Highclere Castle will hold its inaugural Literary Festival on the weekend of 3–4 October to coincide with the global release of the LEGO Ideas 21373 Downton Abbey set. The event includes author talks, children’s workshops, castle tours and LEGO activities supported by the Brickish LEGO User Group.
Highclere Castle’s first Literary Festival runs 3–4 October and aligns with the public launch of the LEGO Ideas 21373 Downton Abbey set on 4 October.
Programming mixes family-focused author events and creative workshops with opportunities to see the Downton Abbey LEGO model and explore the castle and its Egyptian Exhibition.
The Brickish LEGO User Group will run hands-on LEGO play, a timed tallest-tower challenge and colouring activities to engage visitors, particularly children.
Highclere Castle is holding its first Literary Festival across the weekend of Saturday 3 and Sunday 4 October. The timing is coordinated with the public release of the LEGO Ideas 21373 Downton Abbey set, which becomes widely available on 4 October. The castle will display the new LEGO Downton Abbey model during the weekend.
The festival offers a mix of events intended for families and adults. Children's authors scheduled to lead workshops include Hugh Bonneville, Robert Tregoning, and Katie and Kevin Tsang. Family-oriented programming includes a Garden Story Trail and a staging of Alice in Wonderland by This is My Theatre, suitable for all ages.
Adults can attend creative writing workshops and author talks featuring bestselling names such as Santa Montefiore and Joanna Cannon. There will also be a performance by Charles Dickens' great-great-grandson depicting Doctor Marigold.
Visitors will have the option to tour Highclere Castle itself and visit its Egyptian Exhibition, subject to availability.
Lady Carnarvon has been corresponding with Brickset during the LEGO Ideas 21373 review process and was photographed with a 21373 Downton Abbey set at Highclere Castle's entrance. She reportedly has a second set and there may be an opportunity during the festival for attendees to help assemble it.
Children aged 15 and under are admitted free, but organisers request kids be prepared to talk about the books they read over the summer. For ticket options and availability for castle tours and the Egyptian Exhibition, visitors should consult the castle's official ticketing information.
The Brickish LUG also participates in other UK LEGO events. The Great Western Brick Show runs the weekend after the Highclere Literary Festival (10–11 October) at the STEAM Museum of the Great Western Railway, featuring model displays, exhibitors, and a Robot Battles competition that celebrates its 10th anniversary.
If you're a Downton Abbey fan, a family with children who enjoy author workshops, or a LEGO hobbyist, the weekend combines several interests: author programming, theatrical family entertainment, castle exploration, and hands-on LEGO activities with organised mini-competitions. The festival offers a one-stop weekend experience for those interests at Highclere Castle.
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