The Wild Wood free programme
Explore all the free family events and activities that The Wild Wood has to offer, from walk about performances and arts and crafts to mystery trails, storytellers and so much more.
Mystery Trails
Explore our Moomin Mail Trail Ages and Twitchers Mystery Trail around The Wild Wood throughout the Festival.
Pick up your trail sheets from The Wild Wood Info Point.
Storytellers
Roll up to Story Shack for stories from around the world, creatures large and small, famous people, explorers and terrible children with our storytellers, authors, illustrators and poets.
SATURDAY 7 OCTOBER
Trickster Tales, Myths and Legends
Story Shack, 20 min story sessions at: 10am, 11.20am, 12.50pm, 2.10pm
Jump into African and Caribbean tales with storyteller Wendy Shearer. Dance the night away at the Headless Dance, climb to the moon with a Prince, discover how the leopard got his spots and more as Wendy weaves her tales.
Interview with a Panda
Story Shack, 10.40 - 11am, Ages 5+
What would you ask a panda? Meet animal interviewer and author Andy Seed with his incredible tranimalator device. Discover some fantastic facts about ten endangered animals and find out how you can help.
Introducing The Ice Children
Story Shack, 12 - 12.30pm, Ages 8+
Enjoy a sneak preview of our mystery author’s brand-new book, The Ice Children, before it’s published. Discover a fantastical world full of wonder and magical adventures, where winter reigns supreme, Plus, meet the mystery author.
Interview with Cleopatra
Story Shack, 1.30–1.50pm, Ages 8+
What would you ask Cleopatra? Meet author and time-traveller Andy Seed as he reveals the good, the bad, and the unexpected about past rulers and their attempts to find out about the future.
The Star Whale
Story Shack, 3.15 - 4pm, Ages 7+
Celebrate our beautiful planet with poet Nicola Davies and illustrator Petr Horáček. Discover a pangolin at dusk, fly on a bat’s back, visit a lion, look out for a kingfisher and see how the wild reclaims the world in the urban night-time.
Secret Agents
The Wild Wood, 30 min sessions at: 11am, 12.30pm, 1.45pm, 2.45pm
Psst! You there! A top-secret mission is unfolding at this year’s Festival and our storytelling agents may require your assistance.
Paper Craft: Wands and Windmills
The Wild Wood Info Point, 10am–4pm
Create your own spinning windmill or magic wand with paper-maker Helen Nightingale. Choose from a vibrant selection of patterned papers and accessories.
Make and Take: Hats and Maps
The Den, 10am- 4pm
Drop into our make-and-take craft sessions with artist Debbie Kersley and her creative crew. Make yourself a tip-top Festival hat or concertina map book to take home and keep.
Waterstones Family Book Quiz
Covered Picnic Area, 4 - 4.30pm
What sort of creature is Smaug? Who wrote Matilda? Bring along your bookish brains for our brilliant Waterstones Family Book Quiz for some family fun and the chance to win prizes.
Look out for walkabout entertainer Thomas Trilby throughout the weekend
SUNDAY 8 OCTOBER
Trickster Tales, Myths and Legends
Story Shack, 20 min story sessions at: 10am, 11.20am, 12.50pm, 2.10pm, 3.40pm
Jump into African and Caribbean tales with storyteller Wendy Shearer. Dance the night away at the Headless Dance, climb to the moon with a Prince, discover how the leopard got his spots and more as Wendy weaves her tales.
Interview with a Shark
Story Shack, 10.40 - 11am, Ages 5+
What would you ask a shark? Meet animal interviewer and author Andy Seed and his incredible tranimalator device. Discover some fantastic facts about sharks and other ocean giants and have some fun too.
Later, When I'm Big
Story Shack, 30 min story sessions at: 12pm, 2.50pm, Ages 4+
Journey through tropical rainforests, the North Pole and beyond to imagine all sorts of fantastical futures with Flemish illustrator Mattias de Leeuw and translator Laura Watkinson. Draw along with Mattias.
Interview with Blackbeard
Story Shack, 1.30 - 1.50pm, Ages 8+
What would you ask Blackbeard the pirate? Author and time-traveller Andy Seed reveals the good, the bad, and the unexpected about 10 famous villains. Find out if they’re as wicked as we’ve been told in this fun, fact-filled event.
Woodland Wisps
The Wild Wood, 30 min story sessions at: 11am, 12.30pm, 1.45pm, 3.15pm
Step into an enchanted world of wonder, as our storytelling wisps share tales of potions, pixies and magical powers.
Paper Craft: Wands and Windmills
The Wild Wood Info Point, 10am - 4pm
Create your own spinning windmill or magic wand with paper-maker Helen Nightingale. Choose from a vibrant selection of patterned papers and accessories.
Make and Take: Hats and Maps
The Den, 10am - 4pm
Drop into our make-and-take craft sessions with artist Debbie Kersley and her creative crew. Make yourself a tip-top Festival hat or concertina map book to take home and keep.
Waterstones Family Book Quiz
Covered Picnic Area, 4 - 4.30pm
What sort of creature is Smaug? Who wrote Matilda? Bring along your bookish brains for our brilliant Waterstones Family Book Quiz for some family fun and the chance to win prizes.
Say hello to your favourite book characters around The Wild Wood from 7 - 8 October
Ticketed events from MONDAY 9 - FRIDAY 13 OCTOBER
SATURDAY 14 OCTOBER
Twisted Tales for Terrible Children
Story Shack, 20 min story sessions at: 10am, 11.20am, 12.50pm, 2.10pm, 3.40pm
Scratch the surface of familiar tales with storyteller and funny-man Gav Cross to reveal the terrible and silly, along with some nonsense and nastiness. Guaranteed to make you gasp and giggle. Performance at 2.10pm will be British Sign Language interpreted.
This event will be interpreted in Makaton/SSE.
Interview with a Shark
Story Shack, 10.40–11am, Ages 5+
What would you ask a shark? Meet animal interviewer and author Andy Seed and his incredible tranimalator device. Discover some fantastic facts about sharks and other ocean giants and have some fun too.
This event will be interpreted in Makaton/SSE.
Poems Out Loud
Story Shack, 12 - 12.30pm, Ages 6+
Go on a rip-roaring adventure into the world of poems with Waterstones Children’s Laureate, Joseph Coelho. Enjoy watching Joseph perform and have a go yourself using some of his inspiring Poetry Prompts in this lively, interactive event.
Interview with Blackbeard
Story Shack, 1.30 - 1.50pm, Ages 8+
What would you ask Blackbeard the pirate? Author and time-traveller Andy Seed reveals the good, the bad, and the unexpected about 10 famous villains. Find out if they’re as wicked as we’ve been told in this fun, fact-filled event.
Journey to the South Pole
Story Shack, 2.50 - 3.20pm, Ages 7+
What was it like to journey to Antarctica over 150 years ago? Find out with a hands-on exploration of the replica kit and sneak peek at the diaries of Cheltenham-born Edward Wilson with The Wilson Learning Curator Karen Finnegan.
This event will be interpreted in Makaton/SSE.
Woodland Wisps
The Wild Wood, 30 min story sessions at: 11am, 12.30pm, 1.45pm, 3.15pm
Paper Craft: Wands and Windmills
The Wild Wood Info Point, 10am–4pm
Create your own spinning windmill or magic wand with paper-maker Helen Nightingale. Choose from a vibrant selection of patterned papers and accessories.
Make and Take: Hats and Maps
The Den, 10am -4pm
Drop into our make-and-take craft sessions with artist Debbie Kersley and her creative crew. Make yourself a tip-top Festival hat or concertina map book to take home and keep.
Waterstones Family Book Quiz
Covered Picnic Area, 4 - 4.30pm
What sort of creature is Smaug? Who wrote Matilda? Bring along your bookish brains for our brilliant Waterstones Family Book Quiz for some family fun and the chance to win prizes.
Say hello to your favourite book characters around The Wild Wood from 14 - 15 October
SUNDAY 15 OCTOBER
Twisted Tales for Terrible Children
Story Shack, 20 min story sessions at: 10am, 11.20am, 12.50pm, 2.10pm, 3.40pm
Scratch the surface of familiar tales with storyteller and funny-man Gav Cross to reveal the terrible and silly, along with some nonsense and nastiness. Guaranteed to make you gasp and giggle.
Interview with a Panda
Story Shack, 10.40 - 11am
What would you ask a panda? Meet animal interviewer and author Andy Seed with his incredible tranimalator device. Discover some fantastic facts about ten endangered animals and find out how you can help.
The Hare-Shaped Hole
Story Shack, 30 min sessions at: 12pm, 2.50pm, Ages 5+
When Hertle vanishes, her best friend Bertle is distraught. How can he bring Hertle back – and what if he can’t? Join John and Thomas Dougherty for storytime, drawing and music.
Interview with Cleopatra
Story Shack, 1.30–1.50pm, Ages 8+
What would you ask Cleopatra? Meet author and time-traveller Andy Seed as he reveals the good, the bad, and the unexpected about past rulers and their attempts to find out about the future.
Secret Agents
The Wild Wood, 30 min sessions at: 11am, 12.30pm, 1.45pm, 3.15pm
Psst! You there! A top-secret mission is unfolding at this year's Festival and our storytelling agents may require your assistance.
Paper Craft: Wands and Windmills
The Wild Wood Info Point, 10am - 4pm
Create your own spinning windmill or magic wand with paper-maker Helen Nightingale. Choose from a vibrant selection of patterned papers and accessories.
Make and Take: Hats and Maps
The Den, 10am - 4pm
Drop into our make-and-take craft sessions with artist Debbie Kersley and her creative crew. Make yourself a tip-top Festival hat or concertina map book to take home and keep.
Children’s Book Swap
Covered Picnic Area, 11am - 1pm
Grown out of your Gruffalos? Read every book from the Alex Rider series? Donate your pre-loved children's books and pick up some new family reads at this friendly book swap with Little Planet Cheltenham and The Motherhood Society.
Waterstones Family Book Quiz
Covered Picnic Area, 4 - 4.30pm
What sort of creature is Smaug? Who wrote Matilda? Bring along your bookish brains for our brilliant Waterstones Family Book Quiz for some family fun and the chance to win prizes.
Meet Supervet Noel Fitzpatrick
Waterstones Festival Bookshop, from 5pm
Supervet Noel Fitzpatrick will be signing copies of his new children's book The Superpets (and Me!) featuring amazing true stories about incredible animals and his new illustrated adult novel Keira and Me about his life with his beloved dog Keira, celebrating the powerful bond between human and animal. Come along to meet Noel and pick up a copy.
View the full free programme:
