‘Creative Tourist Presents Litfest 2024: A Celebration of Literature’

Lancaster’s annual literature festival, Litfest, is back for its 45th year with an exciting program set to take place from March 15 to March 26. The festival offers both in-person and virtual attendance options, allowing participants from around the world to join in the literary celebrations. Whether you prefer to visit the welcoming Lancaster venues or stream the events online through Litfest’s streaming platform, Crowdcast, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. And the best part? Entrance is completely free, although donations are welcomed.

Litfest covers a wide range of genres and topics, including fiction, poetry, nature writing, history, ideas, and storytelling. It’s the perfect opportunity to discover new works and engage in discussions on current issues. One of the highlights of the festival will be a conversation on Sunday, March 17, between SFF writer and Lancaster University lecturer Oliver J Langmead and author Okechukwu Nzelu. They will delve into Nzelu’s books, “Here Again Now” and the Betty Trask Award-winning “The Private Joys of Nnenna Maloney.” Additionally, poet-turned-novelist Andrew McMillan will discuss his debut novel, “Pity,” with Lancaster University’s lecturer in creative writing, Zoe Lambert.

This year’s theme, “Connected Histories,” will be explored in various sessions. Sathnam Sanghera will deliver the inaugural Lancaster History Lecture in collaboration with Lancaster University. He will draw from his new book, “Empireworld,” to discuss the legacies of the British Empire. Josephine Quinn will explore “How the World Made the West,” providing a different perspective on historical narratives. David Kynaston’s latest book, “A Northern Wind,” will transport audiences back to the mid-Sixties.

Poetry enthusiasts can look forward to a weekend dedicated to poetry, featuring Poet in Residence Hannah Lowe. Lowe, whose collection “The Kids” won the Costa Poetry Award and the Costa Book of the Year 2021, will host a gala poetry reading from the Histories Poetry Map. The event will showcase selected contributing poets, including Mimi Khalvati, Emily Hasler, Mark Pajak, and Don Paterson, who is a multiple award-winning poet. Eoghan Walls, an English literature and creative writing teacher at the University, will also host a special poetry pamphlet event, featuring ten readers presenting their new or in-progress collections.

Litfest doesn’t forget about younger audiences either. The festival includes a Family Story Hunt and a Children’s Festival during the inaugural weekend, featuring popular authors Matt Goodfellow and Sophie Anderson.

To attend Litfest 2024, make sure to mark your calendars for March 15 to March 26. Whether you choose to join in-person or virtually, this celebration of literature and storytelling promises to be an enriching experience. And remember, entrance is free, so don’t miss out on this fantastic opportunity. Visit Litfest’s website for more information and to secure your spot.