News Maidstone LitFest returns for second year
Maidstone Borough Council (MBC) is to delighted to say that the Literary Festival is back for a second year in October.
Ahead of World Book Day (Thursday 7 March), MBC and the organisers of Maidstone LitFest are announcing more details about the festival which will take place between 5-12 October bringing more authors to events in the town centre for book lovers of all ages to enjoy.
With the full line-up to be revealed in the coming months, the team behind the LitFest has confirmed writers that will be taking part including children’s author Sam Copeland (Alex vs Axel), The Sunday Times Top Ten Bestseller - Gill Hornby (Godmersham Park) along with actress, presenter and regular contributor to the Graham Norton Radio Show, Maria McErlane (Bumps in the Road).
MBC funded and supported the first Maidstone LitFest last year and is heading up the festival once again for 2024 using the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
Cllr Claudine Russell, MBC Lead Cabinet Member for Leisure and Arts said:
The Council is very excited to be able to bring the LitFest back to Maidstone after a such a successful event in 2023.It was clear that there was a gap in the market for a literary festival in Maidstone and with recent reports showing reading levels are down since the pandemic, it is even more important that events like these give everyone the opportunity to fall in love with books and reading again.
Following the 2023 LitFest, a new and exciting creative writing group has been established with the impact of the inaugural event being seen in the town. The festival this year will once again offer an opportunity for local grown talent to share their writing with a local writers’ showcase.
Claudine continued:
I sincerely hope that the Maidstone LitFest is here to stay and that Kent’s County Town will continue to build a reputation as a literary hot spot.
The Council is working with the Maidstone LitFest Community Interest Company, made up of a specialist team including editors, local authors, educators and event organisers to deliver a collection of literary events through both the schools’ programme (30 September–4 October) and public events in the town (5–12 October).
This project - Maidstone LitFest has received £20,000 from the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
One of MBC’s priorities is a Thriving Place and the Literary Festival reflects that.