What’s On Walsall – July 2025

HIGHLIGHT

The Bostin’ Black Country Bash

Saturday 5 July, 12-7pm. Walsall Arboretum, off Broadway North, WS1 2QB. Free

A free, family-friendly festival celebrating the region’s heritage and culture. Enjoy a day of live music from King Pleasure & The Biscuit Boys, Basil Gabbidon Band, Gabhru Panjab De, Kiani & Soul Therapy Band, and more, hosted by DJ Dicky Dodd. With food stalls, bars, kids’ rides, and traders from across the Black Country, there’s something for everyone. Don’t miss this celebration marking 20 years of the UNESCO Global Geopark network.

July events at The New Art Gallery Walsall

Gallery Square, Walsall, WS2 8LG. Free admission.

Opening hours: Tuesday to Saturday, 10am to 5pm, Sundays 12 noon to 4pm. Closed on Mondays and Bank Holidays. www.thenewartgallerywalsall.org.uk

Comfy Club Collective x The Joy Project closing event 

Saturday 5 July, 2-4pm. Free. Intended for young people around the ages of 16-25. 

Join the Gallery for the closing weekend of The Joy Project exhibition, featuring a drawing and painting workshop with Comfy Club Collective, using your memories as the subject.

Sunday Art Club

Sundays, 12-3pm. Age 4+. Free, drop-in.

The Gallery’s weekly art club for children and young people. Meet artists and creatives and learn to paint, print, sculpt, craft and more!

• Sunday 6 July: Glorious Greenhouses Build a greenhouse using cellophane & art straws
• Sunday 13 July: My Happy Things Draw with paint pens on mini canvas boards
• Sunday 20 July: Big Cat Collagraphs Print a textured lion, tiger or cheetah
• Sunday 27 July: Castles & Knights Paint medieval watercolour scenes

Baby & Me

Wednesday 9 July, 10.30am-12noon & 12.30-2pm.

Suitable for 0-24 months. £3.50 per child, places are limited, booking essential. Book at Reception or call 01922 654400.

Multi-sensory sessions for parents, carers and their babies. Explore colours and light projections, discover new smells, feel new textures in our touchy-feely books and relax in comfy cushions whilst you listen to a short story and meet other new parents.

Walk & Draw

Saturday 12 July, 11am-12.30pm. Free. Every second Saturday of the month. 

Artist Al Fawson leads these fast paced and fun workshops. Make speedy sketches of artworks in the Collections and temporary exhibitions, the Gallery’s architecture, the magnificent views from the Gallery’s windows, and the local area, including the wildlife along the canal, public sculptures and historical buildings along the high street. The focus will vary each month, therefore attendees are welcome to book onto all sessions, but this is not necessary.

Preview - Nothing Gold Can Stay: Assembly 2025 

Thursday 17 July, 6-8pm. Free, all welcome.

A group exhibition of new work made during the second iteration of Assembly, a development programme for local artists held in partnership with arts organisation Multistory. Initiated as part of Multistory’s artist development programme, Blast Creative Network (BCN), Assembly supports and platforms emerging artists in Sandwell and the Black Country through mentoring and a yearly exhibition. This year the Gallery have supported Mia Banks, Mandeep Dillon and Tegen Kimbley, whose practices span photography, moving image, sculpture and installation.

Paper Umbrellas

Saturday 19 July – Sunday 31 August. Free, drop-in during Gallery opening hours. All ages.

Create a paper plate rainy brolly or fold paper into a sunny parasol. Decorate using a variety of art materials. Will your umbrella shelter you from the rain, the sun or something else?

Mini Makers: Jolly Brollies

Tuesday 22 July, 11am-1pm. Drop-in. £3.50. Ages 2-5.

Get creative, explore art materials and build fine motor skills. Make paper fan beach parasols and play with shells, pebbles & sand in the sensory tray.

Young Masters: Paper Cutting – Angels & Skeletons

Thursday 24 July 2025. 11am-12.30pm & 1.30-3pm. £4.50 per child. Age 6+. 

Brand new workshops for aspiring young artists. Work with experts to explore processes and techniques in a range of art mediums, develop skills and create unique artworks with professional quality materials. Inspired by Peter Callesen’s papercut in the Collection, learn the craft of paper cutting with artist Sam Mace, and make a masterpiece!

South Asian Heritage Month Community Day 

Saturday 26 July. 12-4pm. Free, drop-in. All welcome. 

Join us to celebrate South Asian Heritage Month with interactive stories and dancing, book readings, craft activities, mehndi & more.

• Readings of children’s picture book Sunflower Sisters with the author, Monika Singh Gangotra, followed by family-friendly wellbeing workshops
• Stories & dance adventures with award winning performer Sohan Kailey
• Paper basket-making workshop with artist Taiba Akhtar
• Mehndi from Walsall Creative Factory ladies
• Learn about the work of the Afghan Community & Welfare Centre in Walsall, and try on Afghan clothes
• Learn about Walsall Bangladeshi Progressive Society’s support for local Bangladeshi communities
• Authentic South Asian food available
• Prayer room available with separation barrier

Young Masters: Silver Leaf Still Lifes 

Thursday 31 July 2025. 11am-12.30pm & 1.30-3pm £4.50 per child. Age 6+. 

Brand new workshops for aspiring young artists. Work with experts to explore processes and techniques in a range of art mediums, develop skills and create unique artworks with professional quality materials. Explore Hannah Maybank’s exhibition Un-Still with Rob Conway. Paint your own still life scene on canvas with black watercolour and silver leaf.

Exhibitions at The New Art Gallery Walsall (Free admission) 

• Shelter: The Outside In National Open Exhibition. 28 June - 19 October 2025
• The Joy Project. 21 February – 6 July 2025
• Nothing Gold Can Stay: Assembly 2025. 18 July – 9 November 2025
• Creative Upstarts. 1 August – 16 November 2025
• Hannah Maybank: Un-Still. Until 17 May 2026

July events at Walsall Arena & Arts Centre

Hawbush Road, Bloxwich, Walsall, WS3 1AG. 

Box Office: 0300 555 2898. Box Office opening hours: Monday to Friday, 10am to 2pm. 

Online booking available 24 hours at www.walsallarena.com

Stevie & Luther Tribute Show

Thursday 3 July, 7.30pm. From £26

One very special night of pure rhythm and soul-stirring music that defined a generation.

Be among the first to experience the brand-new Stevie and Luther concert, celebrating the multimillion-selling hits of Luther Vandross and Stevie Wonder.

UK Pink Floyd Experience

Friday 4 July, 7.30pm. £27.50

Celebrating 50 years since the release of the ‘Wish You Were Here’ album, UK Pink Floyd Experience recreates the atmosphere of Floyd live - featuring top-flight musicians, a stunning light show and more than two hours of incredible music. The brand-new show for 2025 includes all the songs from Wish You Were Here plus favourites from The Division Bell, The Wall, Animals and – of course - The Dark Side of The Moon.

SOLD OUT - Jonny Cole: Armagudd’n

Friday 11 July, 8pm. £19.50

Social media phenomenon Jonny Cole extends his tour with his biggest and best show yet! After amassing nearly four million views in just a couple of weeks on social media with his brilliant observations on Black Country life, Jonny Cole is bringing songs and saftness to Walsall in 2025! There will be no support on this tour - just 90 minutes of pure Jonny in two lovely 45-minute halves.

Luke Combs UK Tribute

Friday 25 July, 7.30pm. £27.50

The World’s leading tribute to the Grammy-nominated country megastar Luke Combs!

Get ready to experience the heart and soul of country music as we pay homage to one of the genre’s biggest stars. Join us for a night of incredible songs, authentic Southern vibes, and a whole lot of boot-stomping fun.

Buddy Holly and The Cricketers

Saturday 26 July, 7.30pm. £24.50

All Holly’s hits and other rock ’n’ roll classics are played live on stage by these five amazing actor-musicians. Generations of fans all across the globe have given standing ovations and shouted for ‘more!’ So, whether you’re young in years or young at heart, this show is guaranteed to have you singing along to the music and dancing in the aisles.

July events at Walsall Leather Museum

Littleton Street West, Walsall, WS2 8EW

Opening hours: Tuesday to Saturday, 10am to 5pm. Closed on Sundays and Mondays. 

Free admission. 

01922 652288 / www.walsall.gov.uk/leathermuseum

Stitchers and Skivers: Decorated plant pots

Wednesday 9 July, 10am-1pm & 1.30-4.30pm. £6.50 (includes materials, tea and biscuits). Booking essential.

A warm welcome awaits you at the Museum’s regular craft sessions. Each month they take on a different craft or theme and participants are encouraged to experiment with the materials. Support and ideas are plentiful. All welcome.

Have-a-Go Leathercraft Family Drop-In: Embossed and painted bookmarks

Tuesday 22 July, 10.30am-12.30pm & 1.30-3.30pm. £1.50 no need to book.

Come along to the Museum’s ever-popular have-a-go leathercraft drop-in!

Little Fishes Family Drop-In with Ruth Turnbull

Thursday 24 July, 10.30am-12.30pm & 1.30-3.30pm. £1.50 no need to book.

Create your own colourful woven fish with artist, Ruth Turnbull.

Have-a-Go Leathercraft Family Drop-In: Notebooks

Tuesday 29 July, 10.30am-12.30pm & 1.30-3.30pm. £1.50 no need to book.

Come along to the Museum’s ever-popular have-a-go leathercraft drop-in!

Clay Nature Heads Family Drop-In with Kate Tilley

Thursday 31 July, 10.30am-12.30pm & 1.30-3.30pm. £1.50 no need to book.

Get your hands dirty making a lovely clay head topped off with flowers and leaves with Kate Tilley.

Exhibitions at Walsall Leather Museum (Free admission) 

• Made in Walsall. Created by students studying the Open Award Level 1, Creative Arts & Media from Supported Learning at Walsall College. Until 30 August 2025.

July events at Walsall Arboretum

This rural retreat at the heart of Walsall town centre opened in 1874. It spans 170 acres and includes Hatherton Lake, the country park and the extension. The park includes gardens, green spaces, play areas, and sports facilities.

Walsall Classic and Retro Motor Show

Walsall Arboretum Extension, Broadway North, Walsall, WS1 2QA

Sunday 13 July 2025, 10am-4pm. Adults £5. Under 16s - Free.

Set in the popular surroundings of Walsall Arboretum, the Walsall Classic Motor Show is a fantastic day out for the whole family! Come and join us for a day of classics, music, food & drink, plus loads of children’s entertainment – including fairground rides and RC truck racing.

WOW! Fest – A celebration of outdoor dance and performance

Friday 18 – Saturday 19 July 2025, 10am-7pm. Free

Walsall Arboretum, Broadway North, Walsall. WS1 2QB

WOW! Fest (Walsall Outdoor Wonders Festival) is a new outdoor arts festival celebrating the best dance and movement-based performances created in the Midlands. This two-day event will bring together artists, communities, and audiences of all ages for a weekend of inspiring, high-quality performances in the open air.

Bubble Rush

Sunday 20 July 2025, 9am-3pm. Adults £16.50. Children £12/£4. Family £50.

Walsall Arboretum, Broadway North, Walsall. WS1 2QB

Join us for the return of our most foam-tastic event, Acorns Bubble Rush!

Bubble Rush is a fun run with a difference – it’s not a race! Bubble Rush events are not timed, so you’re not racing against anyone. No matter how you choose to take on the bubbles, the most important thing is that you finish with a smile on your face! At Bubble Rush you start in a sea of foam and around the course you’ll encounter four bubble stations filled with masses of colourful bubbles! Plus, it’s a 2-lap course, so you go through each bubble station twice for double the incredi-bubble fun! Everyone’s welcome at Bubble Rush – there’s no minimum or maximum age limit! Tots and teens, grown-ups and grandparents can all enjoy the pushchair and wheelchair-friendly course together.

Walsall Pride Picnic in the Park

Walsall Arboretum, WS4 2BU

Sunday 27 July 2025, 12-5pm. Free

Bring your own picnic, food, and drinks along for a relaxed afternoon in the park. Expect live music and singers on the bandstand. The perfect opportunity to enjoy the summer, connect with the community, and celebrate Pride in a relaxed and joyful atmosphere.