Writing Magazine March 2020

WRITING FESTIVALS 2020

WRITING MAGAZINE - FESTIVAL GUIDE 2020^61

Ullapool Book Festival
8-10 May, Ullapool Village Hall
A literary festival held in the Highlands, with
iction, non-iction and poetry
Joan Michael, 33 Seaforth Road, Ullapool
IV26 2UY
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.ullapoolbookfestival.co.uk

Stratford Literary Festival
9-17 May, Stratford Artshouse, Rother Street,
Stratford upon Avon CV37 6LU
he 8-day festival features author events,
panel discussions, writing and craft workshops
and events for kids
01789 470185

Lincoln Book Festival
13-17 May
he Collection, Lincoln
Subtled ‘History at its Heart’, the region’s
premier literature festival takes place in an
archeology museum and has a clear focus on
historical iction and history writing
Danes Terrace Lincoln LN2 1LP
01522 873894

Newcastle Poetry Festival
13-16 May
Northern Stage, Newcastle upon Tyne
Poetry festival with leading contemporary
poets, emerging poets and free events

Bath Festival
15-24 May, various venues in Bath
Ten days of music and books
Bath Festivals, hird Floor, Abbey Chambers,
Kingston Buildings, Bath BA1 1NT
01225 614182

Charleston Festival
15-25 May
Charleston Farmhouse, Lewes, East Sussex
Annual festival with big name guests
he Charleston Trust, Charleston, Firle, nr
Lewes, East Sussex BN8 6LL
01323 811 626

Hay Festival
21-31 May
Hay-on-Wye
Hay Festival is the world’s leading festival of
ideas, bringing readers and writers together to
share stories and ideas in sustainable events.
Over 600 award-winning writers, global
policy makers, pioneers and innovators are
expected to appear in conversations across 11
days, with chance for young readers to meet
their heroes and get creative.
he Drill Hall, 25 Lion Street, Hay-on-Wye
HR3 5AD; 01497 822 629 (Box Oice)

International Literature Festival Dublin

15-24 May, various Dublin venues

Some of the world’s inest writers take part in

Ireland’s premier literary event, which features

novelists, poets, non-iction writers, lyricists,

playwrights and screenwriters

BoxRoom Productions, GEC, Taylor’s

Lane, Dublin 8; +353 (0) 1 415 1295

Steyning Festival

20-25 May, Steyning

Popular biannual general arts festival with

literary strand

he Steyning Bookshop, 106 High Street,

Steyning BN44 3RD; 01903 812 062

Perth Festival of Arts

21-30 May

Perth Concert Hall and heatre

A 10-day arts-packed festival across the city of

Perth covering all the arts, including classical

music, opera, rock/ pop, jazz, blues, drama,

comedy, literature and visual arts.

3-5 High Street, Perth, PH1 5JS

01738 621031

Bodmin Moor Poetry Festival

22-24 May

Sterts heatre and Arts Centre, Upton Cross,

Liskeard

he ninth festival will be the usual mix of

high-quality poetry-based events, including

readings, workshops, visual art and music. 

he focus this year will be on water &

journeys, to mark Plymouth’s celebrations for

Maylower 400.

Fal River Festival

22-31 May, Cornwall

Lively, family-friendly festival of activities and

arts.

Festival Co-ordinator, 01326 741194

Salisbury International Arts Festival

22 May-7 June, various venues

Two-week multi-arts festival with a literature

strand

Wiltshire Creative, Salisbury Playhouse

Malthouse Lane, Salisbury SP2 7RA

01722 320 117

Swaledale Festival

23 May-6 June

Various venues around Swaledale,

Akengarthdale and Wensleydale, North

Yorkshire

Music, arts and walking festival with some

poetry and literature events

Swaledale Festival, Hudson House, Reeth,

Richmond, North Yorkshire DL11 6TB

01748 880018

Listowel Writers’ Week

27-31 May, Listowel, Co Kerry, Ireland

One of Ireland’s longest running, most popular

and prestigious literary festivals, Listowel

Writers’ Week includes art, theatre, music,

tours, a children’s festival, and an extensive

programme of workshops for writers.

Máire Logue, Writers’ Week, 24 he Square,

Listowel, Co Kerry, Ireland; +353 (0) 68 21074

Derby Book Festival

29 May-6 June, various library, heritage and

community venues across Derby

Derby Book Festival aims to appeal to readers of

all ages and includes events with a local theme

Derby Book Festival, 30 Lavender Row,

Darley Abbey, Derby DE22 1DF

JUNE

Crimefest

4-7 June, Bristol Mercure Hotel

Up to 150 authors descend on Bristol for up

to 60 events, catering for readers who dip into

the occasional crime novel alongside die-hard

fans, as well as drawing top crime novelists,

editors, publishers and reviewers from around

the world.

Basement Flat 6 Rodney Place Bristol BS8

4HY; 0117 9737829

Stoke Newington Literary Festival

June TBC

Venues around Stoke Newington

Festival celebrating the radical and literary

history of this part of North London

52 Bayston Road, London N16 7LT.

Greenway Literary Festival

8-14 June, Greenway Estate, Devon

New festival celebrating books and writing at

the holiday home of Agatha Christie

01803 842382

Barnes Children’s Literature Festival

9-14 June, various venues in Barnes

London’s largest designated children’s

literature festival has featured some of

children’s writing’s biggest stars, including

Jacqueline Wilson, Michael Morpurgo and

Judith Kerr

Stratford-upon-Avon Poetry Festival

10-14 June, various venues

he UK’s longest-running poetry festival

features readings, workshops and performances.

Shakespeare Birthplace Trust, he Shakespeare

Centre, Henley Street, Stratford-upon-Avon,

Warwickshire CV37 6QW

01789 204016