Date: 26 October to 3 November 2024 to include half term & Halloween
Click here to find out more about the Cirencester History Festival 

The new Cirencester History Festival will feature one of Britain’s foremost military historians, Sir Max Hastings, and a live audience recording of the smash hit podcast The Rabbit Hole Detectives with national treasure Reverend Richard Coles, bestselling archaeologist Dr. Cat Jarman and historian Charles Spencer. They join an already impressive lineup of speakers including Jonathan Dimbleby, Natalie Haynes, Janina Ramirez and Ronald Hutton – along with more than thirty events and activities for all the family.

Full programme and tickets are available from 6 September 2024 at cirencesterhistoryfestival.org

Families Programme
The festival also offers over 30 immersive and family-friendly activities catering to the broadest possible audience over half-term week, many of which are free. You can: learn how to write your own historical novel at Waterstones; make a traditional pie for your whole family with the Cotswold Cookery School; meet a Roman doctor and beautician from Chedworth Roman Villa; make a historical villain Halloween costume with the Barn Theatre and New Brewery Arts; discover your past at Cirencester Library; make a clay gargoyle at the Corinium Museum; have a behind-the-scenes tour of the old House of Fraser building with the Long Table team; meet children’s authors at Octavia’s bookshop – and so much more!

Max Hastings and Operation Biting
On 26 October, Sir Max Hastings will share a thrilling account of Operation Biting, one of WWII's most daring and successful British Commando raids, in Cirencester’s majestic Parish Church. Through an engaging illustrated talk, Hastings will unravel the 1942 parachute assault behind enemy lines that captured Hitler's radar secrets, a mission that changed the course of the war. Sir Max Hastings, a celebrated author, journalist, and broadcaster, currently writes for The Times and Bloomberg and regularly reviews for The Sunday Times.

Live Audience Recording of The Rabbit Hole Detectives Podcast
On 31st October, in Cirencester’s impressive Bingham Hall, Rev. Richard Coles, Cat Jarman and Charles Spencer will take us on an intriguing journey into the origins of some of history's most fascinating objects. Past episodes have explored topics ranging from Viking ring fortresses to posh priestesses via bagpipes and soap! The live recording will blend expert analysis with captivating storytelling, offering a mix of fascinating and frivolous facts, personal anecdotes and a generous dose of humour.

Cirencester History Festival is organised in collaboration with Gloucester History Festival and, like Gloucester, comprises a core programme of talks from some of the nation's leading broadcasters, historians, and thinkers as well as many fascinating local voices. Cirencester History Festival is also working with over thirty local organisations to provide a creative fringe of immersive and family activities and with local charity partners to provide a variety of off-programme community events during festival week.

Click here to head to the Cirencester History Festival website