Bournville village festival

Event Information

Scroll down to find out more information about BVF!

 

the date for BVF2024 is:

Coming Soon

The history Of Bournville Village Festival

How did it all start?

In 1902, in common with the rest of the country, the small village of Bournville (then only 400 homes) decided to celebrate the Coronation of King Edward VII in the form of a festival for the local children. The first Festival was so greatly enjoyed by the local families that it was decided by Bournville Village Council’s founder, George Cadbury, to make it an annual event with the Maypole being the centrepiece.

During the First World War Bournville Village Festival came to a halt but recommenced in 1919 and continued until 1939 when, once again, war brought it to a stop. During the Second World War performances were given on Rowheath Playing fields but, when peace came, the Festival began again at the Cadbury Men’s Recreation Grounds, where it is still held to this day.

In 2019 the Festival celebrated its’ 117th Anniversary and, although the content has changed over the years, the Maypole has always been an important central item and has now become a great tradition belonging to Bournville. 2020 and 2021 are the only years since the war that the festival has not taken place and we’re looking forward to making the 2022 festival bigger and better than ever before.

Featured acts

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Full programme of events

To Be Announced

Our festival logo!

This is Bournville Village Festival’s brand new logo kindly designed and donated to us by one of our sponsors – Smallfry Productions

What usually goes on at

Bournville Village Festival

arena acts & fireworks finale

Various arena acts including the annual Maypole.
Fireworks display sponsored by Mondelez.

craft Tent

Hosting some of the best local crafters around with a wide variety of crafts from jewellery to jams, our craft tent has them all.

funfair, Activities, Games & stalls

Funfair rides, activities, games and all kinds of different stalls. This year we are having more stalls than ever before which means we have been able to arrange some more free activities for families visiting the festival.

food & drinks

If you’re peckish at the festival we have a variety of food and drink stalls at varying prices to satisfy your cravings.
You’re also more than welcome to bring a picnic but please remember to put any rubbish in the bins provided.

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Where can I buy advance tickets?

 

Advance Ticket Sales will be announced in 2024

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2024 Entry Prices:

about

The Bournville Maypole

Every year local children perform in the Maypole at Bournville Village Festival. The production, presentation and teaching of the Maypole dancers is the voluntary work of both Olivia Walsh and Vicky Rice along with a few other helpers. Without the children and the help and support of the parents we would not be able to continue with this wonderful tradition. If you or someone you know may be interested in dancing in the maypole, becoming the maypole queen or simply helping out with the maypole team then please get in touch with us via our contact us page. Thank you!

The Bournville Maypole Dances:

  1. Come Lassies and Lads
  2. Heralds announce the arrival of the Festival Queen, preceded by the Retiring Queen
  3. The Crowning of the Queen
  4. Dance by the Petal boys and girls
  5. Step by Step
  6. The Gypsies’ Tent
  7. Dance of the Gypsies
  8. The Chain
  9. The Queen’s Basket
  10. The Barbers Pole
  11. Merrily We Dance Around
  12. Soldiers of the Queen
  13. Finale

bvf 2023 Maypole queen

Lucy O’Sullivan

Lucy o'sullivan wAS crowned as the 2023 maypole Queen on 24/06/23 at bournville vilLage festival.

BVF 2024 Maypole Monarch:

To Be Announced after the choosing ceremony

Maypole Dancers Required for the festival

If your child would like to take part in the Bournville Village Festival maypole dancing in the future, please contact us using the contact form on our website.

You no longer have to live in Bournville to be eligible to dance, so we welcome children from all over the local area and there is no gender requirement. All are welcome.

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Sponsors

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Programme Sponsors

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Craft Fair Stallholders

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when posting about bournville village festival on social media, remember to use the hashtag!

 

#BVF24

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Other Information

Get Involved

We can always do with an extra pair of hands at Bournville Village Festival, if you’d like to help out and volunteer then please click the button below, this will take you to an online form where you can register your interest. Once you have done this one of the festival team will get in touch with you.

Sponsor Us

It costs us a lot of money to put on Bournville Village Festival every year, as the economy grows and changes the prices of stalls and services we have to pay for to run the festival’s costs grow too.
If you think you are able to help us by sponsoring the festival with your hard earned cash or with your services please get in touch…

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Contact Us

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