Bilston Carnival | July 2026: Family Workshops

City of Wolverhampton Council | Hickman Park

Bilston Carnival 2026 was one of those days where everything felt alive — colour, music, heritage, and community all woven together in Hickman Park. As part of the City Council’s events programme, I delivered three free family workshops alongside my long‑time creative workshop partner, Vicky Crowther. I would be absolutely lost without her at events of this scale — with around 10,000 visitors attending the carnival, our workshop tent was busy from the moment the gates opened until the final hour.

Workshops at events like this are always special. They’re noisy, joyful, unpredictable, and full of the kind of creativity that only happens when families make things together. This event was no exception.

Record Sun Catchers

The first workshop invited families to create Record Sun Catchers — colourful hanging artworks inspired by 1960s vinyl culture, psychedelic patterns, and the era’s love of bold, expressive colour.

In preparation for the event, I designed and produced patterned sun catcher template discs

Children made their own “records,” layering cellophane to create glowing patterns that shimmered in the sunlight. Some leaned into psychedelic swirls, others created flower-power designs, and a few added tiny metallic-pen patterns for fun.

Seeing children hold their finished sun catchers up to the sky — watching the colours glow — was one of the day’s loveliest moments.

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Design Your Own 60s Character

The second workshop focused on 60s Character Design — a playful activity where families created their own retro fashion icons using bold patterns, expressive shapes, and flower‑power flair.

Participants explored:

• 60s silhouettes

• Pattern sheets inspired by 60’s fashion

• Flower motifs

• Retro colour palettes

• Simple character templates

Children designed characters with Go‑go boots, Mini dresses, Flared trousers, Oversized sunglasses, and voluminous hair.

Parents joined in too, often designing characters that may have looked suspiciously like a younger version of their parents. The workshop became a joyful mix of nostalgia and creativity, with families laughing, comparing outfits, and proudly displaying their finished characters.

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The Flower Wall - Community Feedback Through Creativity

Our third workshop was the Flower Wall, a participatory installation designed to gather feedback from carnival visitors in a creative, accessible way. Families decorated pre‑cut flowers, writing their thoughts, memories, and hopes for future carnivals on each bloom. These flowers were then attached to a large illustrated wall panel, creating a growing garden of community voices.

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The activity was simple, colourful, and meaningful — a gentle way for visitors to share what the carnival meant to them.

The Flower Wall was designed as a collaborative installation for the Events Team, the workshop itself was a beautiful moment of collective creativity. Throughout the day, the wall blossomed with decorated flowers, each one carrying a message from the community.

The Atmosphere at Hickman Park

Hickman Park was buzzing from the moment the gates opened. Families drifted in and out of the workshop tent between performances, food stalls, and parade preparations. The 60s theme brought a wave of colour — floral shirts, retro dresses, peace signs, and homemade props everywhere you looked.

The workshops became a creative hub, with children proudly carrying their sun catchers and characters around the park. Some even used their creations as part of their outfits later in the day.

There’s something magical about seeing a child’s artwork become part of a city celebration.

Reflections

Delivering the Bilston Carnival 2026 Family Workshops was a joy — and a team effort. Working alongside Vicky made the day run smoothly, creatively, and with plenty of laughter. The 60s theme offered endless possibilities, and families embraced it with enthusiasm, humour, and heart.

These workshops are a reminder of why community arts matter — they bring people together, spark imagination, and create memories that last long after the carnival ends.

I’m proud to have contributed to Bilston Carnival, and grateful to everyone who joined us under the workshop tent to make something colourful, expressive, and uniquely theirs.