Marlborough LitFest’s 2023 expanded children’s programme featured an extensive range of activities for all ages. With storytelling slots, free author talks to local schoolchildren as well as a bumper crop of children’s authors on offer, LitFest’s 2023 children’s programme featured a variety of events to keep all ages entertained. In total we reached more than 1200 children through our free activities this year
New for 2023, adults and children alike could follow ‘Once Upon a Trail’ around Marlborough to spot hidden stories in High Street shop windows from 18 September to 1 October. LitFest was delighted with the input and enthusiasm from many shops along the High Street taking part; book trail clues were created by Aldbourne Children’s Book Group and Marlborough Library provided LitFest completion stamps.
Children from Marlborough St Mary’s launched this year’s LitFest with a song on the Town Hall steps, sixth formers from St John’s Academy came to debate how love is depicted in literature, and free author events were laid on in Pewsey and Marlborough for pupils from 15 local primary schools with children’s authors Nizrana Farook and Christopher Edge. Over the weekend a troupe of jesters promoted storytelling sessions at The Parade Cinema, Ducklings toy shop and St Peter’s Church and Marlborough Library was buzzing with a performance of The Ugly Duckling and free craft activities.
Ticketed children’s events over the festival weekend included author and illustrator Mini Grey providing a whistlestop tour of the story of life on earth in her new book The Greatest Show on Earth. Master storyteller, author and screenwriter Frank Cottrell-Boyce came to wave his literary wand for both children and adults alike in his talk about his latest children’s adventure, The Wonder Brothers.
Our free children’s activities in 2023 were kindly supported by Hamilton Trust and Haine & Smith Opticians, St Francis School Pewsey and The Arts Society Kennet and Swindon.