The Birmingham 2022 Queen's Baton Relay comes to Shrewsbury

Birmingham 2022 is staging the 16th official Queen's Baton Relay ahead of the Commonwealth Games this summer. It's an epic journey across the Commonwealth, visiting all 72 nations and territories - and the Baton is coming to Shrewsbury on July 18th!

Join us as we celebrate this once-in-a-lifetime event with a processing through Shrewsbury town center, and an evening of FREE celebration in The Quarry.

Follow the baton's route

The Birmingham 2022 Queen's Baton will arrive via helicopter at Shrewsbury Sports Village, after a lap of the track it will then be driven to Shrewsbury Flaxmill Maltings.

The baton will leave Shrewsbury Flaxmill Maltings at 5.20pm and arrive at Shrewsbury Castle at 5.30pm where it will be met by a private Civic Welcome.

At 5.45pm the baton will leave the castle, weaving its way through town to Victoria Quay. Here it will sail down the Severn on The Sabrina Boat and a boat from Pengwern Boat Club, before finally arriving in The Quarry at 6.30pm for a spectacular evening of celebrations.

Queen's Baton Relay celebration event

To commemorate this once-in-a-lifetime event, an evening of entertainment will be taking place in The Quarry after the arrival of the Baton.

Delicious food and drink stalls, performances, sports and arts taster sessions, live music and jubilations will fill the park as the town comes together to celebrate this historic occasion.

Entry to the celebration event is FREE but tickets are essential - make sure to book yours now!

MAIN STAGE LINEUP

16:00 - local school groups performing songs and dance routines

17:00 - songs and dance of the commonwealth

18:30 - Procession and welcome of the Baton

18:45 - Baton on stage

19:15 - Old Dirty Brasstards

20:00 - Dirty Rockin Scoundrels

20:45 - Closing ceremony – mass participation singalong

Participating groups and schools

Sherrifhales Primary School, Makaton with Alfie, Ruth Lewis, Wigle Musical theatre, Brass Buttons, The Ronnie Singers, Geoff Rogers, Got 2 Sing, Shrewsbury Morris dancers, Get your Wigle On, MD School of performing arts, Rachels Dance, Elite Dance, Sports & Performing Arts for disadvantaged Backgrounds, Nula Hula

Community Village and hands-on activities

Flag and art installation with Andy McKeown, Scrappies flag and windsock making, STEM workshop, Shrewsbury Muslim Centre, RAF museum, Omega Support centre against loneliness, Actio, Shropshire WI, Shropshire Wildlife Trust, Shropshire guides, The Hive, Beat the Streets, Shropshire Scouts, Sports Village

Getting to Shrewsbury

People looking to attend the celebrations are being asked to make sure they arrive well in advance of the road closures (please see below).

PARKING

All town centre car parks will be open as normal before and after the road closures. Vehicles parked at Barker Street, St Austin Friars and Bellstone car parks will be able to leave via Welsh Bridge until 20 minutes before the baton passes through. Those in Raven Meadows will be able to leave towards Coton Hill until 20 minutes before the baton passes through.

PARK AND RIDE

The Park and Ride from Meole Brace and Oxon will be extended, with the last buses leaving no later than 10pm from Bellstone by The Loopy Shrew. Please be aware that the bus station will not be accessible, or bus stops along the route, during the road closure period, and buses will be arriving and departing from the temporary bus terminals at New Park Road near Beacalls Lane, by Theatre Severn, or from Abbey Foregate Car Park, during the closure

ROAD CLOSURES

Rolling closures will be in place along the relay route from 4.30 pm to 6.10 pm. The following roads will be affected:

• St Michael’s Street
• Spring Gardens
• Castle Gates
• Castle Street
• St Mary’s Street
• Dogpole
• Wyle Cop
• High Street
• Mardol Head
• Shoplatch
• Bellstone
• Barker Street
• Mardol Quay
• Smithfield Road
• Roushill
• Raven Meadows
• Smithfield Road
• Victoria Quay
• Victoria Avenue