The clocks went back last weekend, and the evenings are drawing in. Although it can be tempting to stay indoors when the weather turns wet and windy, there is plenty going on around Ludlow and the Shropshire Hills to tempt you out.
Bonfire Night is just around the corner, and November brings Christmas fairs, craft stalls and festive celebrations. If you are thinking about a short break in Shropshire before Christmas, here are some events worth putting in your diary.
Bonfire Nights Near Ludlow
Ludlow Rugby Club Fireworks Display
Sunday 1 November 2026
Ludlow Rugby Club’s annual fireworks display offers an evening out close to town. Gates open at 4pm, with the display scheduled for 6pm. Food stalls, hot drinks and a bar will help keep everyone refreshed while they wait for the fireworks.
Advance tickets are available through Eventbrite. Check the latest ticket and gate-entry arrangements before travelling, particularly as this event has already moved dates following the recent bad weather.
Ludlow Rugby Club fireworks details and tickets
Orleton Young Farmers Bonfire Night
Thursday 5 November 2026
Just over the Herefordshire border, Orleton Young Farmers are holding their annual bonfire and fireworks evening. Orleton is around a 30-minute drive from St Milburga Chapel, depending on your route and traffic.
The bonfire is scheduled for 6.30pm, followed by fireworks at 7pm, with food available. The advertised admission is £8 for adults, £5 for children under 16 and £20 for a family of two adults and two children. Under-fives enter free. This is a cash-only event, so take cash for admission and check the latest arrangements with the organisers.
Orleton Young Farmers Bonfire Night information
Shrewsbury Fireworks & Food at Croud Meadow
Thursday 5 November 2026
For a larger evening out further afield, Social Eats brings Fireworks & Food to Shrewsbury Town’s Croud Meadow. Alongside the fireworks, the programme includes a laser show, live music, DJs and fire performers, plus street food, drinks and craft stalls.
Book ahead and check the current arrival times, ticket conditions and parking arrangements on the organiser’s pages.
Shrewsbury Fireworks & Food information and booking links
Tenbury Young Farmers Charity Bonfire and Fireworks
Saturday 7 November 2026
If you miss the earlier displays, Tenbury Wells Young Farmers offer another chance to enjoy Bonfire Night while supporting a charity event. The celebrations take place on The Burgage, Tenbury Wells, with hot food, a bar, music and entertainment.
- Gates open: 6pm
- Bonfire lit: 7pm
- Fireworks: 7.30pm
Tenbury Young Farmers event details and admission prices
Outdoor displays depend on the weather. Check for cancellations or revised arrangements before setting off, and take warm layers and suitable footwear.
Frost Fair at Shropshire Hills Discovery Centre
Saturday 14 and Sunday 15 November 2026, 10am to 4pm
If you enjoy browsing craft stalls and finding Christmas presents with a personal touch, head to the Frost Fair at Shropshire Hills Discovery Centre in Craven Arms.
Local makers will bring handmade crafts and seasonal gifts, offering a chance to shop locally and find something a little different. Entry is free, making this an easy addition to a relaxed day exploring south Shropshire.
See the Discovery Centre’s events programme
Ludlow Christmas Fair at the Racecourse
Monday 16 and Tuesday 17 November 2026
Ludlow Christmas Fair returns to Ludlow Racecourse at Bromfield with more than 50 selected stalls. Expect gifts, food, decorations and plenty of ideas for those people who are difficult to buy for.
- Monday evening: 6pm to 8pm
- Tuesday: 9.30am to 3.30pm
- Admission: £5
- Parking: free
The fair raises funds for charitable causes, including the Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital’s League of Friends. This year, its support includes furnishing the hospital’s new Rheumatology Centre. Refreshments are available on Tuesday.
Visit the Ludlow Christmas Fair website
Ludlow Winter Festival
Friday 27 to Sunday 29 November 2026
Ludlow Winter Festival brings three days of shopping, food and entertainment, celebrating the town’s links with its rural neighbours.
Friday: Shopping and Illuminated Tractors
Start with late-night shopping, music and refreshments at St Laurence’s Church, the Tree of Light in Castle Gardens and Orleton Young Farmers’ illuminated tractor run. Ludlow Brewery also hosts a ticketed ABBA tribute evening.
Saturday: Food, Crafts and Christmas Lights
Browse craft fairs at the Methodist Church and St Laurence’s. The new Slow Food Christmas Fiesta runs from 10am to 6pm in Ludlow Castle’s Beacon Rooms and garden, with producers, talks and guests including Kate Humble and Clare Thomson. Free Fiesta entry does not include admission to the whole castle.
Father Christmas visits Ludlow College from 2pm to 4pm, ahead of the town’s Christmas lights switch-on at 5.30pm.
Sunday: Markets and Carols
Enjoy markets, street food, music and activities on Events Square, with an Advent Carol Service at St Laurence’s later in the day. Many festival activities are free; individual events may charge.
Read Ludlow Town Council’s Winter Festival programme
Why Not Make a Winter Break of It?
St Milburga Chapel sits in peaceful countryside at Stoke St Milborough, near Ludlow. Our Grade II listed former chapel sleeps up to four guests in two bedrooms, with private parking and space to relax after a day exploring.
Spend the day browsing Christmas stalls, enjoying Ludlow’s independent shops or watching the fireworks, then return to the warmth of the chapel for a cosy evening. If the weather gives you a bright morning, you could also fit in one of the walks near Ludlow before heading into town.
Thinking about a pre-Christmas escape? Check availability and book your winter break at St Milburga Chapel, or take a look inside to plan your stay.
Event information checked on 30 October 2026. Please confirm dates, times, ticket availability and admission arrangements with the organisers before travelling, as details may change.