Celebrate all things reading this February with the return of Barnsley Book Festival.
Following last year’s inaugural event, the sequel for 2025 promises a three-week programme packed with workshops and events for all the family.
Taking place between Saturday 15th February and Saturday 8th March, the festival will celebrate themes such as the natural world, new works, and local authors.
Audiences will have the opportunity to meet acclaimed poets and writers, including former children’s laureate, Michael Rosen, who is coming on a bear hunt to Barnsley.
Barnsley Book Festival is organised by Barnsley Libraries, but many venues across Barnsley are also taking part.
What’s on at Barnsley Book Festival
Family activities
Library @ The Lightbox
Concerteenies Launch Event
Saturday 15th February 10.30am-12pm
Free entry but booking required
A musical performance based on Michael Rosen’s book ‘The Big Dreaming’, followed by creative activities for children aged three to eight.
Howling Wolves and Living Dinosaurs
Saturday 15th February 2pm-3pm
Free entry but booking required
Children’s author Catherine Barr talks about tracking wolves in Wyoming’s Yellowstone National Park, world-famous dinosaur fossils, and the story of Archaeopteryx, the missing link between dinosaurs and birds.
Michael Rosen Event
Saturday 22nd February 2pm-4pm
Tickets £8 per person
Family performance followed by a book signing at 3.30pm. Bring your own books to be signed or purchase one on the day.
Books and Babies
Tuesday 4th March 10am-11.30am
Free drop in
Story and rhyme session for infants and toddlers.
World Book Day Costume Party
Thursday 6th March 3.45pm-4.45pm
Free drop in
An after-school party hosted by Boomchikkaboom with lots of music and fun.
Barnsley Civic
Barnsley Zine Fair
Saturday 15th February
Free event
Find a plethora of writers, illustrators, print makers, photographers and poets from around the region, with artist led drop-in activities.
The Story Shell
Monday 17th February 11am-3pm
Free drop in
An immersive storytelling art space by international artists Suzie Devey and Steve Messom.
Book a special story time with storyteller Richard O’Neill at 11.30am, 1pm and 2pm.
Half Term at Barnsley Libraries
All free events
Royston
Howling Wolves and Living Dinosaurs
Saturday 15th February 10.30am-11.30am
Author Catherine Barr talks about endangered species, extinctions, rewilding and conservation.
Dodworth
Mixed Up Fairy Tale Fun
Tuesday 18th February 10.30am-11.30am
Be inspired to create your own mixed-up fairytale stories with author Hilary Robinson.
Penistone & Mapplewell
Story Stay and Play
Wednesday 19th February
Penistone 9.30am-11.30am, Mapplewell 2pm-4pm
Octopants author Suzy Senior reads her brand-new story.
Cudworth & Goldthorpe
A Winter’s Tail
Thursday 20th February
Cudworth 10.30am-11.30am, Goldthorpe 2.30pm-3.30pm
A shadow puppet show featuring all your favourite garden animals.
Worsbrough & Hoyland
Story Makers
Thursday 20th February
Worsbrough 10am-12pm, Hoyland 1pm-3pm
Creative writing sessions with historian Meghan Tipping.
Thurnscoe
Get Creative with Fabric Lenny
Friday 21st February 10.30am-12.30pm
Let your imagination run wild with this fun making session.
Darfield
Family Nature Adventure
Friday 21st February 10am-12pm
Join Whitcher Wildings on an outdoor adventure to discover the wonders of the natural world.
Events and workshops for adults
Library @ The Lightbox
Flash Fiction Writing Workshop
Monday 24th February 5pm-7pm
Free entry but booking required
Explore the essence of concise storytelling through hands-on activities with Barnsley Creative Writers.
LIVEWire Poetry Workshop
Monday 24th February 5.30pm-7.30pm
Free entry but booking required
A poetry workshop for 18 to 25-year-olds with punk poet Toria Garbutt.
Followed by an open mic night on Monday 3rd March 5.30pm-7.30pm
Rosie Garland Event
Wednesday 26th February 6pm-7.20pm
Tickets £5 per person
One of the UK’s most compelling LGBT+ writers introduces her new short story collection ‘Your Sons and Your Daughters Are Beyond’.
The Barnsley Book Sale
Friday 28th February and Saturday 1st March 10am-3pm
Back for two days only! Bring a bag and bag a bargain. Card payments only.
Leather Notebook Cover Workshop
Saturday 1st March 10am-1pm
Tickets £15 per person
Create your own A6 leather notebook cover with the help of experienced boot and shoemaker, Catherine Edwards.
Exploring Your Family’s Oral History
Monday 3rd March 1pm-3pm
Free entry but booking required
A hands-on workshop with tips on how to record and preserve your family’s stories.
Telling Stories
Monday 3rd March 2pm-3pm
Free drop in
Discover the fascinating stories told by people in Barnsley from their own homes.
An evening with Ajay Tegala
Wednesday 5th March 6.30pm-8pm
Tickets £5 per person
BBC Springwatch presenter and nature writer talks about his animal encounters illustrated with images, video footage and wildlife sound recordings.
Maria Ferguson Event
Saturday 8th March 11am-12.30pm
Tickets £5 per person
For International Women’s Day, the award-winning writer reads from her second collection, Swell, sharing her experience of becoming a mother.
Barnsley Libraries
Cudworth
Needle Felted Bookmarks
Monday 17th February 5.30pm-7pm
Tickets £10 per person
A craft workshop with Flying Fish Studio.
Dodworth
The Murder of PC Austwick
Tuesday 18th February 1.30pm-2.30pm
Free entry by booking required
Author Hilary Robinson and historian Steven Wyatt talk about the assassination of PC Alfred Austwick who was shot outside the Travellers Inn at Dodworth in July 1899.
Wombwell
World Wide Wombwell Writing Workshop
Monday 24th February 10am-12pm
Free entry but booking required
Barnsley poet Ian McMillan hosts a workshop to write poems that will be uploaded on social media.
Worsbrough
John Ironmonger Event
Monday 3rd March 6pm-7.30pm
Tickets £5 per person
The acclaimed author discusses his latest climate adventure novel ‘The Wager and the Bear’.
Roundhouse
Becoming an Author
Tuesday 4th March 5.30pm-7pm
Free entry but booking required
Local authors Chrissie Yates, Mike Padgett and Ronnie Steele discuss their journey to becoming published authors.
Barnsley Book Festival is supported using public funding from the Arts Council England as part of Barnsley Libraries’ National Portfolio Organisation activity.
Find the full programme and where to book tickets here.
