Black Country Day: BGT star Donchez is ready, are you? - WATCH

The Wolverhampton mechanic turned TV sensation will be the main attraction in Dudley town centre on Black Country Day – July 14.

And he’s not the only one who will be flying the flag and celebrating everything that is great about the region as the event grows in popularity every year.

WATCH: Find out more about this year's festival

Since it first started five years ago Black Country Day festivities have snowballed to become a month-long event celebrated by thousands of people.

The day itself falls on July 14 – which was picked to mark the area’s industrial heritage.

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But the Black Country Day celebrations aren’t restricted to just one day nowadays – the month-long Black Country Festival celebrates all that is great about the region with fun days, comedy shows, music performances, carnivals and even a historic coffin race.

The Black Country Festival, which is this year celebrating its fifth anniversary, launches today and runs until July 29, with a jam-packed calendar of events.

The festival is organised by a committee of volunteers and is supported by Dudley, Sandwell, Walsall and Wolverhampton councils.

Dave Brownhill, Black Country Festival chairman, said: “This is the fifth year of the Black Country Festival and it is really exciting to see the events coming along.

“The festival is starting to reach all of the other three boroughs now and people are starting to really embrace the feeling.

“It is really the people’s Festival – and we are now even looking at organising a Black Country Christmas.”

Black Country Day itself will be celebrated with a Dudley fun day – with a star performance from Britain’s Got Talent runner-up Donchez Dacres, who is from Wolverhampton.

He said: “I am really excited to be performing in the Black Country for the Festival. It is my first performance in the area since Britain’s Got Talent so it is like coming home. I am looking forward to bringing the Wiggle Wine to the fans!”

Packed programme of events for Black Country Festival

The Black Country Day festivities kick-off this weekend with a month of family days, food festivals, comedy shows, carnivals and even a coffin race.

The annual programme of events, which celebrates Black Country Day on July 14, is all part of the Black Country Festival.

The festival, now in its fifth year, runs until July 29, and each bostin’ celebration is designed to bring the Black Country communities across Dudley, Wolverhampton, Sandwell and Walsall together.

Events lined up include a fun run in Halesowen, Halesowen Carnival, Stourbridge Carnival, Brierley Hill’s Brier Fair and more.

Black Country Day is the highlight of the festival and will take place on July 14.

The Dudley fun day, set to include live entertainment in Stone Street Square, a performance from Britain’s Got Talent star Donchez Dacres, a ‘radio roadshow’, vintage cars and motorbikes, and stalls, will take place on this date to mark the occasion.

Councillor Alan Taylor, the Mayor of Dudley, said: “The Black Country Festival has become a huge tradition particularly in Dudley where communities come together to celebrate all that is great about the region.

“This year’s festival is shaping up to be bigger and better than ever before with events right through to the end of July. We have a coffin race, performances from Wolverhampton’s Donchez Dacres from Britain’s Got Talent, a charity cricket match, music, dancing and much more. I hope people will come out and support the festival.”

Throughout July, the Sandwell Community History and Archives Service, in Smethwick High Street, will display a selection of treasures relating to the First World war, highlighting the contribution of both the people and industries.

Also, at Tipton Library the month-long film festival will see a series of films with ‘a local flavour’ screened.

Armed Forces Day will be marked at Himley Hall tomorrow, a Food Festival will be held at the Bonded Warehouse, in Canal Street, in Stourbridge on July 6, while the Chainmakers Festival will take place at Cradley Heath High Street on July 7.

More than 200 vehicles will be featured at Willenhall Transport Show on July 8, the Black Country Masters Golf Tournament 2018 will take place at Dudley Golf Club on July 14, followed by the Black Country Variety Show at Great Bridge Library.

There will also be Halesowen Carnival and Wall Heath Carnival on July 7, Stourbridge Carnival on July 8, and Wordsley Carnival on July 14.

The festival will end with the Buskin’ For Parkinson’s Summer Festival at Wolverhampton’s the Lighthouse on Saturday, July 28, between 11am and 10pm.The event will run between 10am and 5pm.