Book lovers, aspiring writers and young storytellers are being invited to celebrate the written word at this year’s Wolvercote Literary Festival.
Organised by Oxford Independent Authors in partnership with the Wolvercote & Wytham Midsummer Festival, the free one-day literary event will take place on Sunday, June 28, from 10am to 4pm at Wolvercote Village Hall.
The festival will feature around 20 stalls showcasing local authors, poets, publishers and organisations dedicated to reading and writing, alongside a packed programme of talks, discussions and creative workshops for children.
Launched by OxIA last year, the organisation’s one-day literary festivals aim to connect communities with writers living and working in their area, while encouraging people of all ages to explore reading, storytelling and publishing.
This year’s Wolvercote Literary Festival will also mark the launch of OxIA’s new Short Story Collection initiative. Writers of all ages and experience levels are being invited to submit stories for inclusion in the collection, which will be displayed at the festival and later published online. Organisers say the project is designed to encourage creativity rather than competition, with all entries meeting basic readability and completeness criteria set to be included. The deadline for submissions is June 2.
The adult speaker programme, running throughout the morning, will explore a range of literary topics. Sessions include Getting Published, which examines the realities of independent publishing, Launches & Promotions, highlighting newly released titles, and Shedding Light on a Contemporary World through Fiction, where authors and academics will discuss the importance of literature in modern society.
In the afternoon, children and young people will be able to take part in a series of interactive workshops aimed at inspiring creativity and imagination.
ARCh will host Step into the World of Story Writing, while award-winning illustrator Mario Coelho will lead a hands-on drawing workshop helping children bring stories to life visually. Children’s author Molly Arbuthnott will round off the day with a special storytelling session focused on imagination and adventure.
Organisers have confirmed that all events are free to attend, although places for talks and workshops are limited and must be booked in advance.
More information about the festival, ticket bookings and the Short Story Collection can be found via Oxford Independent Authors and Ticket Source.
