This is a busy weekend for families in Birmingham.
You can welcome in the Year of the Monkey as part of the Chinese New Year celebrations in Southside, and have a go at pancake flipping in Cannock.
There are pantos taking place (oh yes there are!) at the New Alexandra Theatre and Cadbury World, and CBeebies fans can see Iggle Piggle and Upsy Daisy in Redditch!
Celebrate Chinese New Year in Southside
There will be Chinese music, lion dancers, acrobats, martial artists and more in The Arcadian on Sunday February 7 from 12.30 to 5pm as thousands come together to welcome in the Year of the Monkey.
The festivities will spill out into the streets with the surrounding Hurst Street and Inge Street lined with street food and traditional market stalls, selling their wares to visitors as well as a fairground providing fun for all the family.
Chinese New Year pictures
Jack and The Beanstalk at the New Alexandra Theatre
Jack and the Beanstalk will be the 30th PricewaterhouseCoopers pantomime, a remarkable achievement for a unique charitable theatrical production.
The pantomime is put together by over 200 PwC staff and alumni who work on all aspects of the production in their spare time, covering everything from acting, singing, dancing and directing to script and lyric writing.
The shows take place on February 4 at 3pm and February 6 at 1pm.
Tickets start at £15.90 and money from the ticket sales will help PwC bring school children, community groups and charities to the shows.
National Libraries Day
Saturday February 6 is National Libraries Day. Libraries in the UK were visited an astonishing 265 million times last year! Libraries are a vitally important public service, celebrate them by taking part in an event at a library near you.
Europe’s largest public library, the Library of Birmingham.
Iggle Piggle and Upsy Daisy in Redditch
One for In the Night Garden fans!
Listen to the stories and songs of Iggle Piggle and Upsy Daisy, told by a professional storyteller in The Room Upstairs at Redditch Palace Theatre on February 6 at 10.30am.
There will also be themed craft activities and giveaways.
Tickets cost £3 and are available from Rokiel Entertainment.
Practice pancake flipping at Cannock Shopping Centre
Cannock Shopping Centre and Copper Kettle Café are inviting shoppers to put their pancake flipping skills to the test in a bid to raise vital funds for blind people.
In return for a £1 donation to Beacon Centre for the Blind, shoppers will be able to test themselves and see how many times they can flip a pancake in one minute, for the chance to win a hamper of goodies.
The event runs from 12 to 2pm on Saturday February 6, and all proceeds will go to help those with sight loss lead a fuller and more independent life within the local community.
Sleeping Beauty Panto at Cadbury World
A panto in February? Oh yes it is! Following record visitor numbers for the Christmas Celebration Weekends at Cadbury World in Bournville, the pantomime Sleeping Beauty and the Chuckle Bean Fairy will be returning to the attraction on February 6 and 7.
Based on the popular tale, with a unique chocolatey twist, it’s the perfect way to fit in some last minute pantomime fun as part of a family day out.
Normal admission fees apply.
Pantomime at Cadbury World
The Sound of Music at Malvern Theatre
A brand new production of timeless family classic The Sound of Music is happening at Malvern Theatre from February 2 to 6.
Starring The Voice finalist Lucy O’Byrne, this lavish new staging tells the true story of the world-famous singing family, from their romantic beginnings and search for happiness, to their thrilling escape to freedom as their beloved Austria becomes part of the Third Reich at the start of WWll.
Tickets start at £28.
Source: http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/
