Newark Book Festival has returned for another year
The Newark Book Festival has returned today (July 10) for another long weekend of literary celebration.
Thousands of people are expected to flock to the town centre between today and Sunday (July 13), for the festival’s ninth annual outing.
The four-day festival offers a rich, diverse programme of events for all ages, aiming to inspire creativity across the generations, from author interviews and hands-on workshops to live performances and storytelling sessions.
Not only will the book festival boost the local economy by bringing visitors to Newark, it also provides partnerships with organisations from the area, including The Bookcase (Lowdham), which will be based in the Council Chambers at Newark Town Hall throughout the event as the official bookseller.
Celebrating local craft and talent, the Literature Village will be back on Saturday and Sunday (July 12 and 13), with over 60 stalls in Newark Royal Market, and on Sunday there will also be roaming street performers and a dedicated Children’s Zone.
Other notable venues include Newark Palace Theatre, the National Civil War Centre, and Inspire Newark Buttermarket, which will play host to a wide variety of music, writing, and craft workshops throughout the festival.
Today’s headline act sees Dr Tim Rideout in conversation with award-winning author Rob Cowen, who will be at the National Civil War Centre to discuss his book The North Road – a memoir and travelogue that explores Britain’s oldest and most iconic highway, The Great North Road (also known as the A1).
Wrapping up Friday’s festivities at Newark Palace Theatre will be An Evening with Sophie Hannah, where Dr Tim Rideout will be back to delve into the bestselling author’s new novel, No One Would Do What the Lamberts Have Done – a razor-sharp crime thriller that keeps the reader guessing until the last line.
Saturday evening’s headliner, Pleasantly Disturbed, will take place at Newark Town Hall, where Nick Quantrill will be in chatting with TV comedy writer Lee Stuart Evans as they reflect on Evans’s new musical mystery novel based in 1980s’ Nottinghamshire.
Sunday’s finale will be Steve’s Stage – a special open-mic event dedicated to the memory of Steve Cawte, a much-loved spoken word artist, performance poet, playwright, and drama teacher.
Hosted by Nottingham-based poet and theatremaker Leanne Moden, it aims to inspire creativity, connection, and community.
Tickets for Newark Book Festival events are currently on sale, with advanced booking advised.
Attendees may buy tickets online, via phone, or in person and Festival Friends are eligible for discounted tickets, priority booking, and behind-the-scenes access, as well as 10% off at Stokes Newark throughout the festival.
There are also complimentary carer and personal assistant tickets available, with guide and assistance dogs welcome at all venues, and a hearing loop available at select venues, which people can ask about when booking.