Whitby Lit Fest 2025 Fringe Events

All events subject to change. Please visit the festival website for up to date information about these any any additional fringe events.

Thursday 6 November

Meet the Curator
Whitby Museum, 11am – 12:30pm
Pat McCarthy, social history curator at Whitby Museum will be on hand to talk about the Hand of Glory and other curious items within our collection.

Red Hat Ghost Walk
The Bandstand, 6pm
Join local lass Gill on this accessible guided tour around town, hearing stories and tales passed down through generations. Visit whitbyghostwalk.co.uk for more details.

The Dispensary Drop-In
The Dispensary, Skinner Street, 6:30pm – 8:30pm
Drop in and sample our local honeys, learn about propolis and share your favourite bee poems and prose.

Friday 7 November

Whitby’s Time-Travelling Bookshop
Whitby Museum Library, 2pm
Angela O’Connor, proprietor and historian of Holman’s, and Rob Williams, museum archivist, talk to Kate Fenton, Lit Fest Patron, about Whitby’s fascinating literary connections. Tickets available in person from the museum reception. Advance tickets can be bought through museum reception or by phone 01947 602908. Tickets are free to Lit & Phil members or £2 for non-members.

Saturday 8 November

Book Signing
Holman’s Bookshop, 2pm
Book signing with CM Vassie, author of his third SCRAVIR book, Possession.

Fylingdales Folk Choir
Pannett Art Gallery, 2pm
Join us in the gallery to enjoy a feast of folk music and song with Fylingdales Folk Choir. Everyone welcome. Admission free.

Magical Story Session with GillyKing
The Little Fox Bookshop, 11am
Come & share a morning of magical story telling with the enchanting GillyKing. Free admission, please email Lucy to book a space:
littlefoxbookshop@gmail.com

What the Dickens? Author Dinner with Lucinda Hawksley
The White Horse & Griffin, 7pm
Join a descendant of Dickens over a delicious dinner at The White Horse and Griffin. Call 01947 604 857 for full details & booking.

Sunday 9 November

Meet the Curator
Whitby Museum, 11am – 12:30pm
Elaine Hoyle, natural history curator at Whitby Museum will be on hand to talk about all things birds and show our bird egg collection.

Madame Peculiar’s Offbeat Literary Walking Tour
Holman’s Bookshop, 11am
The tour starts at Captain Cook’s statue and visits various literary landmarks on Whitby’s West Cliff with Holman’s being its final destination. 1 hour. £7.95 per person.
Book via: peculiartourswhitby.co.uk/events

Throughout the Festival

Whitby’s Literary History Tour
With Whitby Storyteller, Rose Rylands
Join Rose on a guided walking tour of Whitby, taking in the rich history of our town through its connections with writers, authors and poets stretching back centuries. Visit whitbystoryteller.co.uk for details.

Storytelling for children: The artworks of Eileen Soper
Pannett Art Gallery, 10am – 4:30pm, Tuesday to Sunday
From over 20 years of illustrating for Enid Blyton through to writing and illustrating her own books for young children, this display offers a fascinating insight into the hugely successful career of Eileen Soper.