Events

Festival in the Shire

Date: 13 Aug - 15 Aug

Location: Pontrhydfendigaid, Wales, UK

Announcing perhaps the biggest and most exciting event for Tolkien enthusiasts in 2010: Festival in the Shire! Including a conference, a collector’s exposition of original art, rare books and memorabilia, as well as a large festival with stalls and entertainment.

Festival in the Shire will provide a meeting point for all the different interest groups of Tolkien fans worldwide. This will be achieved by holding three events under one roof:-

The Conference

The Festival in the Shire conference gives attendees the opportunity to hear and meet internationally respected experts on Tolkien’s work. 2010’s conference is entitled ‘Welsh influences on the works of J.R.R. Tolkien’. Speakers at the conference will include Jane Chance, Douglas Anderson, Tom Shippey, Colin Duriez, John Garth and Alex Lewis together with many other renowned Tolkien specialists. The conference will consist of keynote speeches, papers on the latest research and breakout sessions with discussion groups. Conference attendees will also have the opportunity to visit the collector’s exposition and festival, entrance to which is included in their registration. The conference takes place in the historic Y Plas building in Machynlleth, Wales, previously owned by the Marquess of Londonderry. For information on participating in the conference or assisting with conference planning, please contact Dr. Brad Eden (UCSB) at eden@FestivalintheShire.com. For information on attending the conference please email: registration@FestivalintheShire.com

The Collector’s Exposition

The Festival in the Shire collector’s exposition is unique in bringing together some of the worlds rarest and most famous items associated with JRR Tolkien and inspired by his work. It will include original art from the books as well as other paintings by the same artists. Exposition attendees will also have an exciting opportunity to meet the artists themselves and learn more about their work. Artists attending include Roger Garland, Ted Nasmith, Jef Murray, Ruth Lacon and Peter Pracownik. The exposition will also showcase rare first editions of Tolkien’s books and other Tolkien memorabilia. Many of these pieces are from private collections and unlikely to be shown again. This comprehensive exposition will give collectors a unique opportunity to view art, rare books and artefacts all in one place.

The Festival

In addition to the conference and collector’s exposition, Festival in the Shire’s main event is the Festival itself! This is a large event with a wide variety of stalls and entertainment. Suitable for all the family, the Festival takes place in the extensive grounds of the Y Plas mansion in Machynlleth. Entertainment will include Tolkien inspired re-enactments, music and other performance art together with Celtic music and a myriad of fantasy related events. It will also offer attendees the opportunity to sample local Welsh food as well as view a variety of Celtic crafts and meet different craftspeople.

Venue: Pafiliwn Bont, Pontrhydfendigaid

Web site: http://www.festivalintheshire.com

Contact details: info AT FestivalintheShire DOT com

Phone: (44) (0) 1650531329

Postal Address: Mark Faith, Festival in the Shire , Bwlchcoediog Isaf, Cwm Cewydd, Machynlleth, Powys SY20 9EE, United Kingdom,