuring the Green Man

A TWO-month long cultural festival, celebrating the wealth of activities in North Solihull, has got underway.

The first-ever IMAGE Fest will see more than 30 events taking place in parks, churches and community.

The highlights of a packed programme include a fun fair, live music, art exhibitions, theatre shows and a number of community lunches.

Organised by community leaders, IMAGE is aiming to promote the “real North Solihull”, showcasing the talents and facilities within the local area.

The team has been assembled entirely by volunteers drawn from a wide range of associations, business and voluntary groups.

Among the activities taking place from now until late June are:

• The Castle Bromwich Heritage Festival (May 10-11) – A whole host of events will be taking place in the area in and around Castle Bromwich Hall Gardens. The event ties in with the Castle Bromwich Beer Festival which starts on the Friday (May 9). More details on this blog later in the week or at www.castlebromwichfestival.co.uk/
• Film Night (May 12) – A screening of the documentary One Mile Away, which tells the story of a number of ex-gang members trying to bring peace to the streets of inner city Birmingham. The Channel 4 film will be shown at the Bosworth Community Centre, Chelmsley Wood. Doors open at 6.15pm for a 7pm start. Free entry.
• Robert Wilkinson’s Funfair (May 15-18) The return of the popular fairground to Meriden Park, Chelmsley Wood. 
• Photography Exhibition (May 30-31) Images of North Solihull submitted as part of a local photographic competition will be on show at Auckland Hall, in Smith’s Wood.
• Big Lunch (June 1) Chelmsley Wood joins in the now annual event, designed to get people together with their neighbours. It takes place at Bosworth Community Centre from 11am-3pm.
• North Solihull Primary Schools Football Tournament (June 12) Year 5 and 6 pupils will kick off a friendly competition at Arden Hall playing fields in Castle Bromwich. Starts at 4pm, free entry to local schools.
• Peter Pan (June 24) The curtain comes down on the festival programme with a performance of the children’s classic at Castle Bromwich Hall Hotel.

For a full list of events, with dates, times and admission charges (though many events are free), go to www.imagefest.co.uk/. And we’ll be reporting more closely on some of the individual attractions as they come closer.