Engage Wilton Autumn Festival Highlights Books, Music, and Poetry

The festival will feature a diverse program of talks, workshops, performances, and family-friendly events, many of which will be free to attend through voluntary donations. Organizers are encouraging attendees to support the event with contributions.

The festivities will begin on Friday with an illumination and bookbinding workshop at Happybara on South Street, where participants can learn traditional creative skills. A community book exchange will also occur at Old St Mary's, and crime fiction enthusiasts can attend a discussion with author Nikki Copleston about her DI Jeff Lincoln novels. The evening will wrap up with a poetry open mic at Crafty Cup, hosted by poet and writer Millie Woodrow.

On Saturday, the program will include a presentation titled A Tale of Two Mayors, which will delve into the history of Wilton's first mayor, William Ismard, elected in 1256, and the current mayor, Chris Harrison. Writers and aspiring authors may participate in a workshop with Philippa Heseltine and attend a self-publishing event hosted by Riverside Publishing Solutions, featuring insights from publishing professionals and local authors.

One of the key attractions will be an evening concert by musician Paul Armfield at Wilton Baptist Church. Throughout the weekend, there will be busking performances and the opportunity for attendees to participate in the Poetry Soap Box, where they can share their own poems or recite works by others.

The festival will conclude with a Festival Feast at WMSET Hall, offering food and a retrospective of the weekend’s highlights. Organizers aim to foster community engagement through creativity, literature, music, and performance, showcasing the talent and cultural vibrancy of Wilton.