The last two weeks of October see the staging of the 2012 Chester Literature Festival. The city crackles with much cultural activity to compliment its rich history to provide the visitor with almost too much to choose from given the wide range of events which comprise the Festival. All in all a great time for a visit to Chester.
Featuring prize winning novelists, TV celebrities, poets, historians, a plethora of literary workshops and readings it's a utopia for the cultured mind with a medieval and Roman twist. The Festival has been running for 23 years with a reputation for a wide and varied program of events.
There's something for the kids too as incorporated in to the fortnight is the Gobbldeebook Children's Festival.
For example the kids might enjoy seeing the Becky Adams Workshop. Becky makes very small books that can fit inside and empty match box. Or perhaps meeting Martita Phillips, author of the children's fantasy novel The Dream Dealer, who will be discussing her books and signing copies. Or of your kids are feeling creative they may like the bird making workshop with Caroline Gregson. The kids can make their own bird from willow wood.
For the adults, the Festival starts with the well known writer and broadcaster Writer and broadcaster Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall talking about his new book entitled River Cottage Everyday Veg.
Other selected happenings include the explorer Ed Stafford talking about becoming the first person to walk the entire length of the Amazon River, Peter Snow presenting To War With Wellington, looking at the exploits of the Duke of Wellington. And the popular BBC newsreader Bill Turnbull talking about his new book The Bad Beekeepers Club and his passion for bee keeping.
There is so much more going on over the two weeks at venues throughout the city from the racecourse to the more intimate. And the historic such as the Grosvenor Museum and the University.
There is a small charge for attending most events though nothing that will break the bank. A full program of happenings for both the Literature Festival and Gobbledeegook.
And if you like a spot of good food with your literary experience then you might be interested to know that the nearby Tatton Park hosts the North West Food Lovers Festival between October 19 – 21 which dovetails with some of the Chester Literary Festival. If you take in both then the Food Lovers Festival is set to boast in excess of one hundred stalls offering the best food available in the region.
In between your fill of literary and culinary feasting, Chester and the surrounding area has plenty to keep you occupied making the Festival an ideal time to settle in for a week or two and explore what else is on offer. Just some of the things to see and do include the Roman connections, Grosvenor Museum, castle, Cheshire Oaks (for the shopper in you), Chester Zoo, Chester races, explore your way down the north Wales coast, check out Liverpool.
You will not want for things to keep you occupied on your visit nor will you be short of accommodation choices with the city boasting any number of choices from the large chain hotels to the more personal bed and breakfast or even self-catering if you require.
Martin Wynn
