Rip-roaring 1940s Weekend returns to the Black Country Living Museum

Black Country Living Museum is open all year round, however, for one weekend only this July, they invite visitors to don their vintage threads to step back in time to the 1940s and see the Museum’s historic streets transformed.

During this special weekend, the open-air Museum provides an immersive experience where you can discover sights, sounds and stories of the 1940s. This unique weekend offers visitors an unforgettable journey into a pivotal era of history.

Whether you’re a history buff, a fan of vintage life, or simply looking for a fun weekend out with friends, on Saturday, July 13 and Sunday, July 14 the Museum’s 1940s Weekend promises an enriching and memorable experience. Plus, visitors can extend their time in the past with a special evening event on the Saturday night.

1940s-style entertainment

Find yourself walking historic streets browsing shops, houses and industrial workplaces of the past as they are brought to life with reenactors – it’s the perfect setting for you to get into the blitz spirit. Among the highlights are 1940s-style entertainment, fashion shows, live music, vintage and military vehicles, historic displays, street parties and fascinating real-life stories.

For the history enthusiasts, whether you spend the day or night soaking in the 40s atmosphere, you’ll meet soldiers from across the Empire, welcome newly arrived evacuees to the school and join the campaigns to collect scrap metal and other waste for essential wartime recycling.

The Museum’s new high street

With the recent launch of a new high street at the Museum, there’s even more to explore than previous events. Here you will find the headquarters of the Home Guard in Spring Hill Post Office, where you can take part in Home Guard training and practice for an air raid with a resident ARP Warden.

The newly opened Halesowen and Hasbury Co-Op, set in 1949, moves the stories forward to include how wartime hardships and rationing continued many years after the war. Plus, you can try on pieces of military uniform in the brand-new recreation of Langer’s Army & Navy Stores.

Head to the stage to see live music, re-enactments and fashion shows, or why not browse through the vintage markets to discover and buy your very own vintage treasures from fashion to homeware?

The Museum’s 1940s Weekend is a returning favourite with visitors, and this year will have a special theme as it will acknowledge our past veterans by commemorating the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings.

There will be a display of military vehicles, including a rare amphibious tank that was made locally and played a part in the D-Day landings. You’ll be able to discover stories of troops from all over the world as they gathered ahead of the big day and find out more about the essential role Black Country industries played in powering the landing.

And that’s only the daytime – on the Saturday evening, you can pre-book extra tickets to stay after-hours as the musical entertainment and dancing are just getting started.

Put on your glad rags and get ready for a swinging night out with the best of wartime and post-wartime entertainment. Sing along with old favourites performed by the Britain’s Got Talent finalists, UK’s premier wartime singers, The D-Day Darlings; and hear the West Midlands’ very own vintage vocal harmony trio, dubbed ‘the best thing since The Andrews Sisters’, The Bluebird Belles.

Or if you prefer a dance, spend the night bopping as you dance your socks off to one of the UK’s most popular swing bands, the Kalamazoo Dance Band.

With reenactors to meet, vintage markets to browse and entertainment to enjoy, Black Country Living Museum’s 1940s Weekend is not to be missed!

How to get tickets

To book tickets visit the website.

*Tickets for the daytime and evening events are sold separately.Visitors are welcome to dress in 1940s military uniform – allied forces only.