Play at the Castle
Enjoy an entire day of free family fun in the grounds of Newark Castle. Take part in arts and crafts workshops, be entertained by street theatre, relax with authors and illustrators, and have a go in the sports zone with the Open Doors team from the Palace Theatre.
And don’t forget to look out for our 2024 Trail as created by our schools – all based on play!
Full event programme…
The Book-Ends – Rhubarb Theatre
10am – 10.30am & 11am – 11.30am
The Book-Ends popup to bring their stories to life! With a rickety old book cart and some novel ideas, surprises leap off every page wherever our papery pals roam. Join the book-bonkers buddies as they act out tales of whales, bonkers bears and manic monsters. Be amazed as they twist the fantastic adventures of pathetic pirates, merry musketeers and hairy hairdressers. Full of music, comedy and general silliness!
Storybook Emporium
10am – 4pm, Drop-in crafts
Hop, skip and jump your way over to the Ally Pally Arts “World Famous Story Emporium”, back by popular demand for more story-inspired crafty fun and games!
BookBench Art with Vicky Kuhn
10am – 4pm, Drop-in crafts
A drop-in arts and crafts workshop inspired by the Newark Creates BookBench trail with picturebook illustrator and fabulous BookBench designer, Vicky Kuhn.
Play Tales with Nicky Rafferty
10am – 4pm
Join in with interactive crafty tales with storyteller Nicky Rafferty.
Family Yoga with Peaceful Possums and Emma Oldham
12pm – 12.45pm // 1.30pm – 2.15pm
With storytelling, imagination, music and games, enjoy family yoga sessions with Peaceful Possums Yoga based on The Whale Who Disappeared by Emma Oldham, who is joining in with the fun, too! There will also be a mindful area for children to chill out during the day, including colouring and sensory resources, ideal for children with neurodiversity or young children to have a break.
All events are free and suitable for all ages (including adults!)
EVENT DATE & TIME
Play at the Castle
Ticket Prices
Tickets £10 including coffee and cake
Author Book Signing
The brand-new Waterstones Newark is the official Festival Bookseller, for 2026. Waterstones will be running the Festival Bookshop at the Palace Theatre and pop-up book stalls for author book signings after every event at each venue.
MORE INFORMATION
Please note: Advance tickets are available until 4pm the day before the event, unless the venue is the Palace Theatre or National Civil War Centre.