Barking and Dagenham Libraries and Pen to Print present their fifteenth annual literary festival, running 12 to 19 September. Enjoy a mix of in person, online and hybrid events celebrating storytelling and reading, funded by Arts Council England.
Events in this collection
ReadFest 2026: Writing for Performance Class with Kelly Jones
Saturday • 10:00 AM
Free
Online ReadFest 2026: Writing for Performance Class with Kelly Jones
Saturday • 10:00 AM GMT+1
From $0.00
ReadFest 2026: Creative Writing Class with Ian Ayris
Saturday • 12:00 PM
Free
Online ReadFest 2026: Creative Writing Class with Ian Ayris
Saturday • 12:00 PM GMT+1
From $0.00
ReadFest 2026: Poetry Writing Class with Mab Jones
Saturday • 3:00 PM
Free
Online ReadFest 2026: Poetry Writing Class with Mab Jones
Saturday • 3:00 PM GMT+1
From $0.00
ReadFest 2026: Books by Mile Walk of Arty's Sculpture Trail
Sunday • 11:00 AM
Free
ReadFest 2026: Books by Mile Walk of Arty's Sculpture Trail
Sunday • 1:00 PM
Free
ReadFest 2026: Debut Writers Finding an Identity chaired by Lucy Popescu
Tue, Sep 15 • 5:00 PM
Free
Online ReadFest 2026: Debut Writers Finding an Identity
Tue, Sep 15 • 5:00 PM GMT+1
From $0.00
ReadFest 2026: Writing Poetry with Tour of Barking Abbey Ruins
Wed, Sep 16 • 10:00 AM
Free
ReadFest 2026: The Book Challenge Panel
Wed, Sep 16 • 5:30 PM
Free
Online ReadFest 2026: The Book Challenge Panel
Wed, Sep 16 • 5:30 PM GMT+1
From $0.00
ReadFest 2026: Finding Your Voice Through Zine Making with Leilah Odayan
Thu, Sep 17 • 12:30 PM
Free
ReadFest 2026: Exploring Grief Through Memoir with Claire Steele
Thu, Sep 17 • 3:00 PM
Free
ReadFest 2026: The Little Feast of Stories with By The Book
Thu, Sep 17 • 5:00 PM
Free
Online ReadFest 2026: Write & Shine with The London Library
Fri, Sep 18 • 8:30 AM GMT+1
From $0.00
ReadFest 2026: Visual Storytelling for Book Covers with Stuart Lee
Fri, Sep 18 • 11:30 AM
Free
ReadFest 2026: ONCE IN ESSEX, NOW IN LONDON with Andrew Summers
Fri, Sep 18 • 2:30 PM
Free
ReadFest 2026: Independent Author Book Fair (Drop-in)
Sat, Sep 19 • 10:00 AM
Free
ReadFest 2026: Introduction to Write On! - What Makes a Magazine?
Sat, Sep 19 • 10:30 AM
Free
Online ReadFest 2026: Introduction to Write On! - What Makes a Magazine?
Sat, Sep 19 • 10:30 AM GMT+1
Free
ReadFest 2026: Bookbinding for Beginners Craft Workshop with Becky Wash
Sat, Sep 19 • 11:00 AM
Free
ReadFest 2026: Putting a Pitch Together with Alysoun Owen
Organizer of Barking & Dagenham's ReadFest Programme 2026
Pen to Print provided by Barking & Dagenham Libraries is working to build a network of support for aspiring writers in Barking and Dagenham.We identify local writing talent and provide them with opportunities to produce quality writing for publication.We publish our own suite of publications, Write On! our free quarterly print magazine, alongside Write On!Extraonline and our Write On!AudiopodcastIn addition to our main competitionThe Book Challengewe offer other free writing competitions, author events classes, workshops and other activity supported by established creative writing experts, authors and artists.A majority of our events are available for free and open to everyone and are designed to inspire and encourage writers, as well as providing entertainment to the wider reading public.*****NB: Due to increased costs, we will be making a small charge of£1(plus any charges applied by Eventbrite.)for people attending sessions online, this comes into effectfrom 1 January 2024onwards.Taking part in all of our sessions in-person at a venue remains free.Any profit we may make will be invested back into the programme, contributing to making our digital offering more environmentally sustainable. We are starting with an upgrade to our website that will be coming soon.We do regret that we have to make this difficult decision however, our grant funding is not increasing and we are experiencing increased costs that we can no longer afford to absorb.We are aware that this could prove cost prohibitive for some people, if cost is a barrier to you taking part, if you are UK based , please do email us directly:pentoprint@lbbd.gov.ukto discuss this further.*****Pen to Print is supported using public funding byArts Council Englandfunded by UK Government, as a Library National Portfolio Organisation .Web Address:pentoprint.orgEmail:pentoprint@lbbd.gov.ukSign up for Pen to Print e-newsletters visit:public.govdelivery.comand register.*****To help people access our online content we have created some How to Guides:How to Access and Event/Class After Booking on EventbriteHow to Set-up a Google AccountHow to Join a Google ClassroomHow to Submit and Assignment and Make CommentsHow to View Tutor Feedback and Make Edits to Your Assignments
