WordFest returns to Gainsborough on Saturday 12 September 2026!
Get ready for a day full of storytelling, theatre, books, workshops, a literature village, and more! Gainsborough Wordfest has become a popular annual event celebrating the town’s creativity.
Take a look at what’s on…
Gainsborough Market Place, DN21 2EU
Farmers’ & Craft Market, 9am to 2pm
Traders, authors & activities! Visit the Literature Village, part of September’s Farmers & Craft Market, to find your next read, meet local authors, enjoy live performances and pick up something special from our wonderful traders.
Townscape Heritage Initiative Tour, 10am
Take a walk through the historic heart of Gainsborough with Townscape Heritage officer Abigail Buckland. Learn about the history of some of our remarkable buildings and take a look at the works that have been completed under the Townscape Heritage Initiative.
Places are limited, therefore booking is required. Meet at Alfie’s Deli – Book Now.
To The Moon and Back, 10am to 2pm
Go on an adventure with a mini-barn owl with big dreams as she searches the fields for food for her family, all the way to the Moon and back.
Award winning Barmpot Theatre bring this magical tale to life through family-friendly puppetry and storytelling, performances last around 10 minutes and will take place from 10am.
Gainsborough Library, Cobden Street, Gainsborough, Lincolnshire, DN21 2NG
Exhibition: George Eliot’s Gainsborough, 5 to to 19 September, open during Library opening hours.
George Eliot’s novel The Mill on the Floss is set in a fictional town called St. Ogg’s on the banks of the river Floss. However, a year before the book’s publication, the author paid a brief visit to Gainsborough, and this provided the setting for her story. So, just how much of Gainsborough is hidden on its pages, and where exactly is the original mill? Answer these questions for yourself with the help of the extracts, pictures and background information in this exhibition.
‘What shall we do, Winnie the Pooh?’, storytelling and kite making workshop. 10am-2pm
Join Mishap Theatre for an interactive storytelling session, inspired by the classic tale ‘What shall we do, Winnie the Pooh?’ written by Jeanne Willis and illustrated by Mark Burgess.
This will be followed by a fun creative paper kite making workshop inspired by the book. Decorate and doodle what makes you you, on your kite!
Taylor Made Arts and Future of the Past Project, 1pm
Join Taylor Made Arts for a special showcase of work created by young people in partnership with Gainsborough Heritage Centre and the Future of the Past Project.
Enjoy live performances, audio drama, animation and more as young people share the stories they’ve uncovered over the last 2½ years. Discover how the stories of the past are inspiring the storytellers of the future.
Trinity Arts Centre, Trinity Street, Gainsborough, DN21 2AL
Backstage Heritage Tours, 10am
Booking essential, tour lasts approximately 1 hour. Refreshments available for purchase in the Café Bar after each tour – booking link available soon.
Finding Your Hidden Strengths writing workshops 2pm & 3.30pm
Join Paula of Busy Corner Books for reflective writing workshops – no experience necessary, just a willingness to take part. Unleash your creativity and discover your hidden strengths!
Suitable for ages 14 years plus, under 18s must be accompanied by an adult – booking link available soon.
Death, dissection and grave robbery – ‘Burking’ in 19c Lincolnshire, 7pm
Burke and Hare are infamous for selling their victims’ bodies to medical schools in Edinburgh for dissection but grave robbery and body snatching went on throughout the country. Join Elaine Johnsn to hear what happened in Lincolnshire and decide whether this was a crime permissible in the interests of medical science or if the perpetrators should feel the full force of the law? – booking link available soon.
United Reformed Church, Church Street, Gainsborough DN21 2JR
A Question of Perspective’, 11am
Revelations of Divine Love by medieval mystic Julian of Norwich is the first known book to have been written by a woman in the English language. Julian experienced a number of visions during a near fatal illness in May 1373. She recorded her meditations on the visions in Revelations of Divine Love.
Little is known about Julian’s background. In her new novel ‘A Question of Perspective’, Gillian offers one possible interpretation, and shows how her influence reaches across the centuries to a small contemporary community in a Norfolk village.
In this talk, Gillian will explore Julian’s background and consider how this astonishing woman continues to inspire today. There will be a Q&A session and book signing. ‘A Question of Perspective’ will be released as an e-book and paperback on 4.9.2026.
All Saints’ Parish Church, Church Street Gainsborough DN21 2JR
Grade I listed historic church open for visitors with tower tours 10am to 2pm
The Old Nick Theatre, 31 Spring Gardens, Gainsborough DN21 2AY
The Couple, 3pm
The Theatre Company Workhouse Players perform an enticing double feature of one short play and invite the audience’s impressions – Book Now.
Changing the World Through Crime Fiction, 4.30pm
Local author Andrew Harris is on a mission to make the world a better place. ‘I am writing crime fiction novels under the title, The Human Spirit Series, to celebrate how we have improved the quality of our lives using science and technology.’
Café Walton, Whittons Gardens, Gainsborough, DN21 2DL
With authors – Aimee Horton and Caroline Cauchi.
Join Caroline and Aimee for a fun, relaxed and interactive chat celebrating the joy of reading. They’ll pitch some of their favourite books to each other, making the case for why the other simply has to read them, while chatting about the stories that have stayed with them long after the final page.
Audience members are warmly invited to join the conversation too. Bring along a favourite book to recommend, or even a book you’d love to swap with another reader. Whether you’re looking to discover your next great read, share a hidden gem or simply enjoy talking about books with fellow book lovers, everyone is welcome.
Places are limited therefore booking is essential – book now.
About the authors…
Caroline Cauchi is an internationally bestselling historical novelist whose books include Mrs Van Gogh, Queen of the Mist and Daughter of the Titanic. Alongside writing novels, she is a Reader in Creative Writing at the University of Hull, where she teaches creative writing and researches reading for pleasure, storytelling and the role stories play in shaping our understanding of ourselves and the world.
Above all, Caroline is an enthusiastic reader who loves recommending books, discovering unexpected favourites and chatting about the stories that stay with us long after we’ve turned the final page.
Aimee Horton is the founder and Director of Open Books, a Community Interest Company dedicated to reducing loneliness and improving wellbeing through reading.
She hosts multiple book clubs in and around Lincoln, bringing readers together to chat about all kinds of books. Aimee is also the author of three novels, including Bad Influence, which debuted at No. 25 in Amazon’s Hot New Releases chart, and she is currently writing her fourth.
Gainsborough Old Hall, Parnell Street, Gainsborough DN21 2NB
Lincolnshire: Home of Poets, 1.30pm
Join local writer and literature-lover, Helen Hagon, for a poetic journey across Lincolnshire and a celebration of some of its lyrical voices from the past, from Thomas Miller and Bernard Gilbert to Mabel Peacock and Jean Ingelow, plus many more, not forgetting Tennyson, of course.
Poetry with Paul Sutherland, 3pm
Join Canadian-British poet Paul Sutherland for an afternoon of poetry and reflection as he shares readings from a collection bringing together some of his finest work. Exploring themes drawn from the world’s major religious traditions, alongside the beauty and transformative power of nature, Sutherland’s poems invite audiences on a mystical journey across cultures, landscapes and spiritual ideas.
Through a live reading of selected poems, Paul will offer insights into the inspiration behind his writing, revealing the universal connections that unite humanity across faiths, experiences and the natural world. This engaging and thought-provoking event is a unique opportunity to hear the poet’s work in his own voice and discover the stories behind the poems.
Please note: these events do not include access to the rest of the Gainsborough Old Hall site. These can be purchased from English Heritage in advance on their website, or on the day.
Trading Cards Gainsborough, Unit 2, 25 Lord St, Gainsborough DN21 2DD
Competition to design a collectible fantasy character card! Collect your template and return it to the shop from 5 to 12 September for your chance to win the grand prize!
A display of all entries, highlighting the winner, will be in Trading Cards Gainsborough on Saturday 12 September.
- The first 50 competition entrants will receive a FREE Pokémon Prize Pack, kindly supplied by TCG.
- The overall winner will receive a prize pack worth £20.
- Collect your design template in-store at Trading Cards Gainsborough and return all competition entries to the shop.
- All entries will be judged by Trading Cards Gainsborough.
- If your Pokémon card design is displayed as the winner, please speak to a member of staff to collect your winning prize pack, courtesy of West Lindsey District Council.
You can also download the WordFest Trail here – WordFest Trail.
For regular updates about WordFest 2026, follow us on Facebook and Instagram.
Take a look back at last year’s event and view the image gallery here – WordFest 2025
For more information about visiting Gainsborough including places to visit and things to do, head over to our visit page.
