10:00 Rhyme Time @ Swadlincote Library
Drop in to enjoy stories and songs that rhyme and share the fun. Perfect for 0-5 year olds with their carers. No booking is needed.
Price: Entry is free.
10:00 Think Like a Tree Workshop @ Rosliston Forestry Centre
A workshop exploring how we can learn from trees to improve our own lives: Become more resilient, Achieve your goals, Live more sustainably, Enjoy each day, Be more focused, Be creative, Be healthier & relaxed. Led by a trained facilitator. Booking is essential.
Price: £15 per person
Booking: Email rosliston@southderbyshire.gov.uk or call 01283 535039 to book your place.
12:30 Forest Bathing: Using Words in Nature @ Rosliston Forestry Centre
A relaxing walk, using your senses and connecting with nature. Based on the Japanese philosophy, Shinrin-Yoku, you will slow down, relax, enjoy improved sleep and increased focus. Led by a certified Guide. Booking is essential.
Price: £15 per person
Booking: Email rosliston@southderbyshire.gov.uk or call 01283 535039 to book your place..
14:00 Five In Harmony Present Local Songs & Monologues @ Sharpe's Pottery Museum
Enjoy an afternoon of local songs and monologues by none other than '5 in Harmony', famous for The Swad Song. Booking is essential.
Price: Free Entry
16:00 An Afternoon in The Attic @ Sharpe’s Pottery Museum
Local films by local amateur film makers, sometimes serious and sometimes hilarious, mostly from the 1960's, with moving picture nostalgia.
Price: £6 per person to include refreshments
*** EVENT CANCELLED ***
17:30 In Conversation with Joanna Cannon @ Swadlincote Library
Joanna is the Sunday Times bestselling author of The Trouble With Goats and Sheep, Three Things About Elsie, and her latest novel, A Tidy Ending. Derbyshire-born Joanna shares her love of writing and inspiration for her stories in conversation with Sue Wall.
Price: £6 per person.
18:00 Celebrating WAYANNAEYINANYONNIT with the Youth Landscaper's Collective & The Coal Tits @ Sharpe's Pottery Museum
WAYANNAEYINANYONNIT (A Big Story), is the YLC's project with original music based on hidden stories of the National Forest community. There will be singing and tales to tell about their creations. Inspired by miner's galas, Bertolt Brecht, canaries, pigs on walls, local dialect, and the personal histories of those around us, they can't wait to share WAYANNAEYINANYONNIT with you!
YLC will be joined by talented local folk group, The Coaltits, who celebrate the industrial past, changing landscapes of the National Forest with their original songs and poetry.
Price: Free Entry (Donations Welcome)
19:00 Swad Spoken Word Open Mic Night @ Pegg’s Bar & Street Food
Grab the opportunity to share your words in a safe space with like-minded people. Whether it’s a story, a poem or a monologue. Entry is free. Booking is recommended to guarantee your speaking slot.
Price: Free Entry
19:30 Richard Felix’s Ghost Stories @ Sharpe’s Pottery Museum
Richard Felix is most famous as the Historian for Living TV’s Most Haunted appearing in over 120 episodes. He is an author, a columnist for the Derby Telegraph, a regular contributor to Radio Derby and specialises in ghost tours around the UK and Ireland. Join Richard for an evening of thrilling stories that may even make your hair stand on end! Booking is essential.
Price: £6 per person.
FRIDAY 21 MARCH 2025
10:00 Story Time @ Swadlincote Library
Come along and listen to some stories and share the fun, perfect for babies, toddlers and pre-school children. No booking needed.
Price: Free Entry
11:00 A Guide to Self-Publishing with John Delaney, Author of the Jurassic Jemma Trilogy
John Delaney, author of the Jurassic Jemma Trilogy, talks about the steps involved in publishing a book on Amazon through KDP. He will discuss the process he used to write, edit and publish his mystery thrillers, A Dangerous Fossil, Jurassic Jemma and the Mysteries of Time and Jurassic Jemma and the Trail of Evil. He will finish with a reading from the latest instalment of his trilogy, Jurassic Jemma and the Trail of Evil. Venue is Swadlincote Town Hall. Booking is essential via Ticketsource*
Price: £6 per person
12:30 Poetry Workshop for Adults With Dawn Jutton
Following a brilliant workshop last year, Staffordshire’s Poet Laureate 2022-24 Dawn Jutton is back again to delve deep into the art of writing and performing poetry, helping you to find your voice through the written word. The venue is Swadlincote Town Hall. Booking is essential via Ticketsource*.
Price: £6 per person
14:00 Writing for Wellbeing with Debbie Davies & Belinda Richards
Creative writing can be a simple and rewarding way to develop self-expression and make space for reflection. It can help us gain insight and perspective on our lives and can help us find ways ahead, particularly in difficult times. Join Debbie & Belinda for a guided session on how to start writing for your own wellbeing. Entry is free. Venue is Swadlincote Town Hall. Booking is recommended via Ticketsource* to guarantee a place.
Price: Free Entry
16:00 Flash Fiction Workshop with Rob Walton
Rob Walton is a published writer of poetry and short fiction, well known for bringing a bit of zing and a bit of zany to his writing. In this workshop, Rob will give you plenty of inspiration to write your own exciting short stories using quirky themes, concepts and visual writing prompts. Aimed at ages 8 and above. Venue is Swadlincote Town Hall. Booking is essential via Ticketsource*
Price: Adult £6 / Student £3
19:30 A Whimsical Wordy Quiz
Time to unwind with a fun Quiz celebrating words in all their glory from classics to contranyms, songs to supervocalics…this will be one quiz to remember! Teams of up to 6 people are welcome at £2 per person with great prizes to enjoy. There will be a bar and snacks available. Venue is Swadlincote Town Hall. Booking is essential via Ticketsource*
Price: £2 per person
SATURDAY 22 MARCH 2025, SWADLINCOTE TOWN HALL
10:00 Word Crafts Inspired by our Forest Friends
Drop in to the Swadlincote Town Hall for a morning of crafts inspired by books from the forest including Gruffalo Masks, a Wild Robot and lots of furry forest friends. This session is free. No booking needed.
Price: Free Entry
13:00 Slugs and Snails with Allotment Tales
The two outrageous, often rude (and even a bit naughty) allotmenteers, Elaine and Julia, AKA The Potty Plotters, will be telling a few tales, doing a demo of what they do best – talking! They will be chatting about combating damage to young plants while sharing their top tips on plots, podcasting, and growing your own. Look out for giveaways and plenty of giggles. Venue is Swadlincote Town Hall. Booking is essential via Ticketsource*
Price: £6 per person
14:00 Dawn Jutton Presents Extraordinary Worlds, a World Poetry Day Celebration
Fresh from her Poet Laureateship, Dawn Jutton, shares a selection of her poems in celebration of World Poetry Day. Dawn’s long and varied career includes photographer, lecturer, social engaged practitioner and most recently poet, and the desire to inspire others underpins all of these. Her own dual practice of fine art and poetry ranges across genres and is inspired by place and heritage, but Dawn increasingly digs deep into family relationships and her memories of growing up as a forces’ child. Her poems will mesmerise and move you. Venue is Swadlincote Town Hall. Booking is essential via Ticketsource*
Price: £6 per person
15:00 An Afternoon with Laura Pearson, Number One Best Selling Author
Laura Pearson writes fiction for women, based on real issues of families, marriage, grief, guilt, second chances and the small moments in life that have a big impact. Becoming a number one bestselling author has not been without its challenges along the way. Hear Laura's inspirational story about her rocky road to publication, her years-long rough patch after her first three books, and her recent success with over half a million books sold since 2023.
Venue is Swadlincote Town Hall. Booking is essential via Ticketsource*
Price: £6 per person includes cake & a cuppa
16:00 Comedy Workshop with Colin Etches
Fancy yourself as a comedian, but not sure how or where to start? Join Colin for this 90-minute workshop where he will share his experiences and get you started on yours. There will be as many comfort breaks as needed.
Price: £6 per person
20:00 Attention Deficit – The Comedy Chaos of Colin Etches!
Brace yourself for the high-energy, unfiltered comedy of Colin Etches - because life is way too ridiculous to take seriously! A 44-year-old adoptee, parent, and grandparent with ADHD, Dyspraxia, and Autism, Colin turns his whirlwind existence into a hilarious, storytelling-driven stand-up show.
From leaving home at 14 and navigating adulthood with zero supervision to questioning religion, relationships, and conspiracy theories, Attention Deficit, dives headfirst into the beautiful mess of neurodivergence. It's raw, relatable, and ridiculously funny—because when your brain won’t sit still, neither can the punchlines.
Attention Deficit - because normal is overrated, and Colin’s world is way more fun. This will be a neurodivergent friendly gig for adults of all ages! There will be a warm up act before the main show, an interval and a bar available. Price; £8 per person
SATURDAY 22 MARCH 2025, ROSLISTON FORESTRY CENTRE
10:00 - 16:00 Rosliston Forestry Centre Book Trail
Pick up your trail sheet in the shop for a one mile book trail to find all the hidden books, win a woodland medal on completion and every child can pick a book to take home with them. Suitable for all ages. No booking required
Price: £3 per child - pay in the Rosliston Forestry Centre Shop
10:00 - 16:00 Wildlife & Wings with Honeycraft
Enjoy making cyanotype prints using inspiration from the forest. This is a drop in session you can do at any time during your visit. Entry is free. No booking is required
Price: Free Entry
10:00 - 16:00 Story Telling with the Hazel Twigg Collective
Drop in a listen to stories of the forest with Christine and be inspired to create your own. This is a drop in session that can be enjoyed at any time during your visit.
Price: Free Entry.
10:00 - 15:00 Shadow Puppetry & Storymaking with The Babbling Vagabonds
Take part in the free fun-filled, hands-on workshops making shadow puppets to take home and help shape stories for The Babbling Vagabonds next summer show at Rosliston. Drop in sessions are from 10am-12pm & 1pm-3pm. No booking is necessary. Children must be accompanied by a responsible adult.
Price: Free Entry.
12:30 Think Like a Tree Workshop @ Rosliston Forestry Centre
A workshop exploring how we can learn from trees to improve our own lives: Become more resilient, Achieve your goals, Live more sustainably, Enjoy each day, Be more focused, Be creative, Be healthier & relaxed. Led by a trained facilitator. Booking is essential.
Price: £15 per person
Booking: Email rosliston@southderbyshire.gov.uk or call 01283 535039 to book your place.
14:00 Forest Bathing: Using Words in Nature @ Rosliston Forestry Centre
A relaxing walk, using your senses and connecting with nature. Based on the Japanese philosophy, Shinrin-Yoku, you will slow down, relax, enjoy improved sleep and increased focus. Led by a certified Guide. Booking is essential.
Price: £15 per person
Booking: Email rosliston@southderbyshire.gov.uk or call 01283 535039 to book your place..
SUNDAY 23 MARCH 2025, SWADLINCOTE TOWN HALL
10:00 Wobbly Words with Attie Lime
Local Poet Attie Lime will perform poems from her brand-new book, Blue Jelly and Strawberries, that will tickle your tastebuds and your funny bone! Full of giggles, wordplay, and a spot of nonsense, you'll need to bring your joining-in voices! Ideal for age 4+. Venue is Swadlincote Town Hall. Booking is essential via Ticketsource. Attie will be selling and signing books after the event.
Price: £3 per child. Accompanying adults free
11:00 Children’s Short Story Competition Prize Giving
Winners of the Children’s Short Story Competition will be awarded their prizes together with their certificate of achievement.
Price: Free Entry
11:30 Meet Steve Smallman, Award Winning Author of Poo in the Zoo and Maggie Sparks
Steve Smallman worked as a children’s book illustrator for 20 years before he decided to ‘have a go’ at writing his own. Now, over 100 books later, he’s still at it! You can have a go at illustrating by copying Steve’s techniques.
Price: £3 per child. Accompanying adults free
12:30 Scribbles & Giggles with Chris White, Writer, Illustrator & Performance Poet
Chris is a writer. illustrator and performance poet for children. He has had many poetry and story books published since his first, 'BITEY THE VEGGIE VAMPIRE', in 2000. His books include 'THE A-Z OF COMPLETELY MADE-UP DINOSAURS' and ‘DON’T PUT DAVE IN THE MICROWAVE!’. Chris will inspire your young ones to pick up their pens and start writing with his hilarious performance. Venue is Swadlincote Town Hall.
Price: £3 per child. Accompanying adults free
16:00 & 18:00 Children’s Theatre Show ‘Mr Sleepybum’
Do you have stupid and silly dreams at night? Well, Mr Sleepybum does and he’s going to reenact them all for you! Mr Sleepybum awakes in his bed to find a theatre full of children and parents. A circus of silly sketches and dream scenes ensues, from swimming with sharks to solving the mystery of the stolen chocolate cake. Mr Sleepybum’s imagination is limitless, offering a unique and engaging experience for children. Mr Sleepybum is ready to captivate audiences with his whimsical adventures and abject brand of silliness. Touted by TimeOut as the Top Kids Show at Edinburgh Fringe and nominated as the Best Kids Show Leicester Comedy Festival 2024, Mr Sleepybum is one show not to miss!! Venue is Swadlincote Town Hall. Booking is essential via Ticketsource*
Price: Adult £8 / Children £6 (0-12)
16:00 An Audience with Tony Hawks, the Comedian, Author, Writer and TV Personality @ Oakland Village
The Best Selling Author of Round Ireland with a Fridge is heading to Swadlincote to collect his fridge!! Yep… it is the real one. Having written five books and made two films, Tony is also a regular on 'Just a Minute' and I'm 'Sorry I Haven't a Clue' on Radio 4 among other accolades. Tony will be coming to share his stories.
Price: £15 per person
19:00 Pints and Poems @ Pegg’s with Writer and Poet, Sophie Sparham
A great festival finale with Sophie Sparham, a writer from Derby. With commissions for BBC Radio 4, The V&A and The People’s History Museum, Sophie's latest poetry collection is ‘The Man Who Ate 50,000 Weetabix’. Sophie has been longlisted and shortlisted for the Outspoken Award for page poetry. They won the 2024 Nature and Sustainability short story competition run by Leicester Literary Festival and they are a co-director of Derby Poetry Festival. Booking is recommended via TicketSource*
Price: Free Entry
This project is part-funded by the UK government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund #UKSPF
