Right, fam, we’re officially out of the Christmas madness and diving headfirst into January! Before the post-holiday slump hits, there are a few fantastic last-chance holiday treats and some genuinely interesting things happening this weekend (Jan 3rd & 4th). You have to catch the last day of No Such Thing As Wolves at the Hippodrome if you missed it, and the Ozzy Osbourne exhibition is free and running all weekend. Let’s see what the rest of the city is offering!
Quick Picks
Ozzy Osbourne: Working Class Hero
Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery
Brilliant (and free!) look at the Black Sabbath legend's career.
Witches, Ghosts and Spirits: a Shakespeare exhibition
Library of Birmingham
A cosy, spooky dive into Shakespeare's darker side, right in the city centre.
No Such Thing As Wolves: a musical for children
Birmingham Hippodrome Theatre
A lovely, festive-feeling musical adventure perfect for littler ones before it closes Sunday!
No Such Thing As Wolves: a musical for children
This is your absolute last chance for this fun musical about Hettie Hedgehog and Sydney Squirrel – it’s the final day on Sunday too! Written by the team behind *Horrible Histories*, it’s sure to have catchy songs and laughs for the little ones.
Why we picked it: It’s the last weekend to catch this My First Musical series show before it leaves the city!
Ozzy Osbourne: Working Class Hero
It’s still on, celebrating our local rock legend Ozzy! This is a great cultural stop if you fancy a museum visit but want something a bit cooler than pottery. Definitely a good shout if the weather turns.
Why we picked it: It's a genuinely cool, free exhibition celebrating a Birmingham icon, and this is one of the last two weekends it's on.
Witches, Ghosts and Spirits: a Shakespeare exhibition
If we get rained in, head to the Library to check out Shakespeare’s spooky side – think witches and ghosts! It's a proper local gem you can just pop into, and it costs nothing.
Why we picked it: It’s a free, interesting, indoor event at a central location, perfect for a spontaneous plan.
Sunsets, food and friendship: young people's photography exhibition
This is a proper local, meaningful exhibition featuring photography by students based on their own stories. It’s right by the Library so you can combine it with the Shakespeare event for a culture fix.
Why we picked it: A thoughtful, free, youth-led exhibition to support local creatives.
Robin Hood at Birmingham Hippodrome
If the kids missed the wolves show, there’s still Robin Hood running for another month! Expect big names like Christopher Biggins and Gok Wan for a proper laugh-out-loud panto.
Why we picked it: It's the classic Brum Panto running well into January for those who need a festive fix.
Ice Skate Birmingham
You better get down here fast as this is the second to last day for the Centenary Square rink and Big Wheel! Perfect for blowing off some steam after Christmas, even if it’s chilly.
Why we picked it: It's the last day of the rink on Sunday, so Saturday is your last chance for this seasonal outdoor fun.
Sherlock Holmes and the 12 Days of Christmas
A festive murder mystery whodunnit starring Sherlock – sounds like fun if you have older kids who like puzzles. It’s on for a few more weeks, but great for a Saturday afternoon.
Why we picked it: It's a unique, post-Christmas mystery show that caters to slightly older kids.
No Such Thing As Wolves: a musical for children
Final day! If you’ve got preschoolers, this is a great option for a proper theatre trip out. Expect woodland animals and a wolfy twist – the writers also did *Horrible Histories*, so it'll be fun for us parents too.
Why we picked it: Last chance to see this family musical before it finishes its run on Sunday.
Birmingham Fun Puzzle Treasure Hunt
This is a great way to force the family out and actually see bits of the city centre you normally walk past. You solve puzzles all over town and end up at a pub for a discount – win-win.
Why we picked it: It feels like a game rather than just another walk, making it engaging for older kids.
Ozzy Osbourne: Working Class Hero
The last day to see the Black Sabbath legend’s exhibition for free! It's a classic BMAG wander, but focusing on Ozzy makes it much more exciting for teens who think museums are boring.
Why we picked it: Free admission makes it a low-risk, high-reward option for a family outing.
Ice Skate Birmingham
Today is the absolute final day for the outdoor rink and Big Wheel in Centenary Square – if you haven't gone yet, this is your last chance for some ice time!
Why we picked it: It's the very last day of this seasonal attraction, so get your skates on!
Robin Hood at Birmingham Hippodrome
Another chance for panto mayhem with Robin Hood, Gok Wan and Christopher Biggins. If you have teens who still secretly love a bit of slapstick, this will do the trick.
Why we picked it: The panto season is winding down, so catch this while it’s still running.
Walking club at Sutton park
If you need to burn off some of those Christmas nibbles, this club meets in Sutton Park to get you moving. It's super cheap and gets you into a massive green space.
Why we picked it: It's a budget-friendly way to get proper fresh air on a Sunday morning.
Christmas at Charlecote Park
This is the *very* last day to see the house done up like a mid-1800s masquerade ball! It’s a bit out of Brum, but worth it if you love history and fancy seeing a grand house decorated one last time.
Why we picked it: It’s the last chance to see this specific Christmas decoration theme before they pack it all away.
Frequently Asked Questions
What free kids events are on in Birmingham this weekend?
This weekend (Jan 03-04) there are three genuinely free options: the Ozzy Osbourne: Working Class Hero exhibition at the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery (ends Jan 18th), the Sunsets, food and friendship photography exhibition at The Exchange, and the spooky Witches, Ghosts and Spirits exhibition at the Library of Birmingham.
What's a good rainy day activity for a tween on Sunday?
Head to the Library of Birmingham for the free 'Witches, Ghosts and Spirits: a Shakespeare exhibition' (ID: birmingham-4), or book tickets for the Sherlock Holmes and the 12 Days of Christmas show at the REP for some indoor mystery solving (ID: birmingham-12).
Are there any last-chance Christmas/winter events for toddlers?
Yes! Sunday, Jan 4th is the very last day for No Such Thing As Wolves at the Hippodrome (ID: birmingham-2), which is perfect for under-5s, and also the final day for Ice Skate Birmingham in Centenary Square (ID: birmingham-10) if you fancy a chilly adventure.