The garden will be closed from Friday 19th December at 12pm
We will re open in the new year from Thursday 8th January at 10am
We hope you all have a lovely holiday, and we look forward to seeing you in the new year
Sparkling Christmas wishes from the Team here at Caldmore Community Garden
See you in 2026!
Saturday 13th December 2025, 1-4pm
Join us for Christmas At The Garden on Saturday 13th December, 1-4pm
Free entry!
Come and meet Santa and his elves in Santa’s Grotto with presents for Children!
Christmas with B’Opera
There will be Christmas crafts and tombola
Buy a mince pie, mulled apple juice, hot drinks or home-made cakes from our community cafe!
We look forward to seeing you and your family and celebrating Christmas together
With thanks to Youth Music, National Lottery Community Fund for making this event possible
The Festival of Lights is returning to Caldmore Community Garden on Saturday 8th and Sunday 9th November 2025 — and we want you to be part of the magic!
There are plenty of ways for local families, groups, and individuals to get involved in this year’s Lantern Procession on Sunday 9th November. From making your own lantern to joining our movement workshops, everyone is welcome to help light up Caldmore!
Lantern-Making Workshops
Wednesday 29th October – Family Lantern Making Workshop
11am–2pm
Caldmore Community Garden, WS1 3RH
Delivered by Bostin’ Arts, this fun and creative workshop is perfect for families and children to make their very own lanterns to carry in the Festival of Lights procession.
Saturday 1st November -Garden Saturday: Join the Procession Movement & Puppetry Workshop!
Would you like to be part of the Lantern Procession on Sunday 9th November?
Now’s your chance!
This Saturday 1st November, join Autin Dance Theatre at Caldmore Community Garden for a special Garden Saturday workshop. Families are invited to learn how to move together as a group, carrying beautifully lit-up props that will form part of this year’s magical Festival of Lights procession.
You’ll also get to explore the basics of puppetry — discovering how to bring props and creatures to life through movement, rhythm, and teamwork.
Session 1: 11am–12.45pm
Session 2: 1.15pm–3pm
Caldmore Community Garden, WS1 3RH
This friendly, creative workshop is open to everyone, of all ages – no experience needed!
Monday 3rd November – Women’s Lantern Workshop at Aaina Community Hub
11am–2pm
Aaina Community Hub, 1 Bath Road, Walsall WS1 3BZ
A relaxed and welcoming women-only session with Bostin’ Arts — create your lantern and connect with others in a creative, friendly space.
Thursday 6th November – Tots Lantern Session
10.30am–12pm
Caldmore Community Garden
Our regular Tots at the Garden session will be all about little lights! Bring your little one to make a lantern for the procession. This session will be delivered by Bostin’ Arts
Saturday 8th November –Lantern Making with New Art Gallery Walsall
4pm – 5.30pm
Caldmore Community Garden
Your last chance to make a lantern before the big night! Drop in and get creative with New Art Gallery Walsall — all materials provided. Together, we’ll light up Caldmore with creativity, colour, and community spirit.
We can’t wait to see you there!
With thanks to National Lottery Community Fund and Arts Council England for making these opportunities possible!
Half Term Holiday Activities at Caldmore Community Garden
Free Entry!
Wednesday 29th October // 11am -2pm
Lantern Making workshop with Sam Hale from Bostin’ Arts, no booking required!
Thursday 30th October // 11am – 2pm
Powered by Can – art workshops for all the family! No booking required!
Friday 31st October // 11am – 2pm
Movie screening of a movie about wizards at a School of Magic (booking required)
11am – 2pm
Followed by Harry Potter Event, 5pm – 7pm Free entry!
Saturday 1st November // 11am – 12.45pm & 1.15pm – 3pm
Dance & movement workshop with Autin Dance (booking required)
phone: 07384112507
email: caldmoregarden@gmail.com
Encouraging Biodiversity with Garden Organic on Tuesday 21st October 2025
Garden Organic will be delivering a workshop at Caldmore Cummunity Garden on Tuesday 21st October
12pm – 3pm
Garden Organic workshop at Caldmore Community Garden
21st October
12-3pm
Encouraging Biodiversity
Trainer: Caroline Nettleford
– The importance of biodiversity for your growing and the
environment
– How to make your garden more biodiverse and wildlife
friendly
– Choosing plants and growing methods to attract different species
please book your free space emailing caldmoregarden@gmail.com or WhatsApp on 07384112705
This workshop is free and funded through National Lottery Community Fund
We are excited to announce this year’s Festival of Lights programme!
Saturday 8th and Sunday 9th November 2025
Caldmore Village Festival presents : Festival of Lights 2025
A weekend of creativity! Free! 8th-9th November
A weekend of creativity and performing arts in Caldmore to light up all the community!
Saturday 8th November 2025
4.30pm // Family Lantern making workshop, with artist Daya Bhatti. 5+ with adult supervision (email caldmoregarden@gmail.com or whatsapp 07871813252)
6pm // Mr Shadow: Hand Shadow performance by Drew Colby
7pm Hand Shadow workshop
7.30pm // Fire Show with Helter Skelter
Sunday 9th November 2025
5.45pm // (meet at the garden)
6pm // Lantern Procession with RSVP Bhangra Band, B’Opera & Thingumajig Theatre
Come dressed up & light up the night!!!
7.30pm // Ghost Caribou performance with Thingumajig Theatre
Doors open half-an-hour before performance time.
The café will be open with drinks and refreshments
With thanks to National Lottery Community Fund, Arts Council England, Black Country Touring and The New Art Gallery Walsall
This collaboration celebrates our shared commitment to community-rooted arts, creativity and storytelling!
All photographs taken by Kate Jackson https://www.katejacksonphotography.co.uk/
Caldmore Community Garden is delighted to announce Autin Dance Theatre as our new Associate Artistic Company. We’re excited to have Autin Dance on board to bring new and inspiring elements to our annual Festival of Lights procession.
Our ongoing work with Autin Dance Theatre follows a series of successful creative projects, iFestival of Lights in 2023 and 2024, where Autin Dance Theatre captivated audiences with roaming and stage performances featuring the iconic Brimstone the Dragon and Echo the Sea Giant from Out of the Deep Blue.
As part of this year’s Festival of Lights 2025, Autin Dance Theatre will be working with Year 5 pupils at Caldmore Primary Academy to create a choreographed movement piece for the annual lantern procession through Caldmore.
In addition, there will be two opportunities for families to also take part in the lantern procession and learn some choreographed movement with Autin Dance Theatre during our Garden Saturday workshops
These free, creative sessions are open to children, parents, carers, and local residents of all ages. Together we’ll explore movement, storytelling, and simple performance techniques to build confidence, connection, and shared celebration. Everyone is welcome!
Whether you’ve danced before or not!
Together we’ll shape the light and movement of the Festival of Lights Lantern Procession!
Dates: Saturday 25 October & Saturday 1 November
Times: 11am–1pm and 1pm–3pm (two separate workshops for families to sign up to – please look on social media for sign up links)
Location: Caldmore Community Garden
With thanks to Arts Council England for funding this project
About Autin Dance Theatre
Autin Dance Theatre is an award-winning, innovative dance company and registered charity
based in Birmingham, UK, under the artistic direction of acclaimed choreographer Johnny Autin.
ADT’s mission is to inspire, educate, and drive positive social change through thought-provoking
and engaging multi-disciplinary arts activities. The company actively connects with local
communities, participants, and audiences, delivering work in theatres, public outdoor spaces,
and unconventional settings.
As a collaborative ensemble known for its unique blend of contemporary storytelling, striking
physicality, and large-scale designs, ADT creates socially inclusive and mass- participatory
movement projects across the UK and internationally. From dynamic outdoor processions to
immersive static performances, the company transports audiences on unforgettable journeys. Its
critically acclaimed productions include Out of the Deep Blue, Street Games, Brimstone the
Dragon, Parade – The Giant Wheel, and Light Up Fest, all of which have garnered a strong
reputation for impactful community engagement and artistic excellence.
In 2025, ADT is performing Up in the Sky, a groundbreaking new aerial dance production
featuring a colossal 7-metre rig, exploring themes of displacement, resilience, and belonging.
autindt.co.uk
@AutinDT
For full details about the company please visit: autindt.co.uk
Autin Dance Theatre media contacts:
Artistic Director Johnny Autin johnny@autindt.co.uk +44 (0) 755 798 1497
Autin Dance Theatre CIO | Birmingham, UK |T: +44 (0) 755 798 1497| hello@autindt.co.uk
autindt.co.uk | @AutinDT | Registered Company No 10824986 | Charity No 1210281
Festival Coordinator Kirsten Tranter kirsten@autindt.co.uk
Creative Producer Annalise McIntyre annalise@autindt.co.uk
Outdoor Arts Consultant Adam Towndrow adam@autindt.co.uk
Education & Participation Coordinator Natasha Boyes natasha@autindt.co.uk
Communication & Marketing Paulina Ozynska paulina@autindt.co.uk
Autin Dance Theatre CIO | Birmingham, UK |T: +44 (0) 755 7
Friday 31st October 2025, 5-7pm
Get your wands ready and your cloaks on – it’s time for a Harry Potter evening at the Garden
Come dressed as your favourite witch or wizard and discover which Hogwarts House you belong to! We can’t wait to see your costumes!
Join us for:
Potions lessons
Sorting Hat
Forbidden forests
Make your own wand
…Expect the unexpected!
On Saturday 20th September 2025 we will be marking the changing of seasons with our Leap Into Autumn event.
This year we’re working in partnership with Froglife who will be celebrating their Coalface to Wildspace project which is coming to an end after 3 years.
Froglife is a national wildlife charity committed to the conservation of amphibians and reptiles – frogs, toads, newts, snakes and lizards – and saving the habitats they depend on.
Join us in celebrating with Froglife where you and your family can take part in a range of activities!
See you on Saturday 20th September 12-4pm!
Coalface to Wildspace, Midlands
Coalface to Wildspace, Midlands is an exciting project funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and the West Midlands Combined Authority. The project is focusing around neighbourhoods across Walsall from 2022 to the end of 2025.
There has previously been very little focus on reptile and amphibian conservation in this region, so this project is raising awareness through public engagement, improving habitat through community interventions, and bringing attention to local natural and geological heritage.
To find out more information about Coalface to Wildspace click the link below
Join us on Saturday 20th September for a fun packed family day welcoming Autumn to the garden!
12-4pm
We’re celebrating the changing seasons with a day of family fun, this year we’re working in partnership with Froglife, who will be showcasing their Coalface to Wildspace project.
What’s On
Exhibitions, stalls & creative activities with Juneau Projects
Arts & crafts inspired by autumn, hibernation, frogs & mushrooms
The Mushroom Show by Scratchworks Theatre at 1pm – a magical performance for all ages
Interactive workshop with the theatre company at 2pm (spaces limited to 30 participants – you can book your spot in the interval)
Come along, get creative, and celebrate autumn with us!
with thanks to National Lottery Community Fund, Heritage Fund and Black Country Touring for making this event possible
Caldmore Community Garden 