A BOSTIN’ month-long celebration of the Black Country kicks off on Saturday.

The Black Country Festival is back to normal after the programme was disrupted over the past two years due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The centrepiece of this year’s festival is the big Black Country Weekender on Saturday July 16 and Sunday July 17 at Himley Hall.

Saturday will see a 20-piece orchestra and guest DJs and vocalists bring a slice of Ibiza to the Black Country, with a Proms In The Park event running from 3pm to 9pm.

And on Sunday, 80s stars Go West, The Fizz and Roland Gift from the Fine Young Cannibals will be joined by top tribute acts and comedians for Musicom 2022 which will run from noon to 8pm.

Early bird tickets are still available for both days, but the offer runs out on midnight on Saturday.

Before that, the festival kicks off this weekend with events in Stourbridge, Halesowen and Coseley.

Halesowen Carnival, held in Highfields Park, has free entry and runs from noon to 8pm on Saturday (July 2).

It will feature live music and entertainment, a dog show, food and drink stalls and a fairground. Star guest this year is ITV weatherman, actor and musician Des Coleman, who will be singing in The Rat Pack.

On Sunday, there will be a free family fun day in Coventry Street, Stourbridge, from 11am to 5pm. It will feature free children’s entertainment including a Punch and Judy show, market stalls, live entertainment and street performers.

Free family fun days will also run in town centres in Dudley (Saturday July 9, 9am to 5pm); Halesowen (Black Country Day, Tuesday July 14, 9am to 5pm); Brierley Hill (Saturday July 30, 9am to 4pm) and Sedgley (Sunday July 31, 10am to 4pm).

There will also be a classic car show at the Dudley event on July 9.

The festival comes to a close on Sunday July 31 with the first-ever Black Country Folk Festival at Himley Hall.

Councillor Sue Greenaway, Mayor of Dudley, said: “It’s great to see the festival back to normal this year with a month packed full of events for the whole family.

“The Black Country Festival is a great chance to fly the flag, come together and be proud of who we are and where we’re from.

“I look forward to a bostin’ month meeting lots of proper Black Country folk.”