On any given day, there could be many Tolkien related events taking place somewhere on this great big planet of ours. Sometimes we get to post about those events on our homepage, sometimes we don’t. To make things a bit easier for Ringers worldwide to keep track of upcoming (and past) events, we are announcing TheOneRing.net Event Calendar! This new calendar, maintained using Google Calendar, not only allows you to quickly and easily look through upcoming events, it allows you to subscribe and even add events to your own personal calendar. That way you can set up you own reminders and alerts ’til your hearts content! And best yet, if you have an event coming up, we do take submissions to be included on the calendar. Our goal is to make this the most comprehensive calendar for Tolkien fans worldwide, and with your help, we hope to reach that goal! Follow the link to view the upcoming events. [Event Calendar] [Google]

Dave DelaGardelle's Smaug
Dave DelaGardelle's Smaug
Daniela Fernandes de Lima's Smaug
Daniela Fernandes de Lima's Smaug
Tam O'Malley's Smaug
Tam O'Malley's Smaug


A while back, we announced a ‘Show us your Smaug’ giveaway on Facebook. Many entered, and there were so many good entries that we decided to pick three winners instead of just one! So congrats to Tam O’Malley, Daniella Fernandes and Dave DelaGardelle! You’ve won yourself a copy of The Lord of the Rings BBC Radio Play! Above are their entries. Congrats again!

In a hole in the ground there lived a Hobbit…

Wellington, NZ, March 21, 2011—Production has commenced in Wellington, New Zealand, on “The Hobbit,” filmmaker Peter Jackson’s two film adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien’s widely read masterpiece.

“The Hobbit” is set in Middle-earth 60 years before Tolkien’s “The Lord of the Rings,” which Jackson and his filmmaking team brought to the big screen in the blockbuster trilogy that culminated with the Oscar-winning “The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King.”

The two films, with screenplays by Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens, Guillermo del Toro and Peter Jackson, will be shot consecutively in digital 3D using the latest camera and stereo technology. Filming will take place at Stone Street Studios, Wellington, and on location around New Zealand.

“The Hobbit” follows the journey of title character Bilbo Baggins, who is swept into an epic quest to reclaim the lost Dwarf Kingdom of Erebor, which was long ago conquered by the dragon Smaug. Approached out of the blue by the wizard Gandalf the Grey, Bilbo finds himself joining a company of thirteen dwarves led by the legendary warrior, Thorin Oakensheild. Their journey will take them into the Wild; through treacherous lands swarming with Goblins and Orcs, deadly Wargs and Giant Spiders, Shapeshifters and Sorcerers. Continue reading “PRODUCTION BEGINS IN NEW ZEALAND ON THE HOBBIT, PETER JACKSON’S TWO FILM EPIC ADAPTATION OF J.R.R. TOLKIEN’S TIMELESS CLASSIC”

Mikewise writes: The music of FOTR is coming to Chicagoland’s premier outdoor music venue, Ravinia this summer. Two nights, 8/18 & 8/19. From the website: Move over, Wagner—there’s another “Ring” in town, and with better special effects than Bayreuth could ever dream of. Straight from its triumphant presentations at Radio City Music Hall (“The music of Middle Earth soared through misty climes and clanked and rattled through Hadean depths at Radio City Music Hall”—New York Times) and the Lucerne Festival, this is the groundbreaking first installment of Peter Jackson’s Oscar-winning film trilogy based on J.R. Tolkien’s beloved novels as you’ve never seen or heard it before, with live symphonic accompaniment—similar to the CSO’s “Friday Night at the Movies” programs downtown. More..

Tolkien Reading Day was set up to encourage people to get together and explore some of Tolkien’s stories at school, university, in reading groups, or as a family; the theme for 2011 is “Tolkien’s Trees”.

This year’s theme, “Tolkien’s Trees”, is allied with the “International Year of Forests” and encourages families and library reading groups to enjoy exploring the dark confines of Tolkien’s many forests as well as focusing on individual trees.

Readers might venture into Mirkwood in “The Hobbit” and “The Lord of the Rings”; into the Old Forest on the borders of the Shire, and the Golden Wood of Lothlorien, or meet the Ents of Fangorn. Or why not read about and discuss the importance of trees and their meanings in “Leaf By Niggle”, or the ‘Two Trees’ beloved of the Elves in “The Silmarillion”, where there are more great forests and woods to discover. Continue reading “25th March is Tolkien Reading Day!”