Road closures in Sutton Coldfield as thousands expected at Christmas Festival

A main road in Sutton Coldfield is set to be shut off for the day as Christmas comes to town at a spectacular annual festival. Boldmere Road is set to be shut off from 10am on Sunday (November 17) as the twelfth running of the Boldmere Christmas Festival and lights switch on takes place.

This year will see more than 80 market stalls and Boldmere’s shops, with 30 street food options catering for all tastes. As well as draught beers and ciders and wines, plus wines and cocktails, as well as entertainment, funfair rides, a new children and family.

Special attractions for the 2024 festival will include a helipod from Midlands Air Ambulance, a fire engine and virtual reality road safety goggles. Several roads in the area will be made one-way for the day, with temporary parking restrictions on place and another road partially closed, with just access to homes allowed.

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The event takes place from 1pm to 6pm, with the Christmas lights switch-on set to be done by Boldmere’s own Commonwealth Games medallist, gymnast Hamish Carter at around 5.15pm. Boldmere Road will be closed off from Jockey Road to Antrobus Road/Highbridge Road from 10am to 9pm to allow for set-up and clean-up time.

Redacre Road will be partially closed off at Boldmere Road, although households living there will be allowed access. Redacre Road will be one-way from its junction to Heathlands Road to Oakwood Road. Oakwood Road will be one way from Antrobus Road to Jockey Road. And there will be several ‘no waiting’ restrictions along Antrobus Road.

The main entertainment on the day will take place on the McCarthy Stone Main Stage, compered by Terri-Anne Coupe. It will feature:

1:00 – 1:30 Sutton Coldfield Musical Theatre Company - Live songs from Annie;

1:45 – 2:15 Banners Gate (Carrieann Hathaway and Harry Daniels) Local acoustic duo. Champions of North Birmingham ’s open mic community;

2.30 -3:00 Christie Reeves - Local singer songwriter entwining haunting folk music with pop ballads;

3:15 – 4:00 Rockin’ Carols from Real Life Church - Local musicians of Real Life Church performing rocking Christmas Carols;

4:15 – 5:00 The Black Jeans - Local trio of indie rockers kicking out energetic covers;

5:05 – 5:15 Andi Markham the Puppet Man with his friends Jack and Grandad;

5:15 – 5:25 Christmas Lights Switch-on with Boldmere’s very own Commonwealth bronze medal-winning gymnast Hamish Carter;

5:25 – 5:30 From the Top Theatre Company - Extract from Goldilocks and the 3 Bears being performed at Highbury Theatre and

5:30 – 6:00 DJ Phat Tony X Dinky Sax - Sutton’s Saxophonist Becky Tangry performing alongside the party vibes of DJ Phat Tony.

The funfair rides will include a Ferris wheel, mini dodgems, fun house, helter skelter, planes ride, cup and saucer ride, bungee trampolines, a roundabout and hook-a-duck.

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Street food will include savoury treats for (nearly) all tastes. These will include Caroline’s Tea Bus, serving afternoon tea in an air conditioned double decker bus; hot turkey, beef rolls, Yorkshire pudding wraps and luxury hot chocolate from K and N Catering; Dirty Fries & Nachos from The Scran Box and German sausages including classic German bratwurst, smoked Krakauer, cheese krakauer, chilli beef, footlong bratwurst and traditional pork sausages from O & T Catering.

That firm will also be serving Chinese style chicken & vegetable noodles with sides including vegetable spring rolls, prawn crackers, and curry, sweet n’ sour or black bean sauces and gourmet burgers.

Other savoury providers include Tasty States – hot pressed wraps and sides inspired by American flavours; wood-fired pizza from Jockey Road based Cart & Carriage Events; freshly cooked barbecue meat from Paul’s BBQ and jacket potatoes with a variety of fillings from DC Event Catering.

And traditional Caribbean food including boneless jerk chicken, curried goat, rice & peas, fresh salad, plantains, fluffy festival dumplings, rum cake, scones and Caribbean-inspired jams from Boldmere’s own Bambu Garden, freshly cooked jacket potatoes from DC Events Catering and Mediterranean Greek Grill from Souvlaki to Go.

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Those with a sweet tooth will also be spoilt variety of fruit crumbles served with custard, whipped cream or ice cream from The Crumble Hut; Cinnamon Christmas tree biscuits from Sutton Park Grange Care Home, which can be decorated in aid of Alzheimer’s Society; Artisan hand-made gourmet and vegan doughnuts and New York cheesecakes from Divine Doughnuts.

There will be churros with melted Belgian hot chocolate from The Fabulous Food Guys., home-made sourdough bread and treats from Boldmere’s very own Baked in Boldmere. luxury hand-made bakes, brownies, NYC stuffed cookies, cupcakes and brownie jars from Bakes for your Soul and home-made tray bake cakes from Becky’s Bakes.

Also gourmet chocolate brownies, flapjack, rocky road and brownie balls with vegan and gluten free options from Chocolate Treats; Stuffed cookies topped and bursting with the most loved flavours and treats from Stuffed Bakes; Macarons, cakesicles and traybakes from F1lo; Anca’s Sweet Bakery’s home-made chocolate fudge; Ice cream van with desserts from Only Foods and Drinks and alcohol-infused bakes including chocolate chip whisky cookies with a chocolate whisky ganache, rum cookies, vodka cookies, amaretto & cream liqueur cookies from Lizzie’s Cookies.

Other food stalls include a range of pies hand-made in Melton Mowbray from Brockleby’s Pies; hand-made, additive free chutneys, jams, marmalades, ketchups and mustards (most vegan and gluten free) from Springfield Kitchen; Scotch Bonnet Jelly, chilli sauces and seasoning from Frank & Co, local honey and other hive products from Monmouth Drive-based Brummie Honey and olives and sea food peppers from Feinkost.

Booze will include The Krazee Horse Bar with draught Bavarian beers, ales, draft Rattler Cornish Cider, prosecco and cocktails; bottles of Wine, prosecco, Champagne and spirits to take away from the Classic Wine Company; hand-crafted bottled cocktails and shots to take away as Christmas presents from Irrhysistible Drinks and beers on tap from The Pavilions pop-up bar from The Lounge’s owners.

The event has been organised by Boldmere Futures with sponsorship from McCarthy Stone and grant support from Royal Sutton Coldfield Town Council. Event manager, Paul Long, said: “We have planned for another awesome festival this year.

“We have a great line-up of live performances including the headline act The Black Jeans. There will be other 80 Christmas market stalls including 30 street food options.

“We will also be trialling a new quieter Family Zone behind the shops by The Newman Centre and RotoSpa. We're looking forward to welcoming thousands of visitors on Sunday.

“I'm also thrilled that after many years of asking, Hamish Carter, Boldmere's very own all-around gymnast and Commonwealth Games bronze medal winner, is finally at home this year, rather than competing or at university in Illinois, and he has agreed to turn on the Christmas Lights for us."