Big year for Shropshire with festivals galore

It may be a little early to start thinking about highlights of the year, given that we're in week one of 52.

However, one thing is certain, 12 months from now, when all of us look back, we can be reasonably sure that festivals will feature in our end-of-year picks.

In the world of arts and cultures, Shropshire could quite easily be renamed Festivalshire.

Music, art, threatre and food all form part of the annual offering – and 2013 promises to be no exception.

A number of major music festivals will take place, with V Festival, at Weston Park, leading the way. We can expect to learn details of the line-up in coming weeks. Organisers from the V team have their plans in place – though they will be kept under wraps for a little while.

The Green Man Festival, in Powys, will bring the best of Americana, roots, acoustic and alternative music to the region in August. The event will take place from August 15-18 and organisers will be looking to go one step further than the 2012 headliners, who included Mogwai, Van Morrison and Feist.

The Big Chill, near to the south Shropshire border, is set to rise like a phoenix from the flames in 2013.

Melvin Benn, managing director of Festival Republic, pulled the plug on the 2012 event because it clased with the Olympics.

He has been looking at a number of options for the event, which traditionally takes place during the first weekend of August. It's as-yet-uncertain whether Benn will revive The Big Chill, or create a new event to replace it.

However, he is hoping to use the Eastnor Castle showground for a spectacular show.

Closer to home, Shrewsbury is set to stage the third Shrewsbury Fields Forever event in September. Event organiser Dene Edwards has worked wonders in getting the event off the ground; with the 2012 festival attracting around 7,000 fans – a huge increase on the 4,000 people who supported the inaugural event.

Edwards has big plans and hopes to provide comedy , music, dance and alternative entertainment for local thrill-seekers.

OsFest, at Oswestry, is also set to make a return under the new name Break For TheBorder 2013.

The event has proved popular for people who live along the English/Welsh border and this year's main stage will move to a Big Top – to make sure fans stay dry throughout the spring weekend.

Arts Festivals will feature prominently in Shropshire during the next 12 months.

A number of fringe events will take place in market towns across the region, though all eyes will be on the 'new look' Ludlow Arts Festival, which is set to rise from the ashes of the former event.

An impressive new team is behind the celebration of theatre, comedy, music and dance and visitors to the town can expect a heavy emphasis on youth activities, street entertainment and events that are low in price but high in quality.

Food will also feature prominently in Festivalshire during 2013. The Ludlow Spring Festival attracted around 8,000 people last year, including TV presenter Ade Edmondson, and organisers believe it could reach 10,000 in May.

The event will focus on beer, bread, bangers and classic cars – as well as gourmet grub.

A new food festival is to be launched at Shrewsbury's Quarry Park on June 29 and 30. People from across the UK will be welcome to the two-day extravaganza, which is billing itself as being 'Britain's tastiest food festival'.

It will feature celebrity chefs like Marcus Bean, from the New Inn, at Baschurch, and Will Holland, from La Becasse, in Ludlow.

The Ludlow Food Festival will also return in September and it will look to attract around 20,000 people.

It may just be the start of 2013, but one thing's for certain: a busy and exciting year lies in store.