Capybara Disco Dream with Frances Stickley
2026-07-10 09:30 - 10:15 UTC | Learning Room, Palace Theatre, Palace Theatre, Appleton Gate, Newark, Nottinghamshire, NG24 1JY
Bring your child along for a multi-sensory disco experience where we meet Colin, Frances Stickley’s latest character, and all of his friends and play a range of different music and movement games designed to shake out our sillies and wiggle our waggles away.
From the hip-hipping hippo to the boogying bear, you’ll all be dancing like you just don’t care.

Meet Peter Rabbit at Waterstones Newark
2026-07-11 - 2026-07-12 | Waterstones Newark, Waterstones Newark, 36 Stodman Street, Newark, Nottinghamshire, NG24 1AW, United Kingdom
Join the team at Waterstones Newark for a weekend of hopping good fun! Meet Peter Rabbit and join the hunt to find the squad of cute and cool characters who have escaped and hidden around the store. Can you find them all to win a sweet treat? A family-friendly activity with appearances from the childhood classic character.
Peter Rabbit will be spotted at intervals throughout the weekend:

Saturday 11th July: 10am, 2pm and 4pm
Sunday 12th July: 11am, 1pm and 3pm

The Singing Mermaid - Rhubarb Theatre
2026-07-11 09:00 - 11:00, 2026-07-11 10:30 - 11:30, 2026-07-11 12:00 - 13:00 | St Mary Magdalene Church, Church Walk, Newark, NG24 1JS
Dive into a magical undersea adventure with professional actor Kirsty Baker from Rhubarb Theatre. The Singing Mermaid will captivate you with her lively interactive storytelling before you get hands-on in a creative workshop, perfect for sparking young imaginations.
There are three free sessions to join, but booking is required:

Book Tickets: 9am – 10am
Book Tickets: 10.30am – 11.30am
Book Tickets: 12pm – 1pm

The Doodling Poet
2026-07-11 09:00 - 13:00 | Newark Library, Newark Library, Beaumond Gardens, Baldertongate, Newark, Nottinghamshire, NG24 1UW, United Kingdom
Expect laughter, creativity, and a whirlwind of imagination with Chris White, writer, illustrator, and performance poet from Derby. Known as The Doodling Poet, Chris brings his books, including The A–Z of Completely Made-Up Dinosaurs and Don’t Put Dave in the Microwave!, to life.
Packed with doodles and poems, you’re invited to draw, write, and let your imagination run wild. Find The Doodling Poet pop-up in and around Newark Library.

The Storm Cloud - Frances Stickley
2026-07-11 11:00 - 12:00 | Newark Library Children’s Area, Beaumond Gardens, Balderton Gate, Newark, NG24 1UW
Listen to the story of The Storm Cloud, read by children’s book author Frances Stickley, before having some fun with arts and crafts to make your own Storm Cloud dreamcatcher to take home and finish.
Perfect for children aged 5+, join us for a free family-friendly event as part of Newark Book Festival in the children’s section of Newark Library. No need to book! Just turn up for the start time to catch the start of the story.

Literature Village
2026-07-12 10:00 - 15:00 | Newark Market Place, Newark Royal Market, Market Place, Newark, Nottinghamshire, NG24 1DU
We’re taking over the Market Place! Find local crafts, bookish organisations, authors and published books of all genres at the Newark Book Festival Literature Village. You’ll also find the festival’s Storybook Emporium by Ally Pally Arts hosting our very special Birthday Party Zone with free children’s crafts, with some of your favourite picture book characters and stories.
It’s the perfect opportunity to pick up a new stash to add to your TBR pile from independent and local authors and publishers. You’ll also find bookish accessories and homewares, such as beautifully crafted bookmarks, booksleeves, writing stationery, booklovers’ gifts, and much more.
Meet all the stallholders joining us this year here!

Paddington Cook & Craft Workshop
2026-07-12 11:00 - 12:30 | Learning Room, Palace Theatre, Palace Theatre, Appleton Gate, Newark, Nottinghamshire, NG24 1JY
Come and bring the stories of Paddington alive with a delicious marmalade cake cooking workshop run by Jess Mitchell from Cook Stars. While the cakes bake, enjoy bear-themed arts and crafts, a drink and snack, and stories for you to read together.
Perfect for children aged 2 – 11 years. All tools, aprons, and ingredients for the Paddington workshop are provided.

Toby and the Pixies, Draw-a-long Workshop
2026-07-12 16:00 - 17:00 | Tudor Hall, National Civil War Centre, National Civil War Centre, 14 Appleton Gate, Newark, Nottinghamshire, NG24 1JY
Discover all the secrets of making great comics, from character design to speech bubbles, and have a lot of fun along the way. Join comics writer and artist James Turner, creator of the award-winning Star Cat graphic novel series and writer of Toby and the Pixies, in a draw-a-long workshop.
Come up with your own magical pixie characters and learn how to bring your characters to life in a silly adventure.
Perfect for children aged 7-9 years and their adults.
