This October, words are taking over the New Forest! From 22-28 October, Play on Words returns with a lively programme of events celebrating reading, writing, storytelling and the power of words to bring people together.

There’s plenty to enjoy at Play on Words if you love a good story, a lively performance or simply spending an evening surrounded by words. Offering a wide array of events, starting with Autumn Tales: Story Readings for Adults at Lymington Library; a Sci Fi and Fantasy Quiz Night at Vibrant Forest Brewery & Taproom; the Local Writer Showcase at St Barbe Museum & Art Gallery with guest Liz Amos, and the Play on Words Open Mic at Forest Arts Centre, featuring stand-up poet and comedian Elvis McGonagall, and co-founder of Winchester Poetry Festival, poet Stephen Boyce.

There are also opportunities to explore different approaches to writing and creativity throughout the festival, including Uncover // Unearth, a creative writing workshop at St Barbe Museum & Art Gallery, and Stories in Wax & Colour: Batik Workshop at Forest Arts Centre, where storytelling and visual creativity come together. The programme also includes How to Read a Poem with Matt West, and an Introduction to Nature Writing workshop with author and artist Yarrow Townsend, New Forest Writer in Residence 2024/25.

Click here to explore what’s on or to book tickets.

There is plenty for children and young people to discover during the festival, with a fantastic range of creative, imaginative and outdoor activities. Families can explore the Ringwood Story Trail, follow the Navy Fields Viking Trail or take part in Story Quest: Hidden Treasures of Ballard Water Meadow. There’s also an opportunity to experience The Nightjar Journey at Hythe Library, a warm and imaginative performance for all ages created by African Activities, exploring migration, belonging and the many ways we carry home with us.

Younger creatives can experiment with storytelling and illustration in Words to Pictures at Forest Arts and Words + Pictures = Ideas at Hythe Library. For home educating children aged 5+ or 8+, Feathers, Friends & Found Poems and Once Upon a New Forest offer playful ways to explore nature, stories and words with A.J. Hardingson at Coda Music and Arts Trust. Also at Coda, young people aged 16-25 can can explore hip-hop, lyric writing, identity and belonging in a three day programme with rapper and MC Isaiah Dreads, Find Your Voice.

Click here to explore what’s on or to book tickets.

Do you have skills and experience as a writer that you want to share and don't know where to start? Or are you keen to find a group of peers, partnerships or funding to help develop your own work or make great things happen with others? The Writers’ Day at St Barbe Museum & Art Gallery, taking place during the day before the Local Writer Showcase, brings together a series of sessions designed to support and inspire writers at all stages of their creative journey. Explore Facilitation for Writers, discover ways to find and build supportive Writing Communities, and learn more about Funding Routes for Writers and the opportunities available to help develop your creative practice. 

Click here to explore what’s on or to book tickets.

Creative writing workshops in partnership with Shakti Southampton, offering a writing space for Asian women who are new to writing as well as those with more experience. If this sounds like you and you'd like to experiment with words, share ideas, tell stories and celebrate your voice, come along!

Workshops will be led by Judith Heneghan, writer, lecturer and creative writing mentor. Judith has been teaching creative writing in a range of settings for over twenty years. Judith writes novels for adults and has also written extensively for young readers.

Running throughout October and November, with sessions on Fridays and Saturdays from 11:00am-1:00pm at Freemantle and Shirley Community Centre, Randolph Street, Shirley SO15 3HE.

Friday group: 30 October, 20 and 27 November
Saturday group: 31 October, 21 and 28 November 

Click here to find out more or to book. 

Winchester Poetry Day 2026  - Event | 10 October |  10am - 5pm | The ARC, SO23 8SB 

The Script’s The Thing!  -  Festival | 10 & 11 October |  Various  | Various locations 

And There It Was...For the Curious - Free monthly creative writing group | 2nd Wednesday of the month | 7:30pm - 8:45pm | InFocus Network Eagle Lab, Portland Terrace, Southampton SO14 7SJ

Becoming Doctors: Writing The Body Poetry Workshop - Free Writing Workshop | 10 October | 2pm-4pm | John Hansard Gallery, Southampton | Booking is advised 

October Books Poetry Open Mic Night  - Open Mic | 16 October  | 7:00pm - 9:00pm | October Books, Portswood Road, SO17 2NF

New SaRhyme - Open Mic | 27 October | 7:30pm | Upstairs at the Pheasant Inn, 19 Salt Lane, Salisbury SP1 1DT

F.T. Prince Memorial Lecture 'Does the poem think' with Denise Riley  - Lecture | 27 October | 6:00pm | Avenue Campus. Lecture Theatre B. Highfield Road Southampton SO17 1BF 

Becoming Doctors: Picturing The Heart - Free Writing Workshop | 31 October | 2pm-4pm | John Hansard Gallery, Southampton | Booking is advised 

The Hidden - a T'Articulation Spoken Word Event - Live poetry | 6 November | 7pm-10pm
The Barley Mow 39 Castle Road Portsmouth PO5 3DE

Lemon Jelly Press Women's Writing Group  -  Tuesdays | 5:30pm - 6:30pm | Online | Free 

Author Events - Author meetups and events in the BCP area 

BSK - Open Mic | First Thursday of the month | 7:00pm | The Bounty Inn, Basingstoke, RG21 2BZ | No booking required