Cheltenham Literature Festival opening weekend
Headline acts at the event, which opened on Friday evening have so far included Clive James, Kate Adie and cast and writers from TV comedy Blackadder.
Ticket sales for the festival have already rocketed past last year’s total and are still climbing.
Amy Hulyer, festival spokesman, said: “There has been a great festival feeling across the opening weekend.
“Putting up a stage on the Promenade where people can listen to poetry has been a good innovation which has helped the festival feeling spread to the rest of the town.”
An ‘emergency poet on call’ has also been spotted on the streets.
More than 92,000 tickets have already been bought by literature-hungry punters, eclipsing last year’s figure of 87,000.
Esther Orton, 67, was enjoying the atmosphere in the town on Sunday, having travelled from Shropshire.
She told the Echo: “It is a wonderful event with so many interesting people to listen to.
“The atmosphere is marvellous and the weather has been brilliant.”
Alan Jenkins, 53, from Tewkesbury, added: “There is a buzz about Cheltenham with all the people and Literature Festival carrier bags everywhere.”
Big names at the festival on Monday include chef Rick Stein and entrepreneur James Caan, from hit BBC show Dragon’s Den.
Tickets for many events are still available from the festival box office on 0844 576 7979.
Click here for the latest news and reviews from the Cheltenham Literature Festival.
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