Wilfred Owen Festival
A Celebration of Wilfred Owen's Legacy in the Town of his Birth
The Wilfred Owen Festival 2025 is dedicated to honouring the life and works of the renowned poet and soldier in the town of his birth. It follows on from the festival in 2018 when the worldwide Centenary Commemorations of the end of World War One and of his death just days before the cessation of hostilities in November 1918 took place. It had always been hoped to continue this festival annually in the town of his birth but Covid and other issues led to this not taking place. "Lights Out Trefonen," a community events organisation led by local amateur historian Chris Woods was responsible for the first festival which had as its focal point the unveiling of local artist and sculptor, Tim Turner's bronze statue of Wilfred Owen that sits proudly in Oswestry's, Cae Glas Park. Chris had approached Oswestry Town Council in regards to the commissioning of the statue and has approached them again to secure funding from them and other sponsors to enable this new festival to take place.
%20copy.jpg)
Wilfred Owen Statue by Tim Turner - Cae Glas Park, Oswestry.
The catalyst for this new festival is described in the next section of this website. Join us during the festival in March 2025 which will feature a diverse series of events including musical performances, drama productions, poetry recitals, informative talks and more as we explore and celebrate Owen's legacy and honour his contributions to literature, our culture and his impact on our history.

"Lights Out Trefonen" is a local community group initially formed in 2013 to deliver an event to mark the 100th anniversary of the start of World War One. The group was responsible for raising money to have a new memorial cross designed and erected on the pit mound in Trefonen in honour of the thirty one locals who lost their lives during as a consequence of the war.
Throughout the World War One Centenary Commemorations, "Lights Out Trefonen" delivered a series of events including, music concerts, drama, film, exhibitions, talks and re-enactments. The group has also, with the support of the local P3 group created a series of four footpath trails that will hopefully act as a lasting legacy and fitting commemoration to the sacrifices of our forbears. The trails take you past the houses where those who went to war lived, with a descriptive blue plaque either on the house or close by.
Lights Out Trefonen has also created a database of those killed and this can be found on the website www.trefonen.org ​where more information about the impact of World War 1 had on Oswestry and surrounding communities.
Chris Woods co-ordinator of the group has also written a book accompanying this subject and was also instrumental in getting the Wilfred Owen Statue in Cae Glas Park, Oswestry commissioned and organised the Wilfred Owen Festival in Oswestry in 2018 and is leading on the Wilfred Owen Festival 2025.
The festival is supported by the following sponsors


