Afrovibes Festival brings some of the very best of South African arts to the UK. Marking 20 years since the ending of apartheid this is a wonderful celebration of African music, theatre, dance, photography and film. It all kicks off with a three-piece a cappella vocal group, The Soil.

Visit  www.afrovibesuk.com

The biggest half marathon in the Midlands attracts competitors from across the UK and around the world. With live music, screaming fans and some iconic landmarks en route to help spur runners on to raise money and complete a personal challenge.

Finals Weekend concludes the club’s season and several championship battles will go down to the wire so there will be plenty of adventurous overtaking manoeuvres as drivers battle all the way to the chequered flag.

Visit www.donington-park.co.uk

Fancy a night out so intriguing we can’t even tell you where it’s taking place? Well this is for you.

Ultra secretive House of Mask is coming to Birmingham in association with Cubanisto. Register for free tickets online at http://cubanisto.com/ and you’ll be given a series of clues leading to the venue marked with the trademark neon skull.

A party for 600, it promises to be a beautiful night of immersive theatre, live art, cutting edge music and street food.

Don’t miss out on the chance to hear the tales of punk’s most controversial and outspoken figure as he shares his memoirs with BBC Radio 6 music presenter Matt Everitt and a live audience.

Visit www.thsh.co.uk

As part of the Roald Dahl season this is a wonderful chance to enjoy an original family favourite with an extra helping of fun! With model-making and then a stop-motion puppetry show telling the story of James’ magical journey to New York City.

Visit www.libraryofbirmingham.com

Run by Writing West Midlands, the festival has been a staple of the city’s autumn calendar for 15 years. Bringing a blend of high quality literature events, from sparkling poetry to prize-winning fiction, this year’s headline events include Meera Syal.

Visit www.birminghamliteraturefestival.org

Following on from last season’s secret warehouse venue, Harvey Nichols will host its A/W14 high fashion showcase in the Mailbox car park!

The evening will kick off with a drinks reception at 7pm on the Lower Ground Level followed by the catwalk show at 7.30pm. Guests will get the chance to see sought-after collections from fashion’s most wanted, including Peter Pilotto, Stella McCartney, Dsquared2, Versace, Thakoon, Kenzo, Valentino and Christian Louboutin. There will also be a chance to shop until 10pm with an exclusive 15% discount in store.

Now in its ninth year, the event has gained an enviable reputation for having the most fashionable front-row in the city that includes regional media, sporting stars and celebrities.

Demand for tickets is expected to be high, with just 300 seats available. Tickets cost £15 and are available in store, via the Personal Shopping team tel: 0121 616 6008 or online at www.theticketfactory.com/harveynichols

Shoppers are invited to experience Selfridges’ new Beauty Workshop on September 13th, as Beauty blogging sensation Caroline Hirons digs deep into her make-up bag to dish the dirt on the very best tools of the trade available at the store.

The free event is taking place in the store’s extraordinary new Beauty Hall. Showcasing the Workshop’s array of industry leading brands, specialists will be on-hand all day to demonstrate products and answer any burning beauty questions. Visitors can enjoy special beauty treats with an in-store purchase and be the first to find out about the new and exclusive Beauty Workshop packages.

Services include Umberto Giannini Blow Dry Bar, Blink Brow Bar and HC LuxSpa Nails.

For more information visit www.selfridges.com

England’s triple Ashes-winning batsman Jonathan Trott – who left the tour of Australia last November because of a “stress-related condition” will be talking about his experiences at a Celebrity Lunch in September.

Jonathan, together with a few other cricketing chums will be guest of honour at the event, organised by Birmingham Press Club as one of the first events of Trott’s official Benefit Year at Warwickshire County Cricket Club. Jonathan, aged 33, said: “I love living in Birmingham and I had no hesitation in committing my long-term future to Warwickshire. I look forward to relaying my experiences – including some amusing stories from the England dressing-room – to a home audience.”

Cricket fan and BBC Midlands Today presenter Nick Owen will lead a Question & Answer session.

Tickets for the three-course lunch will support two of Jonathan’s local charities, Cure Leukaemia and the Tiny Babies Big Appeal and cost £85 + VAT. There is a discounted ticket price for Press Club members – £70 + VAT.

To reserve your place at the lunch please email: info@trotty2014.com