2020 Festival cancelled

It is with very heavy hearts that we have had to pull the plug on the Festival taking place this June. Sadly, events have taken such a dramatic turn with the COVID-19 virus, that it is simply no longer possible to hold it as planned.

We cannot thank you enough for your enormous support of the Festival over recent years and we are truly sorry it cannot take place this summer, our tenth anniversary year. The programme was due to go to print this week, and we have all been especially excited about it, believing it the best ever. For interest, we are posting it online as a PDF.

For those who bought gift vouchers, we really appreciate your support and please be assured they will be automatically extended for an additional year. Anyone who bought camping / glamping will be refunded in the next 14 days.

We are, of course, looking into alternative ways of continuing our mission to promote the understanding and enjoyment of history to the widest possible audience, and will keep you updated as and when we have more news. Please do keep an eye on or social media channels and this website for more.

In the meantime, please do keep safe and we all look forward to seeing you again at next year’s Festival.

200+ talks

Living History

Live music every day

New Spiegeltent

New glamping and camping

Fine dining

Victory Party

Children's Creative History Tent

Air Displays

Street of food

Interactive Living History

Sword School

Trench Experience: Cassel 1940

History Tellers

Interactive experiences

Have-a-Go Archery

Static Displays

Shopping & Waterstones Book Shop

Commemorating WWII

#AmazingHistory

22nd – 28th June 2020

See history. Hear history. Feel history…

Celebrating our tenth anniversary:

200+ talks and events, 60 acres, interactive living history and experiences,
children’s events, air displays, workshops, archaeology walks, vintage vehicles,
treasure hunts, book store, shopping emporium, live music, party, fireworks,
bar, cafes, fine dining, street food, camping & glamping

Sorry the 2020 Festival is cancelled due to Coronavirus

If you’d like to be put on the mailing list to receive occasional emails about the festival, or a copy
of the future programme when it becomes available, please give us your details.

More of our films

As seen in…

PRESS RELEASE:
2020 cancelled

PRESS RELEASE: 2020 Dates Announced

Buy gift vouchers

Printed programme
and mailing list

We absolutely had the most amazing time! I love the audiences at the festival, so erudite and engaged! The festival is vitally important for the country and brilliantly combines the joy of literary, music, exhibition wrapped in a fascinating history festival. CVHF has a firm and warm place in all of our hearts! Congratulations to all involved for such an amazing Festival.

Simon Robinson

My son(6) and I took part in the Sword School, which was brilliant, We spent nearly 5 hours wandering through the different ages, meeting various different ‘characters’, who were all eager to share ‘their’ stories, historical knowledge and costumes, which my little boy loved and the re-enactments were fantastic. It truly was a wonderful day .

Festival go-er

There were reenactments, demonstrations and the popular fly-past of WW2 planes. Most importantly there was a strong accent on education with a schools programme in the weekday mornings and in the displays. What child could fail to be impressed by all the uniforms, displays and atmosphere of the event?

Festival go-er

Entertaining, informative, and thought-provoking. And that was just the audience.

Ian Hislop

My 17 year-old son spent the whole of the weekend immersed in the festival, talking to the stall holders and watching the various displays. He couldn’t stop talking about it on Saturday evening and left exhausted but extremely happy on Sunday. I think you may well have changed his life. The festival brought to the fore his love of history and for this I can only thank you.

Festival go-er

I’ve been to literary festivals from Cornwall to Orkney and none of them match the buzz, fun and enthusiasm generated by the Chalke Valley History Festival. Our history is celebrated at Chalke Valley, it educates, shocks, amuses and inspires.

Dan Snow

It made many aspects of history come alive. I went with my teenage son who has been monosyllabic recently and we watched, listened, experienced the trenches, bought books, ate a lovely lunch and enjoyed the day together!

Festival go-er

This experience has inspired my learning of and interest in history as a subject so that I shall go into the next year of school with a great deal more enthusiasm than I had at the end of my GCSEs.

Festival go-er

Yet another amazing event! The Glastonbury of History doesn’t do it justice; it’s so much better.

Festival go-er

The whole thing was wonderful this year. I feel a real sense of pride that this fantastic festival takes place on my doorstep, it is truly a joyous way to spend time. My Godson has been inspired to take history at GCSE and that is thanks to the enthusiasm and passion shown by speakers and audiences alike.

Festival go-er

Thanks so much to you and the team at Chalke Valley for making Leweston School’s experience on Tuesday at the festival so good. Our pupils were buzzing with enthusiastic engagement afterwards. That day will not be forgotten. Best wishes, Matthew

Lewiston School

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History Hub

Fascinating content from CVHF speakers past and present,
including audio from previous talks.

🎧 Anne Frank: Her Life And Light

11th March 2020

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With thanks to our 2020 sponsors

and all the other sponsors...

2020 Festival cancelled