LitFest is more than a wonderful weekend. We passionately believe in spreading the joy and benefit of reading to as many people as possible, especially the 1900 children we reach through free school and library events, the popular Once upon a Trail, involving some lovely bookish window displays and cunningly hidden clues in 25 Marlborough High Street shops, plus crafting, fiction, drama and storytelling sessions.
LOCAL SCHOOL LINKS
In the run up to the festival weekend, LitFest invited 41 local primary schools to eight author events held in Calne, Pewsey, Marlborough and – new for 2025 – Devizes. Authors Catherine Bruton, Tom Palmer and AF Steadman inspired pupils to both read for pleasure and to become writers themselves.
For secondary age pupils, St John’s Marlborough hosted Carnegie Medal award-winning author Nathanael Lessore, inviting pupils in years 7 and 8 from Pewsey Vale and John O’Gaunt Schools.
The festival opened with 60 children from Marlborough St Mary’s CE Primary School singing on the steps of the Town Hall.
St John’s Sixth formers took part in a timely and lively debate in the Town Hall on whether it is ever morally right to censor literature.
And AF Steadman presented the winners of the LitFest primary schoolchildren’s story-writing competition (attracting 350 entries) with their prizes at the festival opening party in the Town Hall.
Look out for news of further school projects in 2026!