We had it all planned. Time off work. Accommodation. Dogs booked in the kennels. Neighbours on mail collection duty. Our hearts full of anticipation and excitement and hungry for books and more. Because we were heading to the Featherston Booktown Festival! Then the borders closed, the world stopped its usual turning. Early May 2020 New Zealand was still in lockdown with slightly less restrictions at level 3, but gatherings were out of the question. The festival was cancelled…

In a previous blog I relayed our recent visit to some of Featherston’s bookshops, a month or so before the upcoming festival. In a way it offered some consolation for missing the big event last year.

The festival’s programme oozes fabulous, confrontational and inspiring conversations and events. If you’re short of ideas for this weekend (7-9 May) and fancy a drive to the stunning Wairarapa autumn scenery, do not hesitate, just go. You may need to beg a friend or relative for a bed as accommodation is probably booked out, but hey, a small sacrifice for this wondrous festival of authors, illustrators, readers, books, stories, book sellers, book shops and the ever supportive Featherston community.

Not able to attend? Allow the programme to inspire or pique your interest on booktown.nz.

I PROMISE I’LL ATTEND THE NEXT EDITION!