Main Sutton Coldfield road to close for big summer festival event

A main road through one of Sutton Coldfield’s popular suburbs is set to be closed for an annual summer festival. Boldmere Road will be shut from Jockey Road to Antrobus Road tomorrow, Sunday, June 23, from 10am to 10pm, along with Gate Lane and Fir Tree Grove, off the main road, for the annual Boldmere Summer Festival.

The event will take place from 1pm to 6pm with musical entertainment on the main stage, stalls and a children’s funfair with rides and games. There will also be a number of street food vendors selling savoury and sweet treats.

Drinks providers will sell slushies, craft beer and cider, wine real ale and cocktails. Among the stalls will be 50 artisan sellers with items from local Brummie Honey, based on Boldmere, to pies, chutneys and more. Boldmere shops will take part, along with the fire brigade subject to operational requirements.

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The festival has been running for more than a decade in Boldmere, with a brief break in 2020 and 2021, due to Covid. It brings the community together with thousands attending both this and the Christmas festival in the same street.

Paul Long, Boldmere Summer Festival manager, said: “This is going to be our largest event yet with over 80 stalls including more than 20 street food options. We're hoping for a big turnout as the weather is looking promising.

“We're grateful to Sutton Coldfield Charitable Trust for providing us with a grant to upgrade some of our storage, display and communication equipment and clothing for the core team of volunteers as well as running costs for this summer which will help us to deliver an even more efficient, safe and enjoyable experience at Sutton Coldfield's largest outdoor non-sporting event.

“Two of our new highlights this year include Caroline's Tea Bus - a double-decker bus serving afternoon teas, and Slushies UK with 20 flavours of ice-cold slush on a self-serve system."

Entertainment on main stage

1:00 – 1:30 Luke Brougham - Local guitarist, a fusion of modern and traditional acoustic styles.

1:45 – 2:15 Ben Drummond - Local award-winning songwriter and musician. Soulful vocals with stripped-down grooves.

2:30 – 3:00 Forro Tempó - Traditional dance infused rhythms from North Eastern countryside of Brazil.

3:15 – 3:45 Rocket Café - Local function band performing classic covers and dance floor-filling favourites.

4:00 – 4:30 Carrie Martin - Guitarist and Songwriter performing handcrafted folk-inspired ballads.

4:45 – 5:15 Smokin’ Tones - Local trio kicking out red hot rock ‘n’ roll and blues-inspired tunes.

5:30 – 6:00 Bostin Brass - The second city’s second line. A collective blasting out jazz, funk and soul vibes.

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Children’s funfair

• Ghost Train

• Planes ride

• Cup and saucer ride

• Bungee trampolines

• Roundabout

• Hook-a-Duck

Street food providers include:

Hot and savoury food:

• Dirty Fries & Nachos from The Scran Box

• Carvery & Yorkie Wraps from K & N Amusements

• Chinese style chicken & vegetable noodles from O & T Catering with sides including vegetable spring rolls, prawn crackers, and Curry, Sweet n’ Sour or Black Bean sauces

• Caribbean curry mutton, jerk chicken, BBQ jerk pork, wraps, BBQ chicken wings, mac & cheese, rice & peas from Spice it up BBQ

• German sausages including Classic German Bratwurst, Smoked Krakauer, Cheese Krakauer, Chilli Beef, Footlong Bratwurst and Traditional Pork Sausages from O & T Catering

• Malaysian street food from Boldmere based Just like Ma’s

• Wood Fired Pizza from Boldmere-based Cart & Carriage Events

• Caroline’s Tea Bus serving afternoon tea in an air-conditioned double-decker bus.

Sweet treats:

Most are Sutton Coldfield based:

• Project D – artisan doughnuts

• Baked in Boldmere – homemade sourdough bread and treats

• Divine Doughnuts – Gourmet Doughnuts & New York Baked Cheesecake

• Stuffed Bakes – stuffed cookies

• Bakes for your Soul – brownies, blondies, stuffed cookies, krispie treats and cake jars

• F1lo – macarons, cakesicles and traybakes

• Becky’s Bakes – homemade bakes

• Dale’s Handmade – Belgian waffles, warm brownies & cookie dough topped with ice cream or whipped cream and various other toppings

• The Fabulous Food Guys – Churros & Chocolate

• Anca’s Sweet Bakery – homemade chocolate fudge

• Ice Cream Van – Only Foods and Drinks

• Ice Cream Van – Clues Cones.

Drinks:

Any drinks sold in glass bottles for consumption at the festival will be decanted, except for drinks to take home. Event organisers said: “For everybody’s safety, please do not bring your own glass bottles to the festival.”

• Slushies UK – 20 flavours of ice-cold slush on a self-serve system

• The Krazee Horse – Bavarian Beer, Pilsner, Hawkstone Lager, Rattler Cider, spirits and soft drinks and mixers

• The Crafty Brewer – draft craft beer, Gin & Tonic and cider all to drink on site plus Craft Beer, Gin & Cider in cans and plastic bottles to take away.

• Classic Wine Company – fine wine, champagne and mulled wine

• Beowulf Brewing Company – real ale and brewery merchandise from Sutton Coldfield-based brewer

• Irrhysistible Drinks – bottled cocktails and shots to take away.

Market stalls

There will be more than 50 to include:

• Brockleby’s Pies

• Frank & Co sauces

• Honey and Beeswax products from Boldmere-based Brummie Honey

• Springfield kitchen – chutneys, jams, marmalades, ketchups and mustards.