'We're proud of where we come from' says Dudley Mayor at Black Country Festival
The Black Country Festival runs throughout July.
Dudley's Mayor is hoping this month's Black Country Festival can continue a newfound pride in the area.
The Black Country Festival runs throughout July and features music, sport, and entertainment events.
Dudley's Mayor, Cllr Hillary Bills said: "It's an opportunity to celebrate because this is the season of Halesowen Carnival, Stourbridge Carnvial, classic cars.
"I think it's great because people are starting to recognise that where they come from and where they live is a great place - this is where the industrial revolution came from!"
The Black County Festival first ran in 2014 to bring together the four boroughs of Dudley, Wolverhampton, Walsall and Sandwell.
Cllr Bills said: "I think we've just been forgotten, we're such a working area and there's always been a feeling that you don't feel too proud of saying you come from here but now everybody would quite happily say 'I'm from the Black Country!'"
You can expect to see plenty of Black Country Flags flying during the festival's events. The flag was created by a 12-year-old girl called Gracie Shepherd, with its black and red design a nod to the area's industrial history.
Cllr Bills said: "If you watched Glastonbury last weekend there was a Black Country flag flying around - we take our flags anywhere - I know in my road there'll be some Black Country flags out on July 14 because all of a sudden we're rather proud of where we come from."
Black Country Day is celebrated on July 14 - the date when the first steam engine was invented in the area back in 1712.