THERE will be music and celebrations in Halesowen today (Tuesday) to mark Black Country Day.

Black Country Radio will be live in the town centre from 1pm to 4pm, with live performances from local performers including Billy Spakemon.

The leader of Dudley Council, councillor Patrick Harley, will attend and businesses will be decking their shop windows out in Black Country bunting and flags.

The event will also see the newly crowned Miss Black Country in attendance, and special Black Country cup cakes available for sale.

Halesowen News:

Councillor Patrick Harley, leader of the council, said: "This event will be on a smaller scale to what we are used to seeing in our town centres on Black Country Day.

"But I’m still very much looking forward to it.

"I hope people will come out to enjoy a good day celebrating where they come from, while safely socially distancing of course."

Vicky Rogers, of Halesowen BID, said: "Halesowen BID were due to open the celebrations on June 27 with an action packed town centre event, due to Covid 19, our plans were cancelled.

"After the success of last year’s event it was clear what this day meant to local people and we decided it must not go unrecognised.

"Broadcasting from the town will be an opportunity for the traders to share their experiences of reopening the town centre and what the Black Country means to them.

"Many have decorated their shops and premises with Black Country Flags and we look forward to welcoming the council leader to our town.

"The council have worked extremely hard through these challenging times and Black Country Day is a day when we should come together as a borough, as a community, no matter how socially distanced we have to be.

"We are proud of our heritage and hard-working economy and we still see that in our traders to this day."

Dudley Council is sharing a series of videos and images to mark the occasion via its social media with the hashtag #BCfestivalonline.

Borough residents are being urged to get involved by safely putting up flags, sharing photos and stating why they are proud to live in the Black Country.