About

The Ironbridge Gorge World Heritage Festival takes place from Monday 26 August to Sunday 15 September 2024 in the Ironbridge Gorge UNESCO World Heritage Site. 

This incredibly special festival celebrates the history and culture of the town and will include walks, talks and trails, arts, music and poetry, a street festival, a Coracle Regatta and heritage open days. 

Monday 26 August - the opening event of this years Ironbridge Gorge World Heritage Festival is the Coracle Regatta.  There wil be coracle racing, duck race, stalls, fun, refreshments and entertainment!

11am - 4pm
Dale End Park/Ironbridge Rowing Club 

Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 September - Heritage Open Days at Coalbrookdale with Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust. All the details about the Open Days 

Saturday 14 September - Ironbridge Open Day on the Wharfage 11am to 4pm 

A day of traditional heritage skills, stalls, and street entertainment. The Wharfage will be pedestrianised for the day so a great opportunity to have a wonder around the stalls, shops and grab a bite to eat. 

Sunday 15 September - Rotary Club of Ironbridge Dog Show is back! 

Taking place at Dale End Park and you can register on the day from 12noon. 15 categories to enter in! 

The Rotary Club has more information on their Facebook page 

Secret Severn Art 2024 - 6 to 15 September 

Join us in and around the Ironbridge Gorge this September exploring all of the wonderful creativity and art available. Browse open studios and purchase original pieces of art direct from the artist. Start off at Fusion for the Main Exhibition, then work your way around Jackfield and the Gorge exploring the open studios. Or mix it up and do it your own way!   Read about the 2024 programme. 

The Severn Gorge Countryside Trust have a number of events including Cyanotype and Anthotype Printing (for juniors), Skullduggery - A Secret Severn Arts Workshop and Mushroom Garland - Secret Severn Arts Workshop.   Read about the events and book your space!

Sunday 15 September  - Poetry Slam 2.30pm The Engine Shop £8  BOOK YOUR SPACE 

Poets, Prattlers, and Pandemonialists return with their high-energy, highly entertaining poetry slam. Fifteen poets perform their work and compete against each other. Only one can win the prize of a paid gig in Ironbridge later this year. Who will it be? What poems will they share with us? How will the judges vote? And will you think the judges made the right decision?

Refreshments will be available from the Furnace Cafe on site.

Due to the nature of the event individual poets are invited on to stage to share their poems. The subject matter is outside of the organisers’ control. Previous Poetry Slams have touched on adult subject matter and language. So it may not be suitable for young children.

 TAKE PART -  Ironbridge Gorge World Heritage Festival -  poetry competition 2024

Poets, Prattlers and Pandemonialists are once again running the poetry competition as part of the annual Festival!

 The competition is open to poets from across the globe, and poems on any and every subject are welcome.
 First prize in our competition will win £300, with a second prize of £125, and three third prizes of £25 each.
 In addition, poems sent in by people living in a TF postcode will also be eligible for our local prize of £50.
 The competition opens on Monday 2 September 2024 and entries need to be in before the deadline of 6pm on 20 October 2024.
 You’ll find details of how to submit, and the rules for the competition here https://orlo.uk/gTj6d
Poems will be read, and winners chosen, by our judge Paul Francis.
Our Judge
Paul Francis is a retired teacher, living in Much Wenlock, who’s been active in the West Midlands poetry scene for the last twenty-five years. He won the TF postcode prize at the inaugural Ironbridge competition in 2022, came second in the Shelley Memorial competition in 2023, and he won the Enfield poetry competition in 2024.
Good luck!

Our partners for this Festival include: 

Ironbridge Rotary Club, Ironbridge Coracle Trust, Severn Gorge Countryside Trust, Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust, Secret Severn Art, Poets, Prattlers and Pandemonialists.