BIGGING IT UP High jinks

•22nd-23rd July, Shrewsbury

Dragon Boat Festival, Pengwern Rowing Club For an unusual spectator experience, get down to Pengwern Rowing Club to cheer on teams competing in the annual Dragon Boat race to raise vital funds for Severn Hospice. 10am-3pm.

•23rd July, Dog Show and Country Festival, Apley Estate Hosted by leading canine care establishment K9, this dog-centred family day o ers country pursuits, entertainment, food and drink and shopping. 10am-4pm. Free.

•28th July, A Tribute to Tina Turner, Telford Theatre Enjoy an evening celebrating the musical icon. This live show includes all her greatest hits, performed by Julie Nevada as Tina, supported by professional dancers and backing singers. 7.30pm. £22.

•5th August, Wellington Green Festival

Show your support for the first ever Wellington Green Festival, held in the Market Square and grounds of All Saints Church. This free event aims to showcase local environmental businesses, community groups and charities that share a vision of a sustainable world. 10am.

North Shropshire Big Weekend – the festival of Cajun, Creole and Louisiana roots, music, dance and culture – is celebrating its 10th year! Enjoy a foot-tapping, boogaloo- busting weekend in and around Welshampton Village Hall, with each day starting and ending with a jam session. Support from Louisiana organisation Lafayette Travel means it’s been possible to secure performances from top US artists alongside the UK line-up. Camping is available nearby. A weekend ticket costs £90, day tickets also available. Walk-up entry may be possible if not sold out. www.the-bigweekend.co.uk

Lift your spirits

e Gin to My Tonic Tour visits Shrewsbury on 29th July in celebration of craft gins, spirits and distillers.

Shrewsbury Abbey will be lled with extensively stocked bars o ering hundreds of options, and sampling is all part of the fun! is event is for over-18s only and must be pre-booked. Tickets include a goody bag and free samples, with the bar operating a token system. £16.50.

www.thegintomytonic.com

DID YOU KNOW?

Charolais cattle grow faster than other breeds and emit less methane

Show your support for Nightingale House Hospice by coming along to Oswestry Balloon Carnival on 19th-20th August. is community event o ers all sorts of entertainment and live music throughout the day before the spectacle of the balloon launch at around 6pm (weather dependent). Entry is free but a £1 donation is welcomed. www.oswestryballooncarnival.info

Fun With Phil

Farmer Phil’s is an award-winning boutique music festival from 11th-13th August taking place in a stunning location in the Shropshire Hills near Shrewsbury. e family-friendly event o ers on-site camping, three music stages, quality children’s entertainment, top food vendors, hot showers and clean toilets! Dogs are welcome too. Tickets are limited to maintain the intimate atmosphere and cost £90 for the weekend, including camping (under-12s £10).

www.farmerphilsfestival.com

The Indoor Market is open every Wednesday, Friday and Saturday and the outdoor market every Wednesday and Saturday. Plus we hold the Artisan Market on the last Friday of every month. The new weekly street market has gone from strength to strength attracting some fantastic bespoke stalls.

Dance till you drop

WHAT’S ON IN BRIEF 5TH-18TH AUGUST

•5th-6th August, The Romans

Return, Wroxeter Roman City

Step back in time and experience

DID YOU KNOW?

N-Dubz were originally managed by Dappy’s dad Byron, bassist in Mungo Jerry

Telford QEII Arena hosts Telford Concert Series on 8th-9th July. Headlining on Saturday night are reggae giants UB40, featuring Ali Campbell. e group has sold over 100 million records, including hits such as ‘Red Red Wine’ and ‘Kingston Town’. ere’s a step change on Sunday night when hip-hop trio N-Dubz take to the stage with special guests Wes Nelson and Nathan Dawe. e platinum-selling group dominated the UK charts in the noughties. Tickets from £45, upgrades available. www.ticketstelford.com

Merry Wives Of Whittington

Whittington Castle is hosting a ‘Festival in a Day’ of open-air theatre on 27th August – a family matinee of e Ugly Duckling followed by e Merry Wives of Windsor Bring deckchairs and a picnic, as well as blankets and layers for the evening when it cools down. Tickets are £15 (£12 child) in advance or on the gate. www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/ whittington-castle-preservation-trust-55900250683

Retro royalty

Soft Cell, e Boomtown Rats, Midge Ure and China Crisis are among the ’80s icons who’ll be revisiting all the hits at Let’s Rock Shrewsbury: e Retro Festival on 15th July. It’s a day of retro fever that’s become a rm favourite in the calendar at the Quarry Park. Picnics are encouraged (bring your own picnic tables and chairs) and there’ll be plenty of refreshments to purchase. Tickets are released according to a tier system – the earlier you book, the cheaper the price. Posh loo passes are also available, as well as VIP options. www.letsrockshrewsbury.com

All you can eat…

e nest local food and drink producers take to the streets of Oswestry on 8th-9th July for Oswestry Food and Drink Festival. e regular Saturday stallholders are joined by talented brewers, bakers, makers and more from across Shropshire and North Wales. Sample all the latest avours while watching the free street entertainers –don’t miss the scrumptious cake stalls! Why not relax and enjoy your goodies in Cae Glas Park? 10am-4pm. www.visitoswestry.co.uk

In the Loop

Shrewsbury comes alive with the sound of music on 8th-9th July. Loopfest is a free arts festival taking place at various venues around town including the Castle, Albert’s Shed and St Mary’s Church, and promises something for every taste.

Daytime events are free; some evening events are ticketed – see www.loopfest. co.uk for details. Loopfest is raising funds for local charities throughout the weekend.

Wroxeter’s Roman heyday. Take in the sights and smells of the fourth largest city in Roman Britain, and learn what daily life was really like in Viroconium. 10am-5pm. £13.50 (child £8).

•12th August, Family Fun Day, Severn Valley Country Park

Enjoy the great outdoors, with ranger-led bird and mammal watching walks taking place throughout the day, as well as a family orienteering competition with a prize for the fastest family! Try pond dipping and hunt for fossils. Bridgnorth Ukulele Band will be performing at midday. 11am-3pm. Free.

•12th August, Wine Tasting and Vineyard Tour, Hencote Vineyard Join Hencote’s sommeliers on a tour around the winery and vineyard, sampling five award-winning wines along the way. (Non-alcoholic alternatives available.)Advance booking only. Other dates available. £25.

•18th August, Alice in Wonderland, Attingham Park

Enjoy the classic tale of Alice’s adventure down a rabbit hole performed by the critically acclaimed Pantaloons in the grounds of Attingham Park. Picnics welcome. Gates open 6pm for 7pm start. Tickets £17 (child £10).

•18th August, Invitation to View – Broadward Hall and Stokesay Court Visit not one but two fabulous country residences, hosted by their owners. The afternoon begins exploring the gardens of Broadwall Hall, before moving on to Stokesay Court, finishing the evening with drinks and canapes. From 2.30pm. £48.

WHAT’S ON IN BRIEF

20TH-28TH AUGUST

•20th August, The Secret Artist Sale, The Soden Collection, Shrewsbury Forming part of Shrewsbury Arts Trail, the sale will showcase over 120 original works by local, national, and international artists. Viewing takes place on 19th August, and last year buyers queued overnight to get the pieces they wanted. Proceeds will be donated to a range of charities including Shropshire Wildlife Trust and Severn Hospice.

26th August, Made on the Borders Festival, British Ironworks Centre, Oswestry This is a free community event celebrating baking, growing, stitching, knitting, pickling, carving, welding, brewing and any other passions for home-made. 10am-4pm.

•27th August, Mere Mile, Ellesmere Mere Make a splash and raise funds for the Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital by completing this outdoor swim of 1 or 2.5 miles. Past years have so far raised over £30,000. All participants receive a goody bag and finishers’ momento. Strictly advanced booking only, fundraising encouraged. 9am.