Black Country gets ready for its big day
[gallery] It's time to rejoice in all things Black Country as a weekend of celebrations gets under way.
From brilliant bands rocking the night away to fabulous food like faggots and paes – it's going to be a bostin' weekend.
Pubs and attractions are joining in on the fun with a host of themed events with food, live music and poetry recitals planned.
Major events are taking place in Dudley and Wolverhampton today and tomorrow with thousands of people expected to attend.
Well known faces are also flying the flag for the Black Country, including Wolves legend Steve Bull, who swapped old gold and black for the colours of the Black Country Flag to celebrate the festival of events.
He said: "It was superb growing up in the Black Country. It is full of brilliant people and I think this day will really put us on the map.
"Some fantastic people have come out of the Black Country, which just goes to show how much talent we have got here.
"There are also some great football teams and schools and businesses so it's a great place to live."
We want to hear YOUR Black Country accents, loud and and proud . . . and you could win £100! Find out more here
A Black Country Night Out - review
Last night the Black Country Festival kicked off with an event featuring some of the area's best known comics.
Wordsley's Red House Glass Cone hosted A Black Country Night Out with Aynuk, The Fizzogs and Black Country Gaz.
The fun continues today and with a Celebrating Cultural Diversity Day at the Cone feature music, performance art, dancing and art exhibitions.
The line-up includes The Empty Can, which has created the Black Country Anthem, with additional music by Pat Breslin, Alice Coley, Esther Turner and Highway Dave and the Varmints among others.
Also today a range of activities and entertainers were wowing the crowds in Stone Street Square, Dudley, with events through until 7.30pm.
And up to 10,000 people are expected to attend the Wolverhampton and Black Country Show this weekend at West Park.
TV stars including EastEnders' Larry Lamb will attend the event as part of the World War One at Home tour, which is only visiting eight towns and cities in the UK.
Tomorrow the day is given over to poetry and spoken word at the Red House Glass Cone with Heather Wastie, Billy Spake Mon, Brendan Hawthorne and Dave Reeves.
The Empty Can band members joined musician and festival organiser 'Black Country' Gaz Sawers to serenade visitors outside the Express & Star head office in Wolverhampton yesterday.
Miss Black Country Shelley-Marie Sumner is also getting behind the festival. The 22-year-old from Bentley, Walsall, will be among those enjoying the festival events.
Ommer n Spake is being held tomorrow at Black Country Day Mushroom Green Chain Shop, in Dudley Wood.
The venue, in Quarry Road , will feature themed events on the spoken word event open to poets, singers and storytellers.
Master of Ceremonies is historian and film maker Harry Bloomer and poets Roz Goddard and Billy Spake Mon will also be there.
One of the organisers, Fran Wilde, said: "It will be an informal celebration of the Black Country in great surroundings."
The Black Country Arms pub in Walsall High Street is holding a beer festival all weekend with a selection of ales from across the area. Bleakhouse Library, in Bleakhouse Road, Oldbury, is hosting a talk about life in the area on Monday from 2.30pm.
There is also the Best of the Black Country Variety Show from 7pm to 9.30pm
The Robin 2 in Wolverhampton is putting on a Black Country Day Live Music Bash that will see six of the area's best bands take to the stage. The event on Monday will include music from The Empty Can.
Tweet us your views @ExpressandStar or leave them in the comments box below.
