Love Oswestry - Winter Festival of art and culture
A celebration of Oswestry arts, culture and heritage taking place during February half term.

Running Order: Love Oswestry 22nd February
Official Launch 11 am: Town Crier to announce the festival is open at Oswestry Market
11.05am Guided tour starts from Oswestry Tourist Information, Oswestry Indoor Market
11.05am – 11.45am Porthywaen Silver Band: Bailey Head
12 – 4pm Oswestry Makes – Knitting Workshops in Memorial Hall
11am and 11.45am Drumming workshops at the Memorial Hall
12.00 Library – 2nd Story Telling Session
12.30 -1pm Porthywaen Silver Band in Festival Square
1.00pm Photography workshop – Market stall Bailey Head
Afternoon programme – Memorial Hall
1pm and 1.45pm Drumming workshops at the Memorial Hall
2pm Bilingual storytelling at Siop Cwlwm
4pm food, refreshments and culture from Oswestry’s Ukrainian community at Memorial Hall
5pm Build up activity in Festival Square including Stilt Walker, Bubble Fairies and lanterns.
5.45pm Town Crier to announce and gather people for the procession
6.00pm Procession begins
6.30pm – 6.45pm Arrive at Bailey Head
Mayor’s closing words
Fire eater finale!
See below for more details of all our Love Oswestry events.
Week long celebration of arts and culture culminating on Saturday 22nd February with a day of music, tours, workshops and the grand finale of the Lantern Parade through town at 6pm. Come and join the Bubble Fairies, Owl Lantern, drummers and see the Fire Eater! For more information see the Love Oswestry Facebook page.
FREE Drama Mask & Puppet Workshops this Half Term for 8-17 year olds
As a part of Love Oswestry Festival week, join StageFive Theatre at Open Space Studios for three days Wednesday 19th, Thursday 20th, Friday 21st February, 10am-4pm
Two age groups will work on puppet making, mask work and creating a performance for the Friday afternoon.
FREE but booking required Open Space Studios are above the Library, Arthur St, Oswestry SY11 1JN

Adult Make a copper pendant or keyring (drop in)
Try you had at some basic metalwork. A chance to work with copper, hammers and flame! Make a pendant or keyring
The Factory Friday 21st 10am-1pm

Family Clay Play. Suitable for age 6+ (Drop in)
Make and decorate the face of someone (or something) you love in air-dry clay
Optional Extra: firing and glazing £5 per item
The Factory Friday 21st 10am -1pm

Family Print Workshop. Suitable for age 6+ (Drop-in)
Try your hand at lino cutting, printing, stamping to make your own postcard-sized print.
The Factory Friday 21st 10am – 1pm
No need to book

Adult Clay Play (Pre-booked, Max 6 couples)
Come along with someone special and make pots on a wheel together out of air-dry clay. Optional Extras: firing and glazing £5 per pot. ALSO Create a unique and lasting imprint of your love for another human by hugging a freshly made pot. Additional charge £30 a pot.
the Factory Friday 21st 6.30pm -9pm

Lantern Making Workshops .Ages 8+, children accompanied by adults.
Create your own willow and paper lantern to carry at the festival.
Designs in Mind, Cross Street, various dates.
To book Creative Workshops Designs In Mind – Support Mental Health

Collage and Drawing Art Workshop . Join The Love Oswestry Villages Project artist Jamila Walker to create your own small, playful illustrated visual story books on the theme of the village. For ages 5+. Children need to be accompanied by an adult. Booking is necessary.
Tuesday 18th February Memorial Hall 10-12.30
Thursday 20th February Library 1.30-3.30 . This session is fully booked.

The pOSsibiity Machine is back… for two days only… as part of the Love Oswestry festival week with creative pop-up activities around the town centre. You might remember this colourful creative trolley from its activities over the summer. We will be back bringing colour, chalk pens and an invitation to all ages to make your mark and contribute to this playful, “messy” portrait of Oswestry. Town centre 12-3 on Tuesday 18th and Thursday 20th February.

Capturing Heritage Through the Lens .Join photographer and Love Oswestry Villages Project artist Rob Kirman for a 1-hour street photography workshop. Be inspired by the photographs he has created for the project and take some time to take your own photographs responding to buildings and people in Oswestry town centre. This workshop is perfect for children, older adults, beginners, and non-photographers looking to explore storytelling through photography. Learn simple techniques like composition and lighting. Please bring any camera—phone cameras are welcome—warm clothes, and an open mind! Children need to be accompanied by an adult. Oswestry Street Market, Bailey Head Saturday 22nd February 1-2pm. No need to book.

Villages Project Exhibition Market Stall . The Love Oswestry Villages Project will have their very own stall on Bailey Head as part of the Oswestry Street Market. Come and learn about the project, take part in free drop-in creative workshops with The Villages Project artists Rob Kirman, Jo Munton, Myfanwy Alexander, Elin Gittins and Jamila Walker. And take away your own Love Oswestry Villages Project goody tote bag.
10-2 Wednesday 19th and Saturday 22nd February.

What can a garden be?
A fun and sensory workshop with a range of creative activities to explore the OsNosh garden through Sound, Smell, Touch and Taste. Listen to the mud, touch the air and smell the trees! There will be different drawing and painting materials on hand as well to translate your sensations into marks, shapes and colours. OsNosh, Friday 21st February 10-12 All ages , drop in session.

Sparks writing workshops . Oswestry Library
This fun, interactive session invites young people to explore the art of storytelling, and creative expression. Guided by professional writers and workshop leaders, participants will craft their own unique pieces and discover the magic of their imagination. Open to all budding writers aged 8-18 and with two age groups to support young writers across their creative careers, this is your chance to spark your passion for writing in a supportive and exciting environment. Don’t miss out!
Juniors (Aged 8-12) – Tuesday 18th Feb 2025 at 1:00-3:30pm
Teens (Aged 13-18) – Wednesday 19th Feb 2025 at 1:00-3:30pm
To book please email oswestry.library@shropshire.gov.uk

Join us at Designs in Mind to learn how to screen print with our Design Lead, Artist and Illustrator, Lydia Cotterell. Using hand cut stencils and silk screens, Lydia will lead you through the process of creating a decorative print on paper, based on natural forms. All materials will be provided and no experience is necessary for this warm and encouraging workshop. Booking essential, totally FREE as part of the Love Oswestry lantern festival. Adults only (or 13 + accompanied by an adult).
22nd February 10.30 to 1pm.
Sorry but this event is fully booked.

“How do you know when you have come home?”
The Villages Project Exhibition
Oswestry Library, Oswestry Indoor Market & Llwyd Mansion Hoarding
February 13th – March 24th 2025
Join us to celebrate the life – past, present and future – of Oswestry’s villages. Since September 2024 five selected local artists have been busy making artworks with village communities and we are delighted to share these with you as part of the Love Oswestry Festival 2025.
The project is being co-ordinated by the Rural Art Hub, on behalf of Love Oswestry and Oswestry Cultural Connections. It is funded by the UK Government as part of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

Drumming Workshops.
Join us and learn how to play drums as a group in our drumming sessions
Open to all ages, Oswestry Memorial Hall, Saturday 22nd February. 4 workshops.
Booking Details, Love Oswestry | Instagram, Facebook | Linktree

Love to Knit
Learn to knit/crochet your own heart for a donation to a local charity. All wool and needles will be provided. Open to all, Oswestry Memorial Hall, Saturday 22nd February 12 – 4pm

Tall Tails
Join us and listen to some tall tales from far flung places
Open to all ages, Saturday 22nd February.
Booka at 10.30am
Oswestry Library at 12
No need to book

Free Felt Making Monster Workshop
11am to 3pm on Wednesday 19th February at Qube. Young people aged 11 to 16. Please book here .

Free Singing Workshop
Come and join us from 9:30-12:15 on Wednesday 19th February at Oswestry Memorial Hall.
Sing with a member of Johns’ Boys and learn a new song with us.
Anybody aged 10-17 is welcome to join, drop us a message to book on! No singing experience needed, just a willingness to have fun and get involved.
