WOW! Fest

WOW! Fest – A Celebration of Outdoor Dance & Performance

WOW! Fest (Walsall Outdoor Wonders Festival) is an exciting new outdoor arts festival celebrating the best dance and movement-based performances created in the Midlands. WOW! Fest is returning for the second edition on the Friday 3rd and Saturday 4th July 2026 at Walsall’s Arboretum Park, this vibrant two-day event will bring together artists, communities, and audiences of all ages for a weekend of inspiring, high-quality performances in the open air.

In addition to performances, the festival will offer wraparound activities, engaging children, young people, and families in creative movement, physical play, and participatory experiences. Audiences will be invited to explore different performance spaces, from pop-up stages to interactive community areas, making the entire park a playground for imagination and movement.

Get your FREE ticket now

WOW! Fest is free to attend but spaces are limited, so booking your free ticket is essential!

Donate!

Support WOW! Fest

We are currently fundraising for WOW! Fest – A Celebration of Outdoor Dance & Performance, and your support can make a real difference. Our SpaceHive foundraiser is now closed but you can still make direct donations via bank transfer or in cash.

For more details on how to give, please don’t hesitate to email us at hello@autindt.co.uk.

Thank you for helping bring this vibrant celebration to life!

💬 Donation Tiers & Perks:

£20+ Copy of the Violet and the Sea Giant Book

£25+ ADT Thermal Coffee Mug

£30+ ADT T-shirt

£50+ ADT Hoodie

*** To receive your donation reward, please email us with the confirmation of your donation & your postage address or you can collect it from our Birmingham office

2026 Headlining Performances

coming soon...

Workshops

Want More Info?

For more information on our WOW Fest workshops, email us today!

Next Gen

Want More Info?

For more information on our school and community groups, email us today!

Creative Credits

Partners & Supporters

WOW! Fest represents an exciting and strategic opportunity to celebrate diverse dance practices, empower local people through creativity, and provide a platform for professional and emerging artists alike. It also aligns beautifully with the values of our Hub: accessibility, collaboration, and community.

Maggie Lewis

Director, Black Country Dance Hub

WOW! Fest is not only an exciting cultural event but also an opportunity to foster long-term community engagement, support local wellbeing, and build momentum around the Arboretum as a space for creativity and gathering.

Mark Hopson

Healthy Spaces Community Officer, Walsall Council

As part of my role with MakerFest 2025, I am proud to support WOW! Fest, as well as through collaborative public-facing activity as part of the MakerFest Fringe. This is a natural and exciting partnership – one that will help create more visibility for community voices, and generate new connections between local creatives, organisations, and audiences.

Shine Duggal

Creative Producer & Artistic Director

WOW! Fest Opportunities

Community Call Out Opportunity

They are inviting 10 youth dance groups from across Walsall and the Black Country to showcase their work as part of WOW! Fest on the Saturday programme, alongside professional performances from local dance companies and artists.

Volunteers Call Out

We are looking for volunteers to help support us for WOW! FEST taking place in Walsall Arboretum on Friday 18th and Saturday 19th July 25.

If you are based locally, are 18+, and are passionate about community participation, live performance & dance, then come and be part of an incredible event.

Digital Programme

How to get to WOW! Fest?

Getting Here By Car, Bus or Train?

PLEASE NOTE: If you are arriving by car please use the following address – The Grange Car Park (Walsall Arboretum), Broadway North, Walsall WS1 2QB.

What3Words: ///town.valid.mole

We encourage attendees to make use of public transport where possible when travelling to the Arboretum.

What3Words: ///pilots.slide.noses

BY BUS – Nearest Bus Stops are;

Willows Road (5-min walk) served by buses 674, 77, 77A, 705, 788, 936, 22
Broadway North (7-min walk)
The Crescent (9-min walk)
Lumley Road (10-min)

BY TRAIN – Nearest Train Stations are;

Walsall Railway Station (15 min walk) on the West Midlands Railway line between Birmingham New Street and WolverhamptonFrom here, walk south-east through town to the Arboretum (about 0.7 mile)
Bescot Stadium Station: also on the Chase Line (Wolverhampton–Birmingham)

BY CAR – free audience parking is available at the Broadway North Car Park, WS1 2QB, located directly opposite The Hawbush Centre.

If you require a Blue Badge parking space, please contact us in advance at so we can accommodate your needs.

Terms & Conditions

Accessibility

We will have BSL Interpreters available on both days. There is a quiet space available.

There is an accessible portable toilet available.

If you require a Blue Badge parking space, or for any other questions then please contact us in advance at hello@autindt.co.uk so we can try our best to accommodate your needs.

Our Sponsors & Supporters

Everyone at Autin Dance Theatre would like to thank our funders, partners, and supporters—including all the incredible individuals and organisations who backed our recent crowdfunding campaign. Your belief in our vision for this festival has helped bring it to life. We are forever grateful, and we hope you enjoy every moment of WOW! Fest 2025.

Funders

Funded by UK Gov, Walsall Council, Walsall MakerFest Fringe 2025, Arts Council England, West Midlands Combined Authority, Wellbeing Walsall, Healthy Walsall, Crowdfund Walsall, WS4 Dental Care, Optimax, Backstage Trust, Sport England & The Foyle Foundation

Partners & Supporters

Walsall Arboretum, Black Country Dance Hub, OPUS – Outdoor Places Unusual Spaces, Caldmore Community Garden, FABRIC, Birmingham Hippodrome, STEAMhouse – Birmingham City University & Royal Birmimgham Conservatoire

Get your FREE ticket now

WOW! Fest is free to attend but spaces are limited, so booking your free ticket is essential!

Upcoming Tour Dates

Tour Dates

WOW! Fest

WOW! Fest

Get your FREE ticket now

Donate!

Support WOW! Fest

2026 Headlining Performances

coming soon...

Workshops

Want More Info?

Next Gen

Want More Info?

Creative Credits

Director:

Creative Producer:

Project Coordinator:

Learning and Participation Coordinator:

Technical Manager:

Outdoor Arts Consultant:

Stage Managers:

Music:

BSL Interpretor:

Performing acts:

Schools:

Community Groups:

Youth Groups & Schools:

Workshop Leaders:

Partners & Supporters

WOW! Fest Opportunities

Community Call Out Opportunity

Volunteers Call Out

Digital Programme

How to get to WOW! Fest?

Getting Here By Car, Bus or Train?

Terms & Conditions

Accessibility

Our Sponsors & Supporters

Funders

Partners & Supporters

Get your FREE ticket now

Upcoming Tour Dates