Appledore Drive-in Book Festival 2021

Welcome to the Appledore Book Festival.

We hope you enjoy watching the video of our 2020 Drive-In Festival that took place at Skern Lodge in Appledore.  As the UK’s first ever drive-in book festival it succeeded against all the odds by creating social bubbles and a Covid-safe environment for its festival goers. In return, the Festival was rewarded with six days of fabulous author events, tooting horns, flashing headlights, and (almost!) wall-to-wall sunshine!

Plans are now underway for our 2021 Festival: Thursday 16th to Saturday 25th September.  We plan to hold this year's ten-day Festival at both Skern Lodge and in Appledore village.  The first four days will be an outdoor festival, in a Big Top Festival Marquee, followed by six days in village venues.

More than 60 events are being planned and already we have some great authors, illustrators, workshops and performers lined-up.  We are thrilled to announce that the author, presenter, musician and vicar, the Reverend Richard Coles will be with us for our launch night Thursday 16th September.  Other authors confirmed include Sara Cox, Tim Vine, Kate Mosse, Gavin Esler, Ann Cleeves and Lord Jonny Oates. However, many more fantastic authors and performers have confirmed and we will be announcing these in due course.

Tickets will go on sale to Friends of the Festival in early July, with general ticket sales the following week.  For more information about Friends membership, visit our Support the Festival/Friends Membership page.

If you would like to sponsor one of our fabulous events this year, then please visit our Sponsorship page.