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In 2009, all over the country, and all over the world, there were hundreds of celebrations marking 2009 - the 300th anniversary of Dr Johnson’s birth.
Samuel Johnson was born on September 18 1709.

Many events took place at the Dr Johnson Museum in London, but many also took place in Staffordshire, the county where he was born & raised and started his adult life.
We list many of the main Staffordshire events here.

The Johnson 300 Events 2009

Sunday 1st March:Ìý ‘The Golden Moment’, a play about Johnson & Garrick - at the Samuel Johnson Birthplace Museum Lichfield.
See website:Ìý www.samueljohnsonbirthplace.org.uk

Lady G ended off the year

Sunday 1st March: Evensong & Address at Lichfield Cathedral
See website:Ìý http://lichfield-cathedral.org/

Monday 2 March at 9am:Ìý Re-enactment of Johnson and Garrick departing Lichfield to go to London - in Lichfield city centre. (The two ‘actors’ will do the walk to London along 165 miles of canal paths from Lichfield stopping at places of education on the way, arriving in London on Thursday 12th March)
See website:Ìý www.samueljohnsonbirthplace.org.uk

18 April: ‘An Audience with Mrs Hester Thrale/Piozzi Pt 1’, a one-woman play at Lichfield Heritage Centre
See website:Ìý www.lichfield.gov.uk/heritage/events.htm

25 April ‘An Audience with Mrs Hester Thrale/Piozzi Pt 2’, a one-woman play at Lichfield Heritage Centre
See website:Ìý www.lichfield.gov.uk/heritage/events.htm

May 2 & 3: Living Theatre, as ‘Johnson’s friends’ mix with visitors - at the Samuel Johnson Birthplace Museum Lichfield
See website:Ìý www.samueljohnsonbirthplace.org.uk

June 6:Ìý ‘Three Poets of Lichfield’ – Sam Johnson, Anna Seward & Erasmus Darwin
See website:Ìý www.visitlichfield.co.uk/

13th June: ‘An Audience with Mrs Hester Thrale/Piozzi Pt 1’, a one-woman play at Lichfield Heritage Centre (aka St Mary’s Centre) - with Lesley Smith, the actress also well-known as curator of Tutbury Castle
See website:Ìý www.lichfield.gov.uk/heritage/events.htm

27th June: ‘An Audience with Mrs Hester Thrale/Piozzi Pt 2’, a one-woman play at the Samuel Johnson Birthplace Museum Lichfield.
See website:Ìý www.samueljohnsonbirthplace.org.uk

1 August: ‘Rasselas Evening’ a celebration of Johnson’s novel - at the Samuel Johnson Birthplace Museum Lichfield.Ìý 2009 marks not only the 300th Birthday of Samuel Johnson but also the 250th anniversary of his only novel ‘The Prince of Abyssinia, a Tale’, which is usually known just as ‘Rasselas’.
See website:Ìý www.samueljohnsonbirthplace.org.uk

Friday 4th September:Ìý Â鶹Éç Radio 4's political debate programme 'Any Questions?' was broadcasting live from Lichfield Guildhall at the invitation of the Samuel Johnson Birthplace Museum, to mark the opening of a series of programmes on Radio 4 in honour of the 300th anniversary of Lichfield's most famous son.

September 18-20: The BIG Weekend with the actual birthday on the 18th.
For details, visit:ÌýÌý www.samueljohnsonbirthplace.org.uk/events.asp

The Johnson at 300 'Son et Lumière', on Friday 18 September, will see the whole of the Market Square come alive with light and sound in a free light show and spectacular fireworks finale.

The Lichfield Heritage & Georgian Weekend has been designed to coincide with the Johnson celebrations.
There will be free entry to all the city's historic attractions, historic fancy dress on the market square, cellar tours, spire climbs, and visits to the Guildhall's cells(!) - among lots of activities across the three days.
To see a full programme of activities, pick up a leaflet from the Tourist Information Centre in the Lichfield Garrick Theatre - or visit:ÌýÌý www.visitlichfield.co.uk

September 19: The Johnson Society Dinner takes place at Lichfield Guildhall;Ìý the Birthplace Museum will also have the traditional wreath laying ceremony and cake cutting!
For details, visit:ÌýÌý www.samueljohnsonbirthplace.org.uk/events.asp

19th Sept: 'Coffee with Samuel Johnson, Tea with Arnold Bennett' - a one-man show from Professor Ray Johnson in Stone (as part of Stone Book festival).Ìý Tel 01785 619740

20 September: Johnson-Birthday Evensong (Preacher, the Bishop of London) at Lichfield Cathedral
See website:Ìý http://lichfield-cathedral.org/

September 21st: A commemoration of 'Johnson's Penance’ at 11am, in Uttoxeter. This remembers the event when Johnson repented his youthful defiance of his father in Uttoxeter Marketplace. The re-enactment is carried out by St Mary's Players.
For details, telephone:Ìý 01889 567176

29th Sept:Ìý Tom Hodgkinson lecture on the Influence of Dr Johnson.Ìý Presented by 'The Book Barge' at Barton Marina, near Burton

Saturday 10th October: an appearance at the Lichfield Literature Weekend by Johnson biographer David Nokes, who wrote 'Samuel Johnson: A Life'. ÌýDavid Nokes is Professor at King’s College, London.
The talk takes place between 8pm-9pm at The George Hotel in Lichfield - £6.
Web: www.lichfieldfestival.org

Thursday 26th November 5–8pm:ÌýÌý Samuel Johnson’s 'Christmas Light Night'. Step back into Georgian Lichfield with a late-night costumed Samuel Johnson Museum hosting craft activities and Christmas decoration workshops for adults and children alike and festive refreshments. The event is free, so everyone can drop in to warm up with a mince pie and hot mulled wine before watching the Christmas Lights Switch On in the Market Square.

Sunday 6th December at 2pm.:Ìý The grand finale to the Tercentenary celebrationsÌý takes place at Lichfield Guildhall. The glorious 'Lady Georgianna' are a trio of talented early musicians, who perform their show ‘Ladies of Misrule’ - a programme of 18th century music and witty readings in costume. Inspired by pleasure gardens and based on the adventures of Fanny Burney’s ‘Evelina’, the afternoon of entertainment will feature the music of Handel, Arne and other composers from Johnson’s time.
Tickets for the concert cost £8 and are available in advance from the Samuel Johnson Birthplace Museum. For those who would like an early festive treat, a special concert package is available including a three course historical Georgian lunch at Thrales Restaurant followed by the concert. The concert package is only available in advance from the Museum, and costs £25.