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Budleigh Salterton Literary Festival

16 minute drive from Sidmouth. For 2020 the festival will be a mix of virtual and live events,…

Sidmouth Literary Festival

Every year Sidmouth welcomes bibliophiles from all over the country to the town’s literature festival, a celebration of all things bookish with workshops, talks and of course, the chance to buy bestsellers and obscure titles alike. The festival has taken place every summer since 2015 after being founded by Wayne Winstone, owner of Winstone’s Books (of which there is a branch in the town), Di Bowerman, Jane Corey and many others who are both fans of books and work in the industry.

Devon, and by extension, Sidmouth, has long inspired authors and poets with its beautiful scenery and fascinating history, making this region the best for hosting Literary Festivals. The world’s most famous crime writer, Agatha Christie is from the county and J R R Tolkein who has wowed generations with his Lord of the Rings books had a holiday home in Sidmouth, at which he wrote some of the story’s best loved passages. If that wasn’t enough of an indication of the region’s credentials, the Regency feel of the town is almost like stepping into a Jane Austen novel – perfect for a weekend talking about books!

Sun, Sea, Books

Sidmouth Literary Festival – Sun, Sea, Books is the must visit event for anyone who loves reading, writing or generally being creative. Each year, the festival brings big names in publishing to Sidmouth for two days of fascinating discussion.

Taking place at venues all over the town including some of the grand Regency hotels, local churches, theatres and other iconic venues, you’re never too far away from a bookish activity when visiting Sidmouth in June. Previous attendees of the festival have included authors such as Adele Parks, Bryony Gordon and Terry Waite, with workshops and activities ranging from how to get published to where to find inspiration and motivation to write your own bestseller. The 2019 line-up included Sidmouth’s own author Jane Corry who was joined by Lesley Pearse, the multi best selling author and Ruth Ware.

Activities that won’t break the bank

While there are some aspects of the festival that carry a charge many of the events and workshops are free to attend – you can find out more about the most recent news and details about prices on the festival’s official website: sidmouthlitfest.co.uk

Tickets for Sidmouth Literary Festival events are also available from Winstone’s book shop on Sidmouth High Street or online here, Sidmouth’s Tourist Information Centre on Ham Lane and Sidmouth Library which is on Blackmore Drive.

For more information, email sidmouthlitfest1@gmail.com or visit one of the above.

Never too many books

If you are a big fan of books, Sidmouth’s Literary Festival is the place to be this summer, but it isn’t the only bookish event you can enjoy. Nearby Budleigh Salterton also has an annual literature festival which has been running for over ten years. The Festival is supported by author Hilary Mantel who is the Honorary President and regularly appears at the festival to speak on panels and run workshops.

Find out more information here.

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Ongoing Events

Exeter Canal Cruise

Type

Type:

Animal/Wildlife

Exmouth Marina, Exmouth

27 minute drive from Sidmouth.
Join us travelling at a relaxing pace as we sail along Exeter Canal, sit back and soak up the scenery, watch the locks come to life, the…

Dates

From:

19 June 2021to19 June 2021

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2 July 2021to2 July 2021

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19 July 2021to19 July 2021

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15 Sept 2021to15 Sept 2021

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30 Sept 2021to30 Sept 2021
Rainbow Run Your Way

Type

Type:

Family

Virtual

Join us virtually over the weekend of Saturday 19 to Sunday 20 June! Rainbow Run - your way will be even more special this year because we are celebrating our 30th…

Dates

From:

19 June 2021to20 June 2021
Day trip to Sidmouth

Type

Type:

Maritime

Exmouth

Have a great day out in Devon by taking a boat trip to enjoy the Regency town of Sidmouth.
Sailing from Exmouth Marina take time to relax as we travel along the Jurassic…

Dates

From:

20 June 2021to20 June 2021

From:

3 July 2021to3 July 2021

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4 July 2021to4 July 2021

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20 July 2021to20 July 2021

From:

3 Aug 2021to3 Aug 2021

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4 Aug 2021to4 Aug 2021

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17 Aug 2021to17 Aug 2021

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18 Aug 2021to18 Aug 2021

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1 Sept 2021to1 Sept 2021
Sidmouth Museum Opening

Type

Type:

Local Culture

SIDMOUTH

Sidmouth Museum open to welcome visitors once again. New for 2021 - Sidmouth's Jurassic Coast, the Digital History of Sidmouth - From Fishing Village to fashionable Seaside…

Dates

From:

21 June 2021to27 Nov 2021
Countess Wear Evening Cruise

Type

Type:

Animal/Wildlife

Exmouth Marina, Exmouth

27 minute drive from Sidmouth
Spend an incredible summer's night relaxing and watching the sunset on the water on our Countess Wear Evening Cruise. There are only a few…

Dates

From:

25 June 2021to25 June 2021

From:

24 July 2021to24 July 2021

From:

22 Aug 2021to22 Aug 2021
Sidmouth Eats Boutique

Type

Type:

Festival

Sidmouth

An evening street food market in a jewel of the Jurassic coast. Drink in the landscape, nourish your friendships and taste the world on a Friday evening in the summer months.…

Dates

From:

25 June 2021to25 June 2021

From:

23 July 2021to23 July 2021

From:

27 Aug 2021to27 Aug 2021
Seaton Eats Boutique

Type

Type:

Local Culture

Seaton

An evening street food market on a cliff top in the heart of Jurassic coast. Drink in the landscape, nourish your friendships and taste the world on a Friday evening in the…

Dates

From:

2 July 2021to2 July 2021

From:

6 Aug 2021to6 Aug 2021

From:

3 Sept 2021to3 Sept 2021
Budleigh Music Festival

Type

Type:

Festival

Budleigh Salterton

Save the date for Budleigh Music Festival, 9-17 July 2021
- Internationally acclaimed saxophonist Jess Gillam returns - Must try: family friendly interactive music,…

Dates

From:

9 July 2021to17 July 2021
Lyme Regis Lifeboat Week

Type

Type:

Festival

LYME REGIS

28 minute drive from Sidmouth.
Lyme Regis Lifeboat Week is a week full of fun, from a teddy bears picnic, pavement art to a bathtub race. There will be various displays,…

Dates

From:

24 July 2021to31 July 2021
Sidmouth Folk Festival

Type

Type:

Festival

Sidmouth

Sidmouth Folk Week is a unique week-long seaside celebration of music, dance and song taking place in the charming East Devon regency coastal resort – a must in every…

Dates

From:

30 July 2021to6 Aug 2021
The Sidmouth Folk Festival

Type

Type:

Folk

Sidmouth

A national treasure – a major cultural institution held every year in the first week of August since 1955 attracting tens of thousands of visitors.
A champion of folk…

Dates

From:

30 July 2021to6 Aug 2021
Lyme Regis Regatta & Carnival Week

Type

Type:

Carnival

Lyme Regis

28 minute drive from Sidmouth.
A variety of events during Lyme Regis Regatta & Carnival Week including carnival procession, regatta races. Activities and events for all…

Dates

From:

7 Aug 2021to14 Aug 2021
Lyme Regis Folk Festival

Type

Type:

Performance

Lyme Regis

28 minute drive from Sidmouth.
CANCELLED - But please save the date for 27-30 August 2021!!
Lyme Folk Weekend has quickly become one of the most popular events of…

Dates

From:

27 Aug 2021to30 Aug 2021
Sidmouth Airshow 2021

Type

Type:

Air / Air Show

Sidmouth

2021 will again see beautiful Sidmouth play host to an Air Display on Friday 27th August 2021 at the start of the Summer Bank Holiday weekend. The event will welcome in the…

Dates

From:

27 Aug 2021to27 Aug 2021
175th Anniversary Exhibition Sid Vale Association

Type

Type:

Community

SIDMOUTH

A two day Exhibition to celebrate the 175th Anniversary of the Sid Vale Association, the oldest Civic Society in the country founded in 1846, the organisation has served…

Dates

From:

11 Sept 2021to12 Sept 2021
Budleigh Salterton Literary Festival

Type

Type:

Festival

Budleigh Salterton

16 minute drive from Sidmouth.
For 2020 the festival will be a mix of virtual and live events, depending on restrictions.
Budleigh Salterton Literary Festival…

Dates

From:

15 Sept 2021to19 Sept 2021
Sidmouth and East Devon Walking Festival

Type

Type:

Walking

Sidmouth

Sidmouth has some wonderful scenic walking both coastal and inland.
Join us for a fabulous week of free guided walks; discover the wonderful scenic coastal walking of…

Dates

From:

18 Sept 2021to24 Sept 2021
Sidmouth Classic Car Show

Type

Type:

Car & Motor Vehicles

Sidmouth

The 2021 Sidmouth Classic Car Show is provisionally going ahead following government guidance and complying with the relevant Covid-19 guidelines in place at the time.
…

Dates

From:

18 Sept 2021to18 Sept 2021
Sidmouth Science Festival

Type

Type:

Festival

Sidmouth

Sidmouth has been playing host to its own Science Festival for over five years and with each year, the event grows in popularity. The festivals each follow a new theme and…

Dates

From:

8 Oct 2021to17 Oct 2021
Friends of the Byes Community Group

Type

Type:

Community

Sidmouth

Meet on Saturday mornings. 10am - 12 midday. New volunteers welcome. Please call Kati on 07817 041239, email FOTByes@ gmail.com, or find us on Facebook.

Dates

From:

15 Oct 2021to15 Oct 2021