What’s On Walsall – October 2025

HIGHLIGHT

Diwali: Community Day

Saturday 25 October, 12-4pm. The New Art Gallery Walsall. Free, drop-in.

Join us to celebrate Diwali, the festival of lights with storytelling from Peter Chand, lotus flower-making workshop from Daya Bhatti, Bharatanatyam dance performances from Jnan Deep Kundu, and Manpaal Singh will perform with Jori Pakhawaj (a percussion instrument made up of two individual drums). There will also be authentic South Asian food, mehndi from Mrs Bedi and colouring sheets for children & adults.

October events at The New Art Gallery Walsall

Gallery Square, WS2 8LG

Open: Tuesday–Saturday 10am–5pm; Sun 12–4pm. Free admission

thenewartgallerywalsall.org.uk

Exhibition Tour – Shelter: The Outside In National Open

Friday 3 October, 12-1pm. Free.

A tour of Shelter: The Outside In National Open Exhibition led by artist Helen Grundy.

Open Studio: Sophie Huckfield

Saturday 4 October, 2-4pm. Free, drop-in

Artist Sophie Huckfield will share in-progress artworks developed during her residency. Drawing on her connections with Hadfield Bridleworks, Walsall Gold Blockers, Sedgwick's Leather, and research at Walsall Archives, Sophie has developed a series of moving-image works, sculptures, and writings that explore the many meanings of relief, from the physical act of embossing and blocking, to the emotional and collective ways we seek release.

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 5 October: Acorn & Pine Cone People – Make an army of mini figures using natural materials, inspired by Joanna Simpson.
• Sunday 12 October: Mindful Drawing – Make detailed designs with white gel pens on black paper, inspired by Julia Oak.
• Sunday 19 October: Autumn Forest Wreaths – Wrap with raffia, dried grasses, seed heads, pipe-cleaners & card.
• Sunday 26 October: Paper Skeletons – Make moveable paper puppets using split pins.

Baby & Me

Wednesday 8 October, 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 11 October, 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.

Exhibition Tour followed by a Make Art workshop

Tuesday 16 October, 11am-3pm. Free

A tour of Shelter: The Outside In National Open Exhibition, and an art workshop with West Midlands artists.

Exhibition Tour – Shelter: The Outside In National Open

Friday 17 October, 12-1pm. Free.

A tour Shelter: The Outside In National Open Exhibition led by artist Sajida Asif.

In Conversation: Mia Banks, Mandeep Dillon, Tegen Kimbley

Saturday 18 October, 2pm. Free. Booking essential as numbers are limited.

Join artists Mia Banks, Mandeep Dillon, Tegen Kimbley for an informal introduction to their work as part of exhibition ‘Nothing Gold Can Stay: Assembly 2025.’

Animal Lanterns with Caldmore Community Garden

Tuesday 21 October, 11am-1pm. Free, drop-in. All ages.

Come along to the Gallery to make lanterns using recycled plastic bottles and tissue paper, inspired by this year’s Festival of Lights theme of migration. Explore animals that migrate, including birds, the Monarch butterfly and the blue whale, and design real and fantasy landscapes for them. Caldmore Community Garden will be celebrating The Festival of Lights on 8 & 9 November. Why not take your lantern along!

Flying Bat Crafts

Tuesday 28 October – Sunday 2 November

Free, drop-in during Gallery opening hours. Suitable for all ages.

Make a bat with moving wings using paper, straws & string.

Wednesdays For All: Colourful Pumpkins

Wednesday 29 October 2025, 11am-3pm. Free, drop-in. Ages 4+.

Draw and paint expressive, colourful, seasonal pictures using oil pastels & watercolour paints.

Young Masters: Modroc Fruit & Veg

Thursday 30 October 2025. 11am-12.30pm & 1.30-3pm

£4.50 per child. Age 6+. Please book at reception or call the Gallery on 01922 654 400.

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.

Join artist Rob Conway to explore Daya Bhatti’s Mobile Indian Market Cart. Learn how to sculpt fruit & veg from different cultures using plaster bandage and then apply paint for a realistic look.

Exhibitions (free)

• Shelter: The Outside In National Open Exhibition (Until 19 October 2025)
  81 artists responding to the theme of ‘shelter’.
• Nothing Gold Can Stay: Assembly 2025 (Until 9 November 2025)
  Group exhibition of local artists held in partnership with arts organisation Multistory.
• Creative Upstarts (Until 16 November 2025)
  A bold and dynamic showcase of emerging local creatives. Part of Walsall MakerFest Fringe.
• Hannah Maybank: Un-Still (Until 17 May 2026)
  An exhibition of recent work by Hannah Maybank
  
   

October events Walsall Arena & Arts Centre

Hawbush Road, Bloxwich, WS3 1AG • Box Office: 0300 555 2898 (Mon–Fri, 10am–2pm) www.walsallarena.com

Senior Citizens Orchestra Concert 

Thursday 2 October, 2pm. £2. Tickets available on the door.

The Senior Citizens Orchestra perform bi-monthly concerts at Walsall Arena and Arts Centre. Their programmes always offer a great mix of fabulous music and feature a whole range of popular classics and favourite show tunes. The concerts also include invited guests and performers.

Oh What A Night!

Friday 3 October, 7.30pm. £27.50 

‘Oh What A Night!’ takes you back in time on a musical journey through the incredible career of Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons. The cast includes West End performers Nick Corre, Alex Jordan-Mills, Ian Curran, and Jonathan Eio, who bring their amazing on-stage portrayal of the characters and their music. ‘Oh What A Night!’ combines infectious personalities, amazing vocals, slick harmonies, and even slicker dance moves to deliver a show full of energy and nostalgia, always leaving audiences wanting more!

80s Mania

Saturday 4 October, 7.30pm. £26.50.

Europe’s Official 1980’s Multi-Tribute Concert, featuring 28 chart-topping pop icons, authentically recreated with a powerhouse live band and sensational dancers. Performing over 35 chart-topping smash hits live on stage, with tributes to Duran Duran, The Human League, Kim Wilde, Culture Club, Madonna, Wham!, Nena, Toni Basil, Frankie Goes to Hollywood, Bananarama, Dead or Alive, Madness, and many more! As Ex-Radio 1 and Top of the Pops presenter Mike Read raved, “It’s like Top of the Pops meets Live Aid with the sexy dance troupe Legs ‘n’ Co.” So dig out your best ’80s fashion and get ready to party!

As We Were - The History of Oasis and Beyond

Saturday 11 October, 7.30pm. £27.50

Since their debut album ‘Definitely Maybe’, Oasis took the world by storm with seven studio albums, two live albums, and world tours. ‘As We Were – The history of Oasis and beyond’ takes you on a musical. Narrated by Clint Boon of Inspiral Carpets, the band that Noel Gallagher was a roadie for before he joined Oasis! The show is performed by the UK’s Number One Oasis tribute band, Oasish, who have earned Liam Gallagher’s nod of approval. A must-see production for Oasis fans. Could this be the ultimate Oasis experience? It Definitely Maybe.

Simon & Oscar - The Songs of Ocean Colour Scene

Friday 17 October, 7.30pm. £34

Join Simon Fowler and Oscar Harrison of Ocean Colour Scene for an unforgettable night of intimate acoustic performances. Experience their biggest hits, anthems, deep cuts, and hand-picked favourites from the Ocean Colour Scene songbook, up close and personal. 

Nik Kershaw - Musings and Lyrics

Saturday 18 October, 7.30pm, Tickets from £35.50

An intimate evening of songs, stories and silliness in the company of Nik Kershaw. Nik Kershaw exploded onto the UK pop scene in 1984. A string of global hit singles including ‘Wouldn’t it Be Good’, ‘The Riddle’ and ‘I Won’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me’ saw him languish for 62 weeks on the UK Singles Chart, making him the UK's biggest selling solo artist that year. In 1985, he performed at Live Aid. After stepping out of the limelight to concentrate on writing and producing, Nik wrote Chesney Hawkes’s ‘The One and Only’ and collaborated with Elton John, Lulu, Petula Clark, The Hollies, Ronan Keating, Jason Donovan, Let Loose, Sia, Imogen Heap, Gary Barlow and Bonnie Tyler. In 1998, Nik returned to performing and has been crafting critically acclaimed albums ever since. Now he’s ready to look back with an intimate evening to coincide with the release of his new book. Expect songs, stories, and silliness from one of the nation’s most-loved performers.

SOLD OUT - Jonny Cole: Armagudd’n

Monday 20 October and Wednesday 22 October, 8pm. £19.50

lllllright owammmmya…. Social media phenomenon Jonny Cole extends his tour into 2025 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. There will be more instruments and loads of brand new material - but he’ll also be bringing out the old classics too.

The Drifters

Friday 24 October, 7.30pm. £32.50

The Drifters are back on tour in the UK performing all their classic hits including ‘Saturday Night at the Movies', ‘You’re More Than A Number,’ ‘Come on Over to My Place’, ‘Under the Boardwalk’, ‘Kissin’ In The Back Row’ and many more! The legendary group have been inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, performed for the President of the United States and listed among the Greatest Artists of All Time by Rolling Stone magazine.

Legend - The Music Of Bob Marley

Saturday 25 October, 7.30pm. £33.50

When you think reggae, there is only one name that comes to mind. ‘Legend - the music of Bob Marley’ is an unforgettable evening celebrating this musical icon in one fantastic stage show. Combining his superb, distinctive vocals with flawless musicianship, a supremely talented cast recreate his timeless hits. Direct from a sell-out show at London’s Adelphi Theatre, a two-hour spectacular, showcasing the magic of Marley. It captures the charisma and culture of an icon gone too soon.

Northern Live

Thursday 30 October, 7.30pm. £27.50

Keeping the faith with the original sounds of the underground movement that began on the dance floors of the North before sweeping the nation! Experience an electrifying live show featuring an 11-piece band and four powerhouse vocalists performing over 30 Northern Soul classics.

October 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

SOLD OUT - Paint Like a Master with Rob Conway

Saturday 4 October, 1-4pm. £28 inc. all materials

This September Rob will be helping participants to create their own version of Georgia O'Keefe's 'Red Poppy' painting. Fear not, if you have no painting experience because Rob will lead you through the process step-by-step so that you will leave with a canvas that you are proud of.

Spooky Stories with Jenna Catton

Tuesday 28 October, 10.30-11.10am, 11.30am-12.10pm, 1.30-2.10pm and 2.30-3.10pm. £1.50. No need to book.

Come and listen to some fabulously spooky stories from storyteller, Jenna Catton.

Each session will begin at the times stated and will last approximately 40 minutes.

Please arrive in time to buy your ticket before the session starts.

Have-a-Go Leathercraft

Thursday 30 October, 10.30 am – 12.30 pm and 1.30 – 3.30pm. £1.50. Drop-in. No need to book.

The Leather Museum will be going bats this October half-term!  Make a hand-stitched leather bat for your own spook-tacular Hallowe'en!

October 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.

https://go.walsall.gov.uk/parks-and-green-spaces/visit-our-parks-and-play-areas/walsall-arboretum   

Apple Day

Saturday 25 October, 11.30am-3.30pm. Free, drop-in. Orchard Pavillion (a short walk from the Grange Car Park, WS1 2QB)

Join Walsall Arboretum User Group in celebrating this year’s apple yield all from our vey own orchard in the Arboretum. Children’s activities and apple games, hot refreshments, apple goods for sale, free bouncy castle, tombola and more. Apple food prepared by Walsall College from 1-2pm.