4 days of literary fun and adventure for people of all ages, exploring fiction, non-fiction, poetry and performance, spanning multiple venues!

SWADLINCOTE FESTIVAL OF WORDS & FAMILY FUN DAY

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE WINNERS OF THE BEAR HUNT TRAIL!
Rosa Stones, Jez Ball, Evie Dows, Evelyn Scanlon, Lizzie Hyde

Let's Go on a Bear Hunt

2-17 March 2024

There are 12 bears hidden around town. Can you find them? Pick up a trail map from the South Derbyshire

Visitor Information Centre or from the Swadlincote Festival of Words website.

Head around town to find the bears, answer the clues and be in with the chance to win one of the wonderful stacks of book prizes.

The Bear Trail starts on Saturday 2 March 2024 and finishes on Sunday 17 March 2024. There is no charge to take part. Winners will be announced on Monday 18 March 2024.

Fun in the National Forest

Sunday 10th March 2024

Make a day of it at Rosliston Forestry Centre, in the heart of the National Forest.

Authors, Fiona Spence Arnold and Ig Oliver will be reading their books featuring some of the wildlife found in the forest.

Storyteller Pyn Stockman will be creating new stories and songs about the National Forest and the wider natural world with musician, Ann Jones.

Unleash your creativity and fly into the magical world of butterflies and moths found in the National Forest with Honey Craft from 10:00-16:00. All activities will be free.

Kids can also take part in the Book Trail to find the carved wooden books scattered around the site. Find all 8 and collect a tree medal (Cost £3 per child).

Stories on The Delph
Saturday 9 March 2024

Overnight a small mysterious shed will appear on The Delph. When the doors are opened, words and stories will begin to tumble out with music and laughter to filling the air.

The Shed of Stories will perform a variety of tales throughout the day (10.30, 11.30, 12.30 & 13.30) interspersed with other authors and poets including:

11:00 Country Tales with Andy Chalmers

12:00 Pog The Pig and Other Fun Poems with Jonathan Sellars

13:00 Wrong Way Day and other Fun Poems with Attie Lime

The Story Explorers

Saturday 9 March 2024

Meet Nellie and Nathaniel, the intrepid explorers who

have travelled the world collecting story ideas for their StoryGenerator, out of which a fiesta of tales is playfully spun with words, puppetry and movement.

You can find them on the High Street at 10.00, 11.45 and

at 13.30.

Pop-Up Book Shop

& Book Nook

8-10 March 2024

A pop-up bookshop will be operating in the Swadlincote Town Hall during the Festival of Words on Friday 8th, Saturday 9th and Sunday 10th March 2024, between the hours of 10am-15:00. Many of the visiting authors will have their books on sale.

There will be a cosy corner for anyone to sit and read during opening times.

Secondhand books will also be on sale with proceeds going towards the 2025 Festival Fund. If you have any books you would like to donate please get in touch by email or pop them into No2 Coffee House on The Delph before Thursday 7th March 2024.

Play The Next Word

with the Woodville Scouts

Saturday 9 March 2024

A number of Scrabble boards will be on The Delph. You can come along at any time and play the next word. Play as many times as you like!

Do you have a Scrabble Set we could borrow? Please email or send a text to 07727 257262. We would be very grateful. All sets will be returned.

The Walking Library for Forest Walks

8-10 March 2024

The Walking Library for Forest Walks will be available to browse Fri-Sun, 10am-3pm, Swadlincote Town Hall. This special collection of books is part of an ongoing creative research project by Dee Heddon and Mysha Myers that seeks to bring together landscapes, walking and reading.

Join Hazel Dowell on a special festival walk from 10:00 to take in Swadlincote's woodlands and green spaces featuring readings from The Walking Library. Booking is recommended.

Giant Book Mark Exhibition

7-10 March 2024

Check out the giant bookmarks created by different primary school classes based on their favourite characters and books.

Bookmarks will on display throughout Swadlincote. You will find some in the Swadlincote Town Hall, Swadlincote Library, in shop windows and on the High Street.

Craft Fair @ Sharpe's Pottery Museum

Saturday 9 March 2024

Join Yours to Mine this March as they return to Sharpe's Pottery Museum with another Craft Market full of lots of wonderful hand-made, quality items as well as the opportunity to meet Wendy Garvey, author of 'Phone me when you're home'.