Popular Wolverhampton festival scrapped for 2023 after eight years

It featured live entertainment for youngsters during the day and a full live concert in the evening, all centred around Queen Square.

Last year saw daytime entertainment by Wolverhampton's Hit the Dhol, a kids' movie showtime, Cbeebies presenters and an evening 80s DJ set by Spandau Ballet's Martin Kemp.

But this year's event won't go ahead, due partly to a squeeze in the budget in the wake of BID getting less in business levies and in light of the re-opening of The Halls in the city.

The Pride festival which took place on Saturday attracting 6,000 people was another free event and a planned summer holiday education programme called Jurassic Wolves is also planned.

BID director Cherry Shine said the decision had been taken due to a squeeze on the levy paid by businesses, the number of events already happening in the city centre and the success of the re-opening of the Halls and the Pride festival.

She said: "We have loved putting on Wolverhampton Live! which has been a free one-day festival for the last eight years and have had some great entertainment, activities and acts for all ages based around it.

"But a lot has happened this year in the city, we have big plans and we have to prioritise budgets and events accordingly, so it was decided not to put it on but to concentrate on other things the city centre has to offer.

"The re-opening of The Halls has already been a major success in bringing people into the city centre and increasing footfall for businesses in the vicinity of it. The Pride event was a tremendous success as well bringing thousands of people into the city to enjoy what is on offer.

"And Jurassic Wolves is a major event which will be staged at various locations throughout the school holidays with the likes of fossil digs and a dinosaur trail – it won't be just for kids but parents and adults alike."

She said the BID team would also continue to provide the Late Night Safe Haven throughout the year in partnership with the City of Wolverhampton Council which provides key services to evening visitors for those who most need them.