What's going on
21 May 2009
What’s going on Shropshire
Darwin festival, Shrewsbury, 1 January - 24 November
2009 marks the 200th anniversary of the birth of Charles Darwin and Shrewsbury (Darwin’s birth place) is celebrating with a series of events throughout the year.
Birmingham
The Ashes - England v Australia, 30 July - 3 August
Twenty20 Final, Edgbaston, 15 August
Edgbaston will host the 3rd npower Test Match of the Ashes series in 2009. Edgbaston is England’s most successful cricket ground so the team will be looking forward to returning to past triumphs. On Saturday 15th August, Twenty20 Finals Day returns to Edgbaston for a third time. The event provides 12 hours of entertainment - three matches which culminate in the Final.
Warwickshire
Stratford-upon-Avon River Festival, 3 July - 5 July
Located on Stratford’s world famous river-front, and part of the adjacent recreation ground, the festival will comprise a boat gathering, craft and trade show, as well as land and water-based entertainment.
www.stratfordriverfestival.co.uk.
The Herbert Art Gallery 'China; Journey To The East ', 2 May- 19 July
This exhibition from the British Museum is the largest loan of Chinese treasures ever to be seen in the UK. Over 100 objects tell the story of China's culture and influence in the world. To complement the exhibition there is a special film which looks at the lives of the Chinese communities living in Coventry today.
www.theherbert.org
Doctor Who exhibition, Coventry Transport Museum, 13 March to 13 September
Come face to face with some of Doctor Who's mightiest foes, as well as behind-the-scenes props, costumes and monsters from the hit BBC TV show. The museum houses the largest collection of British road transport in the world.
www.transport-museum.com
Worcestershire
Quilting Yarns , Forge Mill Needle Museum, Redditch,1 May -28th June
An unusual collection of English and American quilts, each with its own unique history, dating from mid Victorian into the 1960’s. The museum is an unusual and fascinating place to visit and celebrates the rich heritage of needle making in the area. Redditch once produced 90% of the world’s needles!
Medieval Festival, Bordesley Abbey, Forge Mill, Redditch, 6/7 June
Experience medieval life in the knight’s encampment. Witness the drill and arming of military men and see the ritual of dressing English Knights in full armour. Meet a medieval barbers surgeon and discuss his unusual remedies. The 12th century abbey was destroyed by Henry VIII during the dissolution of the monasteries.
Oxfordshire
The Pitt Rivers Museum, South Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3PP, Museum re-opened on 1 May
The museum houses one of the world’s greatest collections of archaeological and ethnographic objects from all parts of the world. The collection was founded in 1884 when General Pitt Rivers donated his collection of 18,000 objects to the university and it now has a million items including a magnificent Tahitian mourners costume, shrunken heads, Hawaiian feather coats and Japanese actors’ masks.
Jousting Tournament, Blenheim Palace, Woodstock, Oxon, 7-9 August
Featuring the ‘Knights of Royal England’ this spectacular jousting tournament takes place on the south lawn with the palace as a magnificent backdrop along with birds of prey displays and archery.
Gloucestershire
Gloucester Ghost Walks, Gloucester TIC, 28 Southgate Street, Wednesdays/ Thursday evenings
Gloucester Ghost Walks begin at the tourist information centre on Southgate Street at 8.00 pm on Wednesday evenings and 6.30 on Thursday evenings and include a visit to a ‘haunted’ historic inn.
www.exploregloucestershire.co.uk
Cotswolds
The Cornbury Music Festival, nr. Charlebury, Oxfordshire, 11& 12 July
Beautiful Cotswold location, fantastic choice of quality food outlets, hot air balloons, camping, children’s theatre workshops and huge fairground make for a wonderfully family friendly festival. This years’ line-up includes Scouting For Girls, Sugarbabes, Pretenders, Joe Jackson and Imelda May.
The Royal International Air Tattoo at RAF Fairford, Fair ford, Glo, 18-19 July
The world’s largest military air show. Aircraft and crewmen from around the world descend in July on RAF Fairford for the annual global celebration of aviation, including the legendary RAF Red Arrows.
