In the days before TikTok, when TV channels were limited and boredom was easier to come by, Brummies were finding fun ways to amuse themselves in and around the city when the weekend came. We're lucky now to have so much to do in town but have you ever wondered what the Brummies of yesteryear were doing to keep themselves occupied? In this article, we're taking a look at memories of our past. Some you might well remember, while others likely predate even our oldest readers. Which of these venues or events would you like to see back? And what weekend memories do you have from childhood that could have made this list? Let us know in the comments below. Read more: I visited 'Hobbity' farm an hour from Birmingham and explored 'cute' shops and cosy nooks Sign up for the Brum Food Club free weekly newsletter for updates on what's happening in the city's food and drink scene . Screaming to your favourite band at Party in the Park Back in 1993, BRMB radio station held a concert in Centenary Square. People shimmied up lampposts, scaled buildings and did what they could to get the best view of the stage. After that, the gigs took place every year. In 2002, Brummies were dropped off to St Andrew's by their parents to scream along to Westlife and A1! Even the Spice Girls performed in Cofton Park under the BRMB logo! It was their first ever outdoor show! It was a golden time for pop
music and Brummies loved it, singing along in the Birmingham rain to East 17, Peter Andre and loads more. Were you among them? Taking a tram to the Lickey Hills Trams down to the Lickeys haven't been around since the early 1950s but before that, Brummies would jump on at Navigation Street and head down to the beautiful Lickey Hills. It's stunning there to this day so it must have been a real breath of a fresh air for the Brummies in the grey inner city. They'd trundle down the Bristol Road on what has been described in the past as a 'teeth-loosening journey'. If you took a rucksack with you, you could come home with a big bag of conkers to beat your pals at school. It's not the easiest journey these days, getting over to the Lickeys from the city centre via public transport. You're looking at a couple of buses and a walk. It really is wonderful there, though! A woman relaxing in the sunshine at the famous circular tram terminus for the Lickey Hills in the 1960s Splashing about at Sutton Park Lido Back in 1887 a swimming area was added at Keeper's Pool in Sutton Park. The old fish pond dated back to the 15th century but The Children's Baths would entertain youngsters for hours! The changing rooms were there right up until 2003 when arson put an end to them. They've since been dismantled and landscaped over. Outdoor swimming spots and lidos are rare in our region these days. More's the pity on a beautiful, sunny day. We'll have to make do with splash pads if we can't get out to one of these outdoor swimming destinations . Seeing the 'World's Ugliest Woman' at the Onion Fair Right so it's not exactly appropriate for the time and we certainly don't think it's any fun at all to be making an attraction of 'ugly' people, but that's what they'd do at Birmingham's old Onion Fair ! That wasn't all though! For centuries the Onion Fair, which had roots in Michaelmas, was a place to buy onions and other ingredients, but from the back end of the 1800s it was much more fun than that. Entertainment was held at the Bull Ring and Pat Collins, the
Irish showman, took over from 1910, taking the fair to the Serpentine Grounds near Aston Hall and Villa Park. Every September Brummies would go along, watch fighting, lions, tigers and more. There were fairground rides and coconut shys. Tens of thousands of locals would have all the fun of the fair, until 1969 when the Serpentine Grounds became the A38 and it was no more. They tried to bring it back, briefly, in the 90s but it wasn't the same. The beloved Onion Fair in the Serpentine Grounds of Aston, 1960. (Image: Mirrorpix) Celebrating the Tulip Festival in Cannon Hill Park From the spring of 1960 until the 1970s there was a Tulip Festival in Cannon Hill Park every year! It must have been absolutely wonderful for Brummies to head into the park to see not only the blooms but entertainment at the open-air theatre and fireworks too. Roy Castle performed there before he made it big in America, Max Bygraves performed Tulips from Amsterdam and a hot air balloon floated above the crowd while a band played. More than 500,000 people paid to visit and the money went towards hot showers at the footy and rugby pitches in Birmingham parks. Cannon Hill Park is so fun to visit, even to this day. But watching a hot air baloon floating over the city must have been something special to see. Ice Skating at Silver Blades You might not remember tulips or onions but there's a good chance you remember whizzing around on the ice at Silver Blades! The Pershore Road venue opened in 1965 and as well as champion skaters training there, there was plenty of space for the average Brummie to bruise their bums on! It was a destination for funseekers in the city right up until 2003 when a
fire devastated the site, then rebranded as Planet Ice. It lay dormant until early 2011 when it reopened. Maybe the ice skating bubble had burst for Brummies though as three years later, it shut its doors for the last time. Would you like to see a rink in town once more? Round and round on the Corkscrew in 1985. (Image: Mirrorpix) Riding the Corkscrew and the Black Hole at Alton Towers Alton Towers has been a theme park since 1980 and there are loads of great rides that Brummies would have enjoyed back in the day that today's kids will never get to experience. Among them is the Corkscrew, where Th13teen is now. You can still see that double corkscrew twist outside the main entrance, though it hasn't been operational since it closed back in 2008. The Black Hole, which opened in 1984 where Smiler is now, was another iconic ride, though that closed in 2005. If you miss The Haunted House, which later became Duel, you'll be glad to hear that it's now The Curse at Alton Manor which has that old classic haunted house vibe but with modern technological twists. It's nostalgic! Or the Black Revolver, Log Flume or Pirate Ship at Drayton Manor Drayton Manor opened in 1950 and many rides have come and gone in that time that Brummies lucky enough to visit might remember! The Log Flume, built in 1981, soaked many visitors right up until 1998 when it was replaced by Storm Force 10! The Black Revolver opened in 1980 and whizzed thrillseekers around in the dark right up until 2010! From 1965 until 1979 the waltzers were a precursor to the enclosed Black Revolver. In 1982, the Pirate Ship swung guests back and forth and continued to do so right up until 2003 when it was moved to make way for the new park entrance. G Force, Pandemonium and Apocalypse are some of the bigger rides that are no more. What a time to be alive that was! Walsall Illuminations at Walsall Arboretum (Image: Birmingham Post and Mail) Being dazzled by the Walsall Arboretum Lights Forget driving all the way to Blackpool! If you wanted the illuminations in the 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s or 90s you simply had to go to the Walsall Arboretum! The annual light show was spectacular. By 2011, council boss Mike Bird confirmed that the illuminations had been operating at a loss and wouldn't return in the same was as they had before. In its heyday, Brummies would head over and see the lakeside lights when autumn came. Since then, there have been light displays in Walsall but nothing can compare to the electricity-guzzling event that was the illuminations during that 50 years. Do you miss them? Let us know.