Welcome to the Farnham Literary Festival 2024, 1 – 10 March

Welcome to the 2024 Farnham Literary Festival. Following on from the success of the previous two Festivals, we are delighted to bring you another varied programme of events and to welcome Hugh Bonneville as our headline speaker.

We encourage you to try a new event this year: author talks, panel discussions and readings offer a relaxed opportunity to hear about new or popular works and learn about writers’ motivations and interests. There are also a number of workshops for you to explore your creativity or learn how to self-publish. If you are a budding author or poet, you can enter our poetry or writing competitions.

The festival makes the most of its local feel through partnerships with Waterstones Farnham, Blue Bear Bookshop, Farnham Pottery, University for the Creative Arts, Farnham Library, Oxfam Books and Music and St Mark’s Church. We are delighted to welcome Moonflower Books and Bush Hotel Farnham as sponsors for this years festival.

What was said about the Farnham Literary festival 2023

The 2023 festival was the second in Farnham and was once again a huge success. Over 2,500 people took part in 50 events. It inspired , enthused, educated and entertained, bringing literature, books and writing to people of all interests.

Among the highlights were author visits to school children, the literary variety show featuring Christopher Biggins and Dame Jacqueline Wilson who inspired an audience of over 180.

There was some great feedback from participating authors and venues from the 2023 Festival:

I’m delighted to have just been at the farnham Literary Festival in a fantastic venue selling heaps and heaps of books to the nicest audience I’ve ever had. It’s been just wonderful…..I’m going home very joyful

Dame Jacqueline Wilson, Author

I am now writing to thank you and your excellent team so very much for making the FLF this year such a very great success from our perspective. We were delighted to be able to host the launch and the final event, as well an evening of literary-inspired opera in the middle. All the feedback we have had has been entirely positive. We have been in the schools today for their assemblies: the children and the staff are still buzzing about Sunday afternoon. Very well done. We look forward to future adventures together!!

The Revd H David Uffindell, Rector of Farnham

We had a great time and a lovely evening, We look forward to hosting this and other events for Farnham council 

Adrian, Manager of The Wheatsheaf

Thanks again for inviting me to talk at the Farnham Literary Festival and for such a wonderfully organised event from beginning to end.  I felt very supported by you and your team on the day.

Joanna Foat, author

Venues

The festival made great use of some of Farnham’s much loved and familiar buildings, particularly those linked to culture and learning, such as the Museum of Farnham, Farnham Maltings, Blue Bear Bookshop and Oxfam Books and Music. Read more about venues for 2023, including how to host a festival event at your venue.