The eagerly awaited line-up for the beloved annual Jewellery Quarter Festival has been announced and the full programme is available to download, with print copies due to arrive in venues from next week. Visitors are set to enjoy a Saturday jam packed with live music, crafts, market stalls, arts and heritage tours, special events and much more, including a brand-new feature – a bespoke Jewellery Quarter themed miniature golf course! Returning on Saturday 20th July from 10am to 8pm, the Jewellery Quarter’s renowned summer festival will take over Golden Square and St Paul’s Square with activities across the area in over 20 local venues, making it the biggest party of the Summer.
Organised by the Jewellery Quarter Business Improvement District (JQBID), the JQ Festival is now back for its 9th year and is scheduled to kick off at 10am with the opening of the Jewellery Quarter Mini Golf Course on Golden Square. Obstacles on the 9-hole course include The Chamberlain Clock, St Paul’s Church and some of the pesky local seagulls… Challenge your friends and family to a tournament – it’s free to take part, although a £10 refundable cash deposit is required for equipment hire. Throughout the day there will also be music and dance performances on the Square including a set from Voice of the Town Choir and a Brazilian dance flash mob!
Alongside this, JQ Festival 2024 presents an abundance of interactive events throughout the day and evening for festival goers to participate in, including a selection of guided tours including walking tours around the area by Kevin Thomas of Birmingham Heritage Walks, a Foraging Walk with Sustainable Life and unique Catacomb tours run by the Friends of Key Hill and Warstone Lane Cemeteries. There’s even a chance to see inside the School of Jewellery with an Open Day and building tours. For those looking to try their hand at something new, visitors can make the most of the hands-on workshops, including chocolate making sessions, sensory dining experiences and a whole host of art workshops – from fingerprint inspired jewellery to smart textiles. If you fancy learning some moves, pop down to the new JQ Festival Dance Hub on Vittoria Street for workshops throughout the day for adults and children, hosted by CDOB – the Brazilian cultural centre on Vittoria Street. You’ll be ready to dance the day away to all our live music offerings, including the JQ Music Trail showcasing the talented students from Academy of Contemporary Music, at venues throughout the Quarter all afternoon.
JQ Festival’s main stage on the picturesque St Paul’s Square is returning for the fourth time with live bands curated by The Jam House. The show will be taking place throughout the afternoon into the early evening and the party is set to continue into the night at venues surrounding the Square. There’s no shortage of places to eat and drink throughout the day too, with cafes, restaurants and pubs serving every cuisine imaginable around the Jewellery Quarter.
For those looking to buy something unique there will be two markets taking place as part of the JQ Festival – run by Birmingham Design and Friends and Birmingham Artisan Markets, both filled with stalls showcasing local makers, artists and creatives.
Commenting on this year’s Jewellery Quarter Festival, Luke Crane, Chief Executive Officer of the JQBID, said:
“This is the 9th year of the JQ Festival, and every year we look forward to celebrating the energy and heritage of the Jewellery Quarter. It’s the biggest party of the year bringing together local businesses, residents, and communities.
As the JQBID our ongoing mission is to promote the thriving independent retailers, museums, attractions, bars, restaurants and venues that sit at the heart of our growing community. Every year we try to do something new – and we are enormously excited to unveil our Jewellery Quarter Mini Golf Course this summer!
“The JQ Festival is a celebration of one of Birmingham’s most unique neighbourhoods and we welcome everyone and anyone in the area to pop down on the 20th for an unforgettable day out. We look forward to seeing you all there!”
JQ Festival is set to return to Birmingham this month from 10am – 8pm on Saturday 20th July 2024.
To discover the full programme of the JQ Festival 2024, head to https://jewelleryquarter.net/whats-on/jq-festival/ and download the full programme.