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Looking south from Worcester Beacon

Events in and around Malvern

Also See

Our Malvern Arts events diary using Google Calendar is worth a look - coming out of low maintenance mode spring '09 - opens in new window, or try the RSS feed. The Malvern Green diary on Google is also active from May '09, with environmental and connected activities, plus look at Transition Malvern Hills for their list of events.

New or Noteworthy

A Malvern Exhibition of Contemporary Art (MECA) is to run from July to the end of October 2009, with a programme of shop-front exhibitions of artworks, installations and artist led discussions. Worcestershire Contemporary Artists will present 40 artists over 4 months, "to transform empty shops in Great Malvern town centre into temporary spaces for contemporary visual art".

There are moves to improve the promotion of Ledbury as a cultural and food destination, building on such things as local cider producers and a food festival linking in to St George's Day celebrations in April. A Ledbury Spring Festival and Food Fair took place in April - see Local to Ledbury.

Upcoming Events

Blues at The Fold, Bransford. 4th July. A day of music, following on from the Wichenford blues festival in 2008.

Organ recitals at Malvern Priory About every couple of months, commencing 12 noon and lasting 50 to 60 minutes, with large screen video display. Sat 27th June, Jonathon Holl; Mon 31st August, Andrew Wilson; Sat 17th October, Ashley Grote; Sat 28th November, Paul Charman. See Malvern Priory Organ web site for details of the music for the next recital.

Malvern

Music sessions now on separate page.

Malvern Walking Festival dates etc. are on Walking Malvern page.

Autumn in Malvern Festival, during October. Music, talks, exhibitions and more. Poetry events in Ledbury in association with The Friends of the Dymock Poets.

Elgar Festival, started in 2004, is aiming to happen every 2 years, May/June.

Malvern May Day celebration is usually held on the Saturday before/closest to1st May, organised by Malvern Fringe Arts. 2009: 2nd May, with a theme of Medieval Mayhem.

The springs/well dressing takes place over the same weekend as May Day event - see Spa info on Malvern Hills page for more background.

Fringe Festival (which can be connected with Elgar Festival) usually late May/early June, organised by Malvern Fringe Arts.

WestFest West Malvern's annual all-dayer has moved in 2009 from August Bank Holiday to July: 11th (Saturday). Arts and crafts, food and drink, including a special brew from Malvern Hills Brewery, and loads of music.

Immediate area

Spring Garden ShowThree Counties Showground Just south of Malvern. Specific gardening, dogs, ponies, antiques, cars and such shows, plus the usual countryside types. Spring Gardening Show, in May (2009: 7th to 10th) is the first in the RHS calendar. Malvern Autumn Show (Garden and Country, 2009: 26th/27th Sept) rounds off the season. Also CountryTastic, indoor event day for kids up to 14, 2009: 16th April (new 2008).

Flea fairs and antique fairs put on at the showground by B2B Events.

There are some new leaflets on walks and cycle rides from Three Counties Showground. Please ask the Showground for these, to encourage them to do more on 'sustainable tourism'. The showground also contains the National Collection of Perry Pear Trees.


Three Choirs Festival August classical music bash, orchestral as well as choral, with maybe a bit of jazz. The oldest musical festival in Europe (noted as a 'yearly Musical Assembly' in 1719). Rotates between Hereford, Worcester and Gloucester. 2009: Hereford, 8th to 15th August. Email: info@3choirs.org. There may also be a festival fringe - e.g. in Hereford in 2006.

Colwall Festival. The second year for this. 2009: 10th to 18th July. Colwall Greener open day and Colwall Palyers evening entertainment both on 11th, moth walk, art exhibition and more.

Marlbank Inn beer and music festival, 2008: 20th to 22nd June. Real ale and ciders, near Welland.

Welland Steam and Country Rally, Woodside Farm, Welland. 2009: 24th to 26th July. Phone 01531 890417 or 890762. Organised by Ross-on-Wye Steam Engine Society.

West

Gregg's PitBig Apple Weekend. 2009: 10th/11th October. Celebrating the apple harvest and all things apple. Loads of events, around Much Marcle area and wider. See Big Apple or Westons Cider site for more info. There's usually a bike ride on the Sunday along the Ledbury Cider Trail route - check Bike Rides page.

Blossom time with The Big Apple, Usually first weekend in May (2009: Sunday/Monday 3rd/4th May). Cider tasting at Putley Village Hall.

Bosbury Cider and Blossom Festival 2008: 10th May - no info on 2009 festival at February.

Daffodil Weekend at Kempley - guided walks, teas etc. 2009: 21st and 22nd March. (Also see Cycling events for Ross-on-Wye Daffodil Rides.)

Daffodil Weekend at Dymock - see the neighbouring Kempley event instead.

Big Chill Festival is at Eastnor Castle Deer Park (just south of Malvern Hills). 2009: 7th to 9th August. Chill out music and more, with David Byrne headlining in 2009.

24-hour Mountain Bike Race in Eastnor Castle's Deer Park (apparently the "biggest 24 hour race in the world", according to Bike Radar). 2009: 19th to 21st June. More details at Mountain Mayhem - the sponsors have changed (again) so new website and contact details.

There are various other events during the year at Eastnor Castle.

Ledbury English Festival around St Georges Day. Email: ledburyenglishfestival@btopenworld.com, phone 01531 632963.

Dymock Poets

Ledbury Poetry Festival June/July. 2009: 3rd to 12th July.

Guild of Herefordshire Craftsmen Shows at The Market House, Ledbury for various periods.

Marcle Steam Rally Rye Meadows, Much Marcle. Includes steam ploughing. 2009: 18th - 19th July. See Shakespeare's Rally list.

The Garden Festival at Hellens, an interesting very old manor house, 2009: 13th/14th June, with the emphasis on food quality, the environment, ‘food miles’, and an increasing interest in growing food and self-sufficiency.

North

Bromyard Folk Festival mid-September. 2009: 11th to 13th.

Bromyard International Town Criers Festival. Apparently this still exists, despite various announcements of it ending. 2009: a one day event on Thursday 23rd April. Also try Knighton, on Welsh borders.

Bromyard Gala 2009: 4th/5th July. Includes Steam Rally and Gardening at the Gala.

Nozstock Festival Rowden Paddocks, Bromyard. 2009: 31st July to 2nd August. A range of music, from bluegrass to electronica and beyond.

Tenbury Wells Holly and Mistletoe Auctions, Tuesdays before Christmas (2008: 25th Nov, 2nd and 9th Dec). Phone 01584 810555. Also Tenbury Wells Mistletoe Festival, 2008 main date 6th December.

Tenbury Wells Applefest (website was at this link) 2008: 18th October. With street entertainment, arts market, films and walking weekend. Phone 01584 810136.

Worcester Beer & Cider Festival mid August. 2009: 13th to 15th.

Worcester Festival, August. 2009: 15th to 31st.

Worcester Music festival first time in 2008 over August bank holiday weekend. 2009: 21st to 23rd August.

East

Upton Riverside Folk Festival May Bank Holiday (2009: 1st to 4th May).

Upton-upon-Severn Jazz Festival late June (2009: 26th to 28th). Email: info@uptonjazz.co.uk

Upton Blues Festival July (2009: 17th to 19th). In various pubs, free! Email: info@uptonbluesfestival.org.uk

Upton Water Festival. August Bank holiday weekend. 2008: 23rd to 25th August. Phone 01684 594552.

Bredon Flower Festival. 2008: 24th to 26th May.

Pershore Plum Fayre. Main event August Bank Holiday (2008: 25th August), but 2008 Festival starts from 1st August. Plus Farmers Market, Town Centre, 10am to 3pm. Contact Pershore Visitor Centre, 01386 556591.

Fladbury Walkabout (between Pershore and Evesham). Flower festival, refreshments, boat trips, music and more. 2009: 11th and 12th July.

Asparagus Festival events at The Fleece Inn, Bretforton, east of Evesham, late May/early June. 2009: 24th to 31st May.

Evesham Vintage Easter Gathering (2009: 11th to 13th April) and Evesham Steam Rally (2009: 7th to 9th August), both organised by Shakespeare's Rally Promotions.

Tewkesbury Water Festival 2009: 18th July.

South

Gorsley Festival "a rural rendezvous for spiritual refreshment" including flower displays in the local church. August Bank Holiday, 2009: 27th to 31st August.

Newent Onion Fayre takes over the centre of town for the day. 2009: 12th September. Tourist info: 01531 822468.

Linton Music Festival A village in between Newent and Ross has a music festival (started 2001) on the weekend nearest the mid-summers day, in the grounds of the Alma Inn. 2009: 19th to 21st June.

Ross Live!, July/August. 2009: 19th July to 5th August. (Last Ross on Wye International Festival was in 2004.) Also check out Jamstand (on myspace), 2009: 7th to 9th August.

Ross-on-Wye Cider Festival at Broome Farm. August/September. 2009: 4th to 6th September. Due to popularity, book in advance, and/or check out website for other possible summer weekend events at Broome Farm.

Around Hereford and county

Borderlines Film Festival brings the best of international cinema to Herefordshire. Mid to late March. 2009: 20th March to 5th April. At The Courtyard and venues in Ledbury, Ross, Gorsley and elsewhere in the county. Phone 01432 344039.

Herefordshire Festival of Walking June. 2009: 13th to 21st.

Wyeside Music Festival. 2009: 5th and 6th June, Hereford Rugby Club. Forty or so bands, fair rides, workshops etc.

Beer on the Wye A Hereford Camra event, featuring local cider and perry too. 2009: 3rd/4th July. Riverside Marquee at Hereford Rowing Club, Hereford, HR4 0BE, with camping available 'next door'.

Wye Valley Chamber Music runs some events in Hereford, St Briavels (near Forest of Dean), Much Marcle (Hellens) in September. The connected Chamber Music Festival in January (2009: 9th to 18th January) has been going since 2000. St Briavels Music Society calendar may be worth checking out, too.

Herefordshire Art Week, September. 2009: 12th to 20th. Includes various galleries in Ledbury such as textile works at Artplace, jewellery furniture, ceramics, textiles and garden sculptures at Bromesberrow (Rubicon Art), botanical stained glass and photography at Putley, also Blue Ginger near Cradley. Dragonswood Forge at Stoke Lacey is also worth a look. (For galleries in Malvern, see our Interests page.)

Flavours of Herefordshire Food Festival. 2009: 24th to 25th October. Hereford Race Course.

Hereford Photography Festival. 2009: 14th May to 21st June, as well as in October? We expect a similarly strong set of exhibitions as 2008.

Herefordshire Contemporary Crafts Fair. 2008: 14th to 16th November.

Leominster Apple Fair 2008: 18th October. Lion Ballroom, Broad Street, Leominster. See Marcher Apple Network.

Leominster Festival. 2009: 5th to 14th June.

Further afield

Bewdley Festival October. 2008: 10th to 18th.

Cheltenham Festivals Jazz (April/May), Science (June), Classical music (July), Literature (October). Folk festival (February).

Wychwood Festival World, Roots and Contemporary music with camping at Cheltenham racecourse, 2009: 29th to 31st May.

Church Stretton and South Shropshire Arts Festival Late July.

Clun Green Man Festival, May. 2009: 2nd to 4th.

Coleford Music Festival. Late May. Expected to go ahead in some form for 2009, despite a likely massive increase in policing costs.

Gloucester International Rhythm & Blues Festival. Late July. 2009: 25th July to 2nd August.

Hay-on-Wye Festival of Literature 2009: 21st to 31st May. Also December weekend event.

Wyastone Summer Series (June/July). The home of Nimbus Records, the concert hall hosts classical and other music. We understand that it is a fantastic setting near the Wye. Near Monmouth.

Ludlow

Festival Shakespeare in the castle and more. Three weeks, June/July. 2009: 20th June to 5th July.

Ludlow Marches Food and Drink Festival, 2009: 11th to 13th September. There's a connected foodie walk - Magnalonga in August (no veggie options though).

Ludlow Green Festival 2009: 29th and 30th August.

Craft Events (link problem June 09) Website covers Ludlow Castle Craft Festival, Medieval Christmas Fayre (2008: 29th and 30th November).

Ludlow Assembly Rooms arts and community centre.

Further Info

Worcester Live Covering events at the Swan Theatre and Huntingdon Hall plus all the events organised and run by Worcester Live.

malvern-net Has events listing on the front page, various scenic pics, links to hosted sites (local musicians/artists and some businesses). Direct link to Malvern Fringe pages.

Events page on Malvern Hills DC (local council site - tourism). Worcestershire Tourism Events search.

Arts Alive and Flicks in the Sticks - professional live performances and cinema in rural Herefordshire and Shropshire.

Broadsheep What's On Listings magazine for Shropshire, Herefordshire, and Mid Wales.

Green Futures Festivals for information on environmentally friendly events around the country.

artsworcs has a good links page of artists and art organisations in Worcestershire.

Artery is a newsletter from Herefordshire Council Cultural Services, mainly of news and opportunities of relevance to Herefordshire artists and crafts people. Others outside the county can also subscribe and there's also some general local arts info on the web front page.

dancefest - the dance agency for Herefordshire and Worcestershire.

Your event

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Please note that we are usually unable to provide further info on items listed above - see the web site links or other contact details given.