2018 will be a particularly big year for Oswestry. Oswestry Town Council can confirm that the Annual Balloon Festival will be held over the August bank holiday (25th & 26th) and is set to be a real landmark event for the town. Oswestry is, by reputation, a balloon hotspot and the intention is to use Cae Glas Park to host over 25 balloons on both the Saturday and Sunday. Previously held in Llangollen and the British Ironworks this event will be a huge flagship event for the town and will hopefully become an annual event. To compliment the spectacle there will be a huge Continental Market, street entertainment and various family activities.

Also to be held this year is a centenary event celebrating the life of famous Oswestry war poet Wilfred Owen. This will be held in November. A brand new statue has been commissioned to acknowledge the importance of Wilfred Owen to Oswestry and there will be many tourism benefits during the year.

As you may already know Oswestry was awarded Best In Class in the national Heart Of England competition last year. As a result for the first time Oswestry has been entered into the Britain In Bloom competition for 2018. This is a huge responsibility and as a consequence the Town Council have agreed a new financial budget to invest into the town and park to make it look as good as possible in time for the judges visit.

These are just a few things to look forward to this year, all of which will have a positive impact on the town.