Creativity and Wellbeing Week - 16 to 22 May

Barnsley town centre is hosting an inspiring schedule of exciting events for you to take part in during Creativity and Wellbeing Week including a sculpture hunt and Teeny Time Travellers Club at Experience Barnsley.

There’s a jam-packed schedule of activities to get all the family involved, from music and art to discovering the great outdoors. Find out more about what we have in store for the week and book your space at an event at barnsley.gov.uk/creativity-and-wellbeing-week.

Flavours Food Festival – 19 to 22 May

The popular Flavours Food Festival, previously held at Elsecar Heritage Centre, makes the move to the Glass Works square in 2022!

Packed full of exciting stalls and live entertainment, it promises to be an action-packed weekend for foodies and families alike.

Experience flavours from Italy to Asia at the wide range of street food vendors including focaccia, Turkish kebabs and Gyoza dumplings!

Browse the independent traders to purchase regional cheese, gin and much more.

Beer, cocktails, and coffee trails

Explore Barnsley’s pubs, bars, and cafes with these quality, pocket-sized trail maps! Pick them up for free from customer service points in the indoor market, Lightbox, Town Hall, or the Alhambra or download them below.

Visit the 10 venues featured on the maps and collect a stamp from a staff member when you pay your bill. Bring the completed panel and redeem at the prize stall at the Flavours Food and Drink Festival from 19 to 22 May in the Glass Works square.

The maps were illustrated by Yorkshire artist, Lisa Maltby. Funded by the Welcome Back Fund, a grant from the England European Regional Development Fund.

• Barnsley beer trail
• Barnsley cocktail trail
• Barnsley coffee trail

Eldon Street history tours - 28 to 29 May

Hear the wonderful tales of this fascinating area of Barnsley Town Centre with historic characters from Barnsley's past on the Eldon Street Alternative History Tours on Saturday 28 and Sunday 29 May.

There is no need to book, just turn up at The Glass Works square at 12pm or 2:30pm. The tours take around 45 minutes.

Giant Sand Sculpture Build - 30 May to 3 June 

The 5 day 'big build' of the unique, giant sand sculpture by 'Sand in Your Eye' starts in The Glass Works Square for the Queen's Platinum Jubilee.  

Twisted Festival – 28 May to 12 June

Twisted: Barnsley Festival of Natural Art is back and there will be lots of activities on Saturday 28 May to celebrate.

Barnsley’s Fantastical Beasts trail Part II will launch - featuring six NEW willow sculptures inspired by local legends. There will also be activities in The Glass Works Square, including performances by Frumptarn Guggenband and Silkstone Morris Dancers.

There will also be activities to mark the Mayor of Schwabish-Gmund's visit to Barnsley for the 50th anniversary of our twin town agreement including Land art academy with Responsible Fishing, Bewonderment Machine cycle carousel, Willow weaving with Maggie Cooper and Yarn bombing with Yarn in Tarn.

Don’t forget to take part in the selfie challenge for the chance to win a Barnsley Gift Card. Track down the beasts, complete the challenges and send your photos to the Love Barnsley Town Centre Facebook page for a chance to win!

Find out more about the Twisted Festival

Barnsley in Bloom poster competition

Our annual Barnsley in Bloom poster competition is back and encourages schools to draw their best A4 Barnsley in Bloom picture. This year the focus is on the Queens Platinum Jubilee.

Children up to the age of 11 can submit an application to parksservices@barnsley.gov.uk through their primary school. We want you to be as creative as possible and get inspired by nature and the flowers blooming this spring. Use colours and paints to brighten up your picture.

Judging will commence in June and each winner will receive a certificate presented to them in the Town Hall. Their artwork will be shared across our social media channels and displayed across our town centre buildings including Barnsley Town Hall, the Glassworks and Barnsley Markets.  

Culture and arts

Barnsley Museums will be serving up a treat with a celebration of all things Slazenger. The famous factory made balls for tournaments across the world from its base in Barnsley! Now you can discover stories about the people who worked there and take part in activities for sporting fans of all ages.

Arts and culture trail

Explore unique artwork in Barnsley town centre with this quality, pocket-sized arts and culture trail map! Pick one up for free from customer service points in the Cooper Gallery, Experience Barnsley, and the Barnsley Museums units in the Glass Works.

Bring the trail map into the Cooper Gallery or Barnsley Museum shop at the Town Hall to get a 10% discount on your shop bill!

The map was illustrated by Yorkshire artist, Lisa Maltby. Funded by the Welcome Back Fund, a grant from the England European Regional Development Fund.

Barnsley Markets and Market Kitchen

What better way to celebrate Barnsley’s food and drink offer than visiting our incredible local traders and the mouth-watering delights of Market Kitchen?

Our traders will be inspiring visitors to the Flavours Food Festival to release their inner chef with mouth-watering food demonstrations.

You can also pick up a copy of the Barnsley Larder Cook Book which features their recipes and, don’t forget, you can get all the ingredients you need from Barnsley Markets.

Library @ the Lightbox

The Library @ the Lightbox has a range of fun activities to keep you entertained during May including a family song-writing session with Ian McMillan and Luke Carver Goss.

Find out more about events at our libraries

Events coming up in 2022

June - nature and the environment

Celebrate the natural environment with the Twisted festival and related activities over the Platinum Jubilee weekend. Plus the big annual Barnsley Live music festival!

Thursday 2 to Friday 3 June 

Queen's Platinum Jubilee Bank Holiday

• Family sand workshops with Sand In Your Eye
• See the amazing giant sand sculpture in The Glass Works Square

Saturday 4 June 

Make a dream-catcher willow or a cardboard crown - works at the Library @ The Lightbox

Saturday 18 June 

Barnsley Live Starting at 12pm - urban music festival featuring 200 acts across multiple venues - genres including rock, pop, punk, folk and blues

Saturday 25 June

Barnsley Armed Forces day - 12pm to 4pm at Penistone showground.  To purchase tickets for the event and to find out more information please visit Veterans Tri Services website.  You can also find out about other armed forces events and activities taking place in the community. 

July – music and sport

July sees Barnsley’s Big Weekend featuring the annual Mayor’s Day and a new brass band music festival. Plus the town centre cycle races as we gear up for summer.

Friday 15 July

Town centre races - 4pm to 10pm.  Part of the British Cycling's National Men's and Women's Circuit Series.

Saturday 16 July

Mayor's Day 10.30am to 5pm.  A fun packed day of family friendly activities at cultural venues across the town centre.  Brassed On Musical Festival - Pride Barnsley - Big Weekend Music Live 4pm to 9pm. 

Sunday 17 July

The Glass Works Square 11am to 4pm - Big Dino Show - interactive dinosaur show.  What's Your Move - sports and outdoor games.  

August – dance and movement

The summer holidays in August sees the start of Dancing Town activities leading to a big finale the following month.

September – arts and heritage

The annual Civic Garden Party comes together with Dancing Town for a big weekend, plus a big performance weekend to celebrate the history of Heritage Action Zone Eldon Street.

October – children and families

Spooky goings on with an expanded Halloween offer, plus the Festival of Joy children’s festival around half-term.

November/December – winter and Christmas

Get into the Christmas spirit with Barnsley Bright Nights winter lights festival, seasonal brass bands, illuminations and more.