A Treat For All The Family: Raworths Harrogate Literature Festival 2023

Raworths Harrogate Literature Festival has expanded its programme to include a series of daytime events for children for the first time, alongside a range of free events to promote reading, including a family-friendly book trail based in The Pinewoods.

The Raworths Children’s Festival lineup includes picture book and poetry events with Children’s Laureate Joseph Coelho, an interactive session with family favourite Rob Biddulph, who is best known for his #DrawwithRob lockdown videos, and an event called ‘Art Is Everywhere’ with artist and broadcaster Joe Haddow, who encourages children to think differently about art and how they create it.

A free Matilda-themed book trail launches in The Pinewoods on Friday 13 October and will remain in place until the end of November. QR codes will be hidden in the woods, with families scanning them to test their book knowledge with a range of riddles and questions.

Other free events include the Raworths Run, in partnership with The Early Bird Running Crew, which highlights the physical and mental health benefits of running and reading and offers participants completing the run the opportunity to receive a free book. The Festival has also teamed up with local pubs, cafes and delis to produce the Raworths PubLit Trail, with participants making their way across town and collecting a free book from local businesses.

Raworths Harrogate Literature Festival 2023 will take place at the Crown Hotel in Harrogate from Thursday 19th October to Sunday 22nd October. The annual event is curated and produced by Harrogate International Festivals and sponsored by Raworths Solicitors.

Sharon Canavar, Harrogate International Festivals’ Chief Executive, said:
"We’re thrilled to welcome the Children’s Laureate Joseph Coelho to Harrogate along with lockdown hero Rob Biddulph and the incredibly talented Joe Haddow with his fresh and creative take on art. The next generation of budding artists and authors is sure to be inspired and entertained by the Children’s Festival events, and with a host of ways to celebrate beyond the stage, we hope the whole town will get involved in celebrating great literature."

Rachel Tunnicliffe, Senior Partner at Raworths Solicitors, said:
“We are delighted to be welcoming such remarkable children’s authors and artists to our town and are proud to play a part in nurturing the next generation of creative thinkers and makers. Although Raworths Harrogate Literature Festival is gaining a national reputation, it remains an event with community at its heart.”