Black Country Day 2018: The top events in your area

Black Country Day festivities are in full swing with family days, food festivals, comedy shows and even a coffin race - bostin'.

The annual Black Country Festival features independent events throughout July - with Black Country Day being the centrepiece on July 14.

Find out more about Black Country Day here.

Looking ahead to the festival, Mayor of Dudley Councillor Dave Taylor promised the festivities 'wouldn't disappoint'.

“We want to see people flying their Black Country flag with pride and support the many events taking place to celebrate the region we call home," he added.

To see the full list of events, click here

For more information about Black Country Festival, click here

Test your knowledge on the Black Country dialect here

Here we take a look at the top events already announced this year:

June 30 - Gornal Fun Day - Recreation Ground, Vale Street

Enjoy the beginning of Black Country Festival at the Gornal Fun Day.

Families can enjoy Punch and Judy performances, face painting, fair rides, a bouncy castle, vintage cars and Bikes.

There will also be a BBQ, raffle, combat reenactments, birds of prey shows, and live music from the High Arcal School Band.

The historic windmill will also be open to the public.

This event is free to attend.

July 6 - Street Food Affair - Bonded Warehouse, Stourbridge

Street Food Affair is back on the cobbled street of the Bonded Warehouse to mark the Black Country pride celebrations.

The event will see a variety of food stalls available for visitors to peruse, as well as live music.

This special evening will also see stalls and activities as part of the Twilight Art, Craft and Vintage Market.

Entry is £1 and children under 18 are free.

July 7 - Halesowen Carnival - Highfield Park

This annual event returns once more for 2018, taking place at Highfield Park.

The free-to-enter fair will have two stages showing live entertainment, from singers, to dancers, bands and circus acts.

A third stage, hosted by Black Country Radio, will play music.

There will be free activities for guests to get involved in, as well as a dog show, a teddy bears picnic for youngsters and a tight wire walk in the 'circus corner'.

Also on offer will be a fairground, facepainting, stalls and a 'worldwide food and drink court'.

Entry to this event is free.

July 7 - Chain Makers Festival - Cradley Heath High Street

Described as 'the largest celebration in Britain of women's political history' by organisers the Wolverhampton, Bilston and District Trades Union Council (Wolves TUC) the Chainmakers Festival will take place in Cradley Heath High Street.

"It re-enacts the struggle and celebrates the achievements and struggle of the trade union movement both then and now," says the Wolves TUC website.

The family-friendly street festival will include market stalls, fun fair rides, speeches, street theatre, music and debates.

July 7 - Birmingham and Black Country Half Marathon

Now in its 11th year, organisers of the event say they are expecting in excess of 1,800 competitors.

The run will start from Wolverhampton's British Waterways Canal Dock and end at Birmingham's Brindley Place.

It is open to participants of all abilities.

July 7 - Tividale Park Black Country Festival

Held at Tividale Park, this family fun day will include live entertainment throughout the day, including performances from dancers, singers, bands and more.

A children's area at the event will feature three bouncy castles, facepainting, circus skills, magic shows and environmental activities.

There will also be a 'Tividale's Got Talent' contest with prizes up for grabs.

Food, trade and charity stalls will be at the fun day too, as well as a car boot.

This event is free to attend.

July 8 - Willenhall Transport Show - Willenhall Memorial Park.

Thousands of people are set to descend on Willenhall Memorial Park for the annual transport show.

The show will see more than 200 vintage and interesting cars and vehicles, as well as live music, beer tents and a tyre flip challenge.

This is the first year a box cart competition has been included at the event.

Tickets cost £3, with a family ticket (two adults and two children) priced at £10.

July 14 - Dudley Fun Day - Stone Street

On the official date of Black Country Day, this Dudley town centre event will feature live music, street entertainers, a poets corner, live wrestling, arts and crafts stalls and more.

The fun day will also include exciting vintage car and motorcycle displays.

This event is free to attend.

July 14 - Coffin Race - Dudley Castle to Top Church

The 'Coffin Race' is being resurrected for this year's Black Country Day - for the first time in 12 years.

The tongue-in-cheek event, related to a historical event in Dudley, will see teams supplied with an empty coffin for the race which they will run with through the town in timed heats.

Dudley Borough Council, which is organising the race, says the event is 'a humorous re-enactment of an English Civil War event'.

Teams can register by emailing their team name, team captain and phone number to coffinrace@dudley.gov.uk by Thursday 12 July.

July 14 to 15 - Wolverhampton Fiesta - West Park, Wolverhampton

The Wolverhampton Fiesta, now in its third year, is returning to West Park.

It will be a fun packed weekend, with many things to do and see for the whole family.

There will be live music, food court, trade stands, monster trucks, fairground rides and much more.

Adult tickets cost £3 and child tickets are priced at £2.

July 19 - Jonny Cole and The Flat Pint of Mild - Robin 2, Bilston

Black Country comedian Jonny Cole is set to bring his new show to Bilston's Robin 2 as part of Black Country Festival.

Jonny began his career writing parody songs. His musical videos have garnered thousands of views online, and his live stand-up shows have gained him an army of followers across the country.

Tickets cost £12 in advance and £14 on the door.

July 28 - Buskin' For Parkinson's Summer Festival - The Lighthouse, Wolverhampton

With entertainment across two stages indoor and out, this charity event will take place at Wolverhampton's The Lighthouse.

The indoor stage will host acoustic music and spoken word.

The courtyard stage will have electric and acoustic music.

The event will also feature workshops, storytelling sessions, and stalls for visitors to enjoy.