Essex Book Festival 2023
1st June – 1st July 2023
Over 100 events took place in over 40 venues across Essex. Jam-packed with author talks and conversations, writing workshops and writers’ slam, photography and art exhibitions, poetry and performances, eco-crafts and mud kitchen, plus so much more. Take a look at the photos from events you attended or see what you missed.









Human Library – unJudge Someone
Saturday 1st July 2023, Chelmsford Library
In partnership with Essex Cultural Diversity Project and Essex Libraries
Just like in a real library, a visitor to the Human Library can borrow a book from a range of titles. The difference is that books are People, and reading is a Conversation. Books at our Human Library came from all walks of life, and each had a different story to tell. It was a day of connecting with people we wouldn’t normally meet, and celebrating positive differences in our community.
Wonderful, thought-provoking, intensely moving
Visitor to the Human Library




Midsummer Madness 2023
Sunday 25th June 2023, Cressing Temple Barns
What a magical time we had at our Midsummer Madness Family Fun Day at Cressing Temple Barns. From legendary author and performance poet, John Agard and Ensonglopedia’s musical comedy The Puddle at the End of the World to a Mud Kitchen, Forest Skills workshop, Foraging Crafts, creative workshops, eco-crafts and a Comic Art Masterclass plus storytelling galore. Thank you to Nick Ilott for taking photos and capturing the wonder that was Midsummer Madness.










Stand Up for Diversity
Thursday 8th June 2023, Gibberd Gallery Harlow
In partnership with Essex Cultural Diversity Project
An evening of three-minute mini-talks and soap-box shout-outs to put a spotlight on diversity. For this event Essex Book Festival and Essex Cultural Diversity Project teamed up with Harlow Arts Trust in their 70th anniversary year, to bring people together and champion diversity on the theme of Our Community, Our Environment.






Essex Book Festival 2022









