Literary festivals and events this spring and summer
Booklovers are looking at the brightening weather with excitement, anticipating the kind of days where you can dive into a novel in the park or on the beach.
What’s more, there’s a whole host of excellent events and festivals around the country in the coming months, so you’ll have the chance to meet the authors and find out more about your favourite literary characters in person.
Aye Write!, Glasgow
17 – 25 April
Get along to Glasgow, where a great selection of Scottish and international writers will take to the stage and share their thoughts about writing, reading and everything else. This year marks the festival’s 10-year anniversary and features big names such as Irvine Welsh, and Michel Faber.
Hexham Book Festival, Northumberland
20 April – 4 May
Also celebrating its 10th anniversary this year is Hexham’s festival. Boasting appearances from excellent writers and poets such as Maggie Gee, Simon Armitage and Martin Rowson, it looks set to be a storming year. It also runs a string of creative writing workshops, for those who’d like a go at being on the other side of the page.
Stratford-Upon-Avon Literary Festival, Stratford-Upon-Avon
25 April – 3 May
Offering a vibrant mixture of ideas, celebrity author events and debate, this is an energetic festival that invites guests from around the world to share their passion for books. Test your knowledge at the literary quiz, celebrate 100 years of inspiring women at the WI event or have a giggle with one of the comedy writers on the bill.
Hay Festival, Wales
21 – 31 May
The Hay Festival brings excellent writers to a variety of locations across the world and in May, it will be setting up camp in the place where it all started, Hay-on-Wye in Wales. With sessions on themes as varied as fashion, art and design, comedy and globalisation, it offers and rich and varied programme with events for all ages.
NiddFest Literary Festival, Yorkshire
24 – 26 July
This new literary festival will be celebrating nature in writing with a series of events aimed at the whole family. From traditional discussions of books to nature walks, there’s a great sense of variety and confirmed guests include Welsh Poet Laureate Gillian Clarke, Carol Ann Duffy, Mark Cocker and Evie Wyld.
Edinburgh International Book Festival, Edinburgh
15 – 31 August
You will need to wait until June to find out who will be appearing at the EIBF this year but rest assured there will be something for everyone. As the biggest celebration of the written word in the world, it is the perfect opportunity to rub shoulders with some of the world’s finest writers.
Check the programmes and see if your favourite author is on their way to a book festival near you!
Rachel - Silversurfers Assistant Editor
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