DarwIN Shrewsbury Festival 2025: A Look at the Highlights

Darwin’s birthday (February 12th) marks the epicentre of the DarwIN Shrewsbury Festival. We look at some of the festival highlights this year, which include some lovely offerings for children during half term and a wonderful musical celebration at Darwin’s birthplace.

This year’s DarwIN Shrewsbury Festival has been organised by local historian Bibbs Cameron of Shrewsbury Civic Society and John K Hughes, the former Darwin House project manager, whose role at Darwin’s birthplace (Mount House) ended in September. Both are committed to protecting Darwin's legacy in our town.

The festival was founded in 2003 by author and broadcaster Jon King, who still leads the annual toast at Morris Hall on Darwin's birthday, but responsibility for organising the events has passed between different bodies and individuals over the years.

“There is a lot of goodwill in Shrewsbury to keep it going," John said. “I would like to thank all those who have helped organise the event for their support, the various venues around Shrewsbury who will be hosting events and everyone else who has played a part in ensuring the festival can go ahead."

"It's turned out to be another full and varied programme, which we’re pleased about this year,” adds Bibbs, who also runs the talks programme Shrewsbury Historica. “There are some repeat events, which are always popular, such as the tours of the house. And we’re delighted the museum is taking part again this year.”

Together, John and Bibbs have curated a varied and intriguing lineup of events from February 1 - 28, ranging from spotlight talks about Darwin’s childhood and the voyage of The Beagle, to Lego workshops and other activities for kids, tours of his birthplace and the Darwin Memorial Lecture at Theatre Severn on February 9th, which this year explores AI and the future of evolution, delivered by Prof. Joanna Bryson, Professor of Ethics and Technology, at Hertie School, Berlin.

During the festival, you can follow Darwin’s footsteps around town, visiting his old school, now Shrewsbury Library, and the Unitarian church where he worshipped with his mother Susannah, who died in 1817, when Charles was eight years old. Or toast the great man himself on his birthday, at the Bellstone outside Morris Hall, on February 12 at 12pm.

Read more via 'My Shrewsbury'