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Tickets selling fast to Cirencester's New History Festival

Cirencester History Festival Kicks Off with Unmitigated Success, Selling Out Multiple Events in First 48 Hours

CIRENCESTER, Gloucestershire—The inaugural Cirencester History Festival has made an extraordinary impact, with some events selling out within the first days of ticket sales. The diverse programme, launched on 6th September, immediately captured public interest and has received much praise for its broad appeal:

Cllr Hodgkinson comments, “We're pleased to support the brand new Cirencester History Festival this autumn, which promises to be a memorable event for everyone locally! This festival is an important reminder of Cirencester’s rich history, dating back to the Roman Empire. As a Council we value events like these, which bring people together in our community and boost our local economy, and that is why we have contributed £2,500 from the Rural England Prosperity Fund.
I'm going to attend the Festival myself and I encourage people to come along to enjoy the interesting programme of talks, workshops, crafting and more!”

Tickets are still available, but selling fast, for excellent speakers such as Max Hastings, Janina Ramirez and Rev. Richard Coles’s THE RABBIT HOLE DETECTIVES. Running from 26 October to 3 November 2024, the festival coincides with half-term and Halloween, promising an unforgettable experience for history enthusiasts and families alike.

Sell-out talks include renowned historian Jonathan Dimbleby tracing the roots of the current geopolitical conflict between Putin and The West back to Stalin, Roosevelt and Churchill in 1944; Natalie Hayes with her ‘Divine Might’ standup show and acclaimed witch expert Ronald Hutton on the pagan roots of Halloween.

Festival Producer Jess Yarrow expressed excitement at the response: “The support from the community and the overwhelming demand for tickets has certainly exceeded our expectations. While this has led to some events selling out quickly, we still have tickets available for this fantastic programme of talks and family activities. We’re also exploring options to try and respond to this extraordinary demand – so we urge everyone interested in our sold-out events to sign up to the waiting lists on the relevant event pages on our website.”

In addition to Dimbleby, Haynes and Hutton’s talks, other events already sold-out include ‘Cirencester’s Lost Brewery’ at New Brewery Arts; a behind-the-scenes tour of the House of Fraser building by the Long Table; a history of Cotswold sheep farming by local author and farmer, Sue Andrews; and a talk and intimate lunch on ‘Jean Dawnay: Christian Dior’s English Rose’.

Tickets Still Available for Many Exciting Events
Tickets are still available for historian Max Hastings, The Rabbit Hole Detectives featuring Rev. Richard Coles, Dr. Cat Jarman, and Charles Spencer. Mark Horton will host anthropologist Mary-Ann Ochota to explore Britain’s most intriguing artefacts, while Alison Weir and Nicola Tallis will discuss the fascinating rivalry between Mary I and Elizabeth I. For true crime enthusiasts, Matthew Lewis, Nathan Amin, and Nicola Tallis will debate the mystery surrounding the Princes in the Tower. Hungry historians can learn the history of the British love of curry, explored through a seven-course tasting menu offered by Roman, Chef at Indian Rasoi.

Family-Friendly Fun for All Ages
The Cirencester History Festival also features over 30 immersive, family-friendly activities, with many free of charge. Families can try their hand at writing historical novels, bake traditional pies, meet Roman doctors and beauticians, or create Halloween costumes inspired by historical villains. There’s something for everyone, including interactive workshops at the Corinium Museum and Cirencester Library.

With such a wide range of engaging activities and a star-studded lineup of speakers, the Cirencester History Festival is set to be a must-attend event for history lovers and families across the region.

For more information and ticket availability, visit cirencesterhistoryfestival.org